Bitter rivals, Liverpool and Chelsea, serve up a classic

Capital Cup Semi-Final

Often derided as the competition no-one remembers who wins, these two recent cup rivals served up a classic with the tie delicately poised going into next week’s second leg at Stamford Bridge.

Raheem Sterling’s wonder strike in the end cancelled out Eden Hazard’s first half penalty but the effort and energy that both sides displayed was the major talking point, as was the display of Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois, who kept the scores level with several late saves.

Chelsea want the quadruple, Liverpool want some glory from an under-achieving season — until recently at least.

Neither side gave an inch last night.

“I’m delighted with the performance, disappointed with the result,” Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers said.

“I thought we deserved to win the game, we showed wonderful character. We went behind to their only shot on target but some of our play, taking the game to Chelsea, was very impressive.

“It was a wonderful performance and sets up the second leg perfectly. They’re at home and will have to open up a wee bit more. My players were super.”

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho felt a draw was a fair result.

“I think it was a really big game, we played to the top of our potential and Liverpool the same,” he said. “A proper semi-final and a fair result. Liverpool did not deserve to lose, they performed really well.”

Ahead of next week’s return leg, he said: “I am not saying we are the favourites. The semi-final is now one leg.”

There has often been controversy in this fixture ever since Liverpool emerged through the semi-final of the Champions League in 2005 with a controversial Luis Garcia goal.

The passion on display at Anfield was more fitting for one of the club’s great European nights but it emphasised exactly what this fixture meant to everyone in attendance.

Brendan Rodgers restored Steven Gerrard to his starting line-up and the captain was keen to make a point that he is still good enough at the age of 34.

With a bit more luck Gerrard could have been celebrating the opener as his long-distance shot — a typical drive from the former England captain — was pushed away late by Courtois.

It was a big moment as Chelsea went right down the other end and scored the opener. It came after poor defending from Emre Can as he felled Hazard in the area with Martin Atkinson pointing to the spot.

Hazard assumed responsibility to score the 18th-minute kick, coolly sending Simon Mignolet the wrong way.

Liverpool’s response, both on the pitch and in the stands, was a good one with Martin Skrtel close to the equaliser with a header over from Philippe Coutinho’s corner.

But despite the freezing conditions, which included some snow, the temperature rose on the pitch with plenty of fierce challenges flying in and Atkinson tested to the limit.

Coutinho’s shot was deflected over from the edge of the area before a major talking point in stoppage time.

Lazar Markovic claimed a penalty after Diego Costa appeared to fall on the ball with his hands in the area. Liverpool were incensed and crowded Atkinson but no decision in the affirmative awarded.

Riled they may have been but Liverpool stepped up a gear early in the second half and despite one incident where John Terry appeared to bear-hug Sterling as the pair challenged the ball, it was the hosts who kept their eye on the task.

Their equaliser was an excellent goal. Henderson’s through ball fell perfectly to Sterling and the England forward ran 30 yards beating Nemanja Matic and Gary Cahill before converting past a stranded Courtois to unleash a cauldron of noise over Anfield.

Gerrard was still showing his influence on this game but he really should have put Liverpool 2-1 ahead.

A cross from Coutinho fell perfectly to the legendary midfielder on the edge of the area but his shot left-footed came back off the post.

It was his final piece of action as he was replaced by Adam Lallana with 20 minutes to go.

It was then the Courtois show as the Chelsea goalkeeper produced save after save to frustrate the hosts.

Coutinho’s long-range effort appeared destined for the net before the Belgian leapt to keep the shot out before Skrtel headed over from a Henderson free kick.

Henderson was then foiled again with a long distance effort that Courtois pushed away to his right before also denying Sterling on the rebound.

Lallana was the next to be denied as Courtois kept out his left-footed half volley from the edge of the area after Sterling’s battling qualities had set up the chance.

Next week’s clash cannot come soon enough for two sides who love to hate each other.

But they do so with the tie still impossible to call.

LIVERPOOL (3-4-3): Mignolet 6; Can 6, Skrtel 7, Sakho 6; Henderson 7, Gerrard 7 (Lallana 70, 7), Lucas 7, Moreno 6; Markovic 6, Coutinho 7, Sterling 8.

CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Courtois 8; Ivanovic 7, Cahill 7, Terry 7, Luis 6; Matic 7, Mikel 7; Willian 6 (Azpilicueta 89), Fabregas 6, Hazard 7; Costa 6.

Referee: Martin Atkinson.