Slipperduke
The Camden Cad
Tonight, for the third time in four years, Liverpool meet Chelsea in the semi-finals of the Champions League. Football’s most festering rivalry is back and the dirty war has already begun in earnest. There’s something very strange about the relationship between these two teams. They are separated by hundreds of miles and they’ve never raced against each other for the league title, but neither the clubs nor the fans can seem to get through these encounters without exchanging insults. I’ve covered over 40 live matches for the New Paper since October and I’ve only seen crowd violence outside the ground on two occasions, Chelsea against Liverpool in the League Cup and Chelsea against Liverpool in the League. They really don’t like each other.
Avram Grant kicked off proceedings this week by practically tapping up Steven Gerrard in front of the press. Gerrard, of course, twice tried to move to Chelsea during Jose Mourinho’s reign, changing his mind at the last minute. I doubt he’ll be so keen to join them now. Rafa Benitez responded by saying that he can’t really see much difference between old Chelsea and new Chelsea, apart from the fact that they probably have less spirit now. Even Jose Mourinho has been in on the act, taunting Benitez and saying that he will support all of his friends at Stamford Bridge. The players, the fans, Peter Kenyon and Roman Abramovich. I can’t help thinking he’s left someone out...
Cynics in Britain have suggested that this will be, like the previous two encounters, another dreadful display of anti-football from two of England’s most boring teams, but I think they’re missing the point. It’s never been all about what happens on the pitch. It’s the soap opera that accompanies them that makes this tie so extraordinary. It’s the images that you can never forget. Rafa Benitez sat cross-legged in the technical area. Mourinho’s face when he tried to insist that the best team had lost. Karma catching up with Eider Gudjonsson and Arjen Robben. It’s tremendous stuff.
Besides which, Liverpool have been playing a much more attractive game since Benitez stumbled across the perfect formation. In the first half of their league match against Arsenal, they played the Gunners off the park at their own game. Grant continues to insist that he is rolling out an offensive 4-3-3, and even if that doesn’t quite seem to be the case, it’s nice to know that the intention is there. I think this could be a lot more interesting than people think. Both Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard will return to the starting line-ups. Gerrard missed this weekend’s clash with a slight neck injury which has cleared up just in time for this match. Lampard’s problems were much more serious, he’s been at the bedside of his seriously ill mother.
Chelsea know that, for the first time, they have the advantage of playing the decisive second leg at home and that could be critical. Liverpool are fresh, experienced and eager to pick up a hat-trick of European victories over their opponents. It’s absolutely impossible to call this one, though that won’t stop me cementing myself to the bottom of the pundits league table by going for a Liverpool win. Strap yourselves in, this one could be something special.
Avram Grant kicked off proceedings this week by practically tapping up Steven Gerrard in front of the press. Gerrard, of course, twice tried to move to Chelsea during Jose Mourinho’s reign, changing his mind at the last minute. I doubt he’ll be so keen to join them now. Rafa Benitez responded by saying that he can’t really see much difference between old Chelsea and new Chelsea, apart from the fact that they probably have less spirit now. Even Jose Mourinho has been in on the act, taunting Benitez and saying that he will support all of his friends at Stamford Bridge. The players, the fans, Peter Kenyon and Roman Abramovich. I can’t help thinking he’s left someone out...
Cynics in Britain have suggested that this will be, like the previous two encounters, another dreadful display of anti-football from two of England’s most boring teams, but I think they’re missing the point. It’s never been all about what happens on the pitch. It’s the soap opera that accompanies them that makes this tie so extraordinary. It’s the images that you can never forget. Rafa Benitez sat cross-legged in the technical area. Mourinho’s face when he tried to insist that the best team had lost. Karma catching up with Eider Gudjonsson and Arjen Robben. It’s tremendous stuff.
Besides which, Liverpool have been playing a much more attractive game since Benitez stumbled across the perfect formation. In the first half of their league match against Arsenal, they played the Gunners off the park at their own game. Grant continues to insist that he is rolling out an offensive 4-3-3, and even if that doesn’t quite seem to be the case, it’s nice to know that the intention is there. I think this could be a lot more interesting than people think. Both Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard will return to the starting line-ups. Gerrard missed this weekend’s clash with a slight neck injury which has cleared up just in time for this match. Lampard’s problems were much more serious, he’s been at the bedside of his seriously ill mother.
Chelsea know that, for the first time, they have the advantage of playing the decisive second leg at home and that could be critical. Liverpool are fresh, experienced and eager to pick up a hat-trick of European victories over their opponents. It’s absolutely impossible to call this one, though that won’t stop me cementing myself to the bottom of the pundits league table by going for a Liverpool win. Strap yourselves in, this one could be something special.
