Drab draw suits Reds

Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0

The second goalless draw between Chelsea and Liverpool in the group stages may have confirmed the Anfield club as seeds for the knockout stages, but this was a dull game which will - sadly - be remembered for just one moment - Essien’s ugly studs-first lunge on Dietmar Hamann, his boot clattering into the German’s right knee.

Afterwards Hamann said that he feared his leg had been broken by Essien’s first half tackle.

The Ghanaian international sparked a touchline row between rival managers after his reckless challenge, which went unpunished by German referee Herbert Fandel.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez was reluctant to get involved in a post-game slanging match with Chelsea counterpart Jose Mourinho but Germany international Hamann was scathing about Essien’s lunge.

“It was the worst tackle I have ever been on the receiving end of,” declared Hamann.

“I really feared that I might have broken my leg, thankfully it is only bad bruising.”

Chelsea coach Mourinho claims he did not see the controversial tackle even though it occurred right in front of the two dugouts.

But Mourinho demonstrated the increasing bad blood between the two clubs by accusing the Liverpool bench of ‘crying’ throughout the game.

“I cannot give my version of it because I didn’t see it,” insisted Mourinho.

“I was telling the Liverpool bench that they were crying all the game. They needed to sit down a little bit and relax.

“With me referees are always very strong and quick to put me in my place. But other managers can do what they want.

“For example if Jose Mourinho had done what Stuart Pearce did against Blackburn, it would have been a three-month ban for me.”

The Chelsea coach was unconcerned that the goalless draw meant his side finished second to the Reds in Group G, but he was not happy they did not win the game.

“First or second doesn’t matter,” he re-iterated. “But I am unhappy we didn’t win the game. It shows the way teams play. They defended very well and behind the ball. They did not give us many chances to create and score.

“When you only have two or three chances in the game and don’t score one of them, then it ends zero-zero.”

Mourinho maintains that his side are ready for whatever the last 16 draw has in store for them.

“It’s an open draw,” said Mourinho. “The only thing we know is that we won’t play against Liverpool and the other English teams. We have five or six possibilities and we have to be ready for them.”

Benitez did not want to become involved in the row over Essien’s tackle but made it clear that he was not impressed with the Chelsea player’s conduct.

“I could see the tackle because it happened right in front of the bench,” said Benitez.

“I could see the leg of Didi Hamann.

“It is clear and you can see the video. I have my opinions and I would prefer to keep them to myself.”

Benitez hinted he would like UEFA to take a look at the tackle but did not think there was a chance of any punishment and refused to respond to Mourinho’s ‘crying’ jibe.

“In my opinion you can’t change it,” he said. “I don’t want to talk about things that are so clear. I think Jose talks a lot.”

In a game of predictably few chances, Chelsea failed to score against Liverpool for the fourth time in Champions League meetings.

The best chance for Chelsea fell to Arjen Robben but he shot into the side netting from eight yards. Liverpool’s best effort came from John Arne Riise in the first half but it was well saved by Petr Cech.

CHELSEA: Cech, Paulo Ferreira (Del Horno 45), Ricardo Carvalho, Terry Gallas, Essien, Robben (Carlton Cole 73), Lampard, Duff (Wright-Phillips 73), Gudjohnsen, Drogba.

LIVERPOOL: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Traore, Gerrard, Hamann, Sissoko, Riise (Kewell 60), Crouch (Morientes 68), Luis Garcia (Sinama Pongolle 80).

Referee: Herbert Fandel (Germany).