Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea

Torres opened the scoring in the first half when he was fed by Steven Gerrard before slotting past Petr Cech. Lampard equalised for Chelsea with a penalty won by Florent Malouda, who was fouled by Steve Finnan.

That decision was contested by the Reds in a pulsating, yet niggly, match that saw nine yellow cards handed out.

The talking point in Monday's press will be the performance of referee Rob Styles, although there will undoubtedly be column inches reserved for a fine performance by Torres.
Both the Spaniard and his partner in attack, Dirk Kuyt, were a credit to the Reds, their tremendous industry giving a Chelsea defence, led by John Terry, little respite.


Both of them deserved reward for their hardwork, but it was Torres who opened the scoring on 16 minutes. Gerrard, playing despite having pain-killing injections in his fractured toe, threaded a peach of a ball through to the 23-year-old, who cruised round the outside of Ben Haim on the left before slotting the ball into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

As well as from Torres and Kuyt, John Arne Riise and Alvaro Arbeloa were also particularly effective for Liverpool down the left flank, preventing Michael Essien from getting forward from his right-back position. Riise got away from the Ghanaian early in the game to test Cech with a 20-yard low shot.

Chelsea were largely kept quiet by the Liverpool defence, who limited Didier Drogba to half chances. The Ivory Coast striker saw one tame free-kick deflected wide while a header flew high over the bar.

Blues boss Jose Mourinho had started with Shaun Wright-Phillips in a central position but moved the England midfielder out to the right in the second half. The tactical swap almost paid off immediately when Wright-Phillips swung in a wicked cross for substitute Claudio Pizarro.

The Peruvian met the ball with his head but sent his effort wide of the far post. Despite that attempt, Liverpool looked in firm control and, as cliched as it sounds, it seemed only a moment of magic or defensive error would get Chelsea back into the game. As it happened, it was contentious refereeing decision that allowed the Blues to draw level.

Rob Styles, who booked eight players in the match, decided to award the visitors a penalty when he ruled that defender Finnan fouled Malouda. Replays showed there was no contact between the players, but Lampard stepped up to beat Pepe Reina from the spot.

Styles was at the centre of another talking point when he appeared to show a yellow card to both Terry and Essien, who had been booked earlier in the match. However, the Hampshire official later clarified that he had only booked Terry.

Liverpool almost grabbed a winner late on, substitute Ryan Babel fizzing a shot inches wide of Cech's right-hand post. But Chelsea hung on for a share of the spoils.

Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Arbeloa, Pennant (Babel 68), Gerrard, Alonso, Riise (Crouch 83), Torres, Kuyt.Subs Not Used: Itandje, Hyypia, Mascherano.
Booked: Kuyt, Pennant, Gerrard, Carragher.
Goals: Torres 16.

Chelsea: Cech, Essien, Ben-Haim, Terry, Ashley Cole, Kalou (Pizarro 46), Wright-Phillips (Joe Cole 77), Obi, Lampard, Malouda (Alex 85), Drogba.Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Makelele.
Booked: Essien, Ashley Cole, Ben-Haim, Lampard, Terry.
Goals: Lampard 62 pen.

Att: 43,924
Ref: Robert Styles (Hampshire).