Chelsea vs Liverpool Champions League: Preview and Live Score

If you want to get the live score and updates of the second round Champions League quarter final match between Chelsea and Liverpool, then visit the following link:

Chelsea vs Liverpool Champions League 08-09: Live Updates

If you want to get the live score and updates of the quarter final match of Champions League 08-09 between Liverpool and Chelsea, then visit the following link:

Liverpool vs Chelsea CL 08-09: Live Updates

If you are interested to know the live score and updates of Chelsea vs Liverpool second leg semi final match of Champions League, then visit the following link:
Chelsea vs Liverpool: Live Score and Updates

If you are interested to get the live score and updates of the Manchester United vs Barcelona second leg semi final match, then visit the following link:
Manchester United vs Barcelona: Online Live Score and Updates

Chelsea is going to host Liverpool in the second leg semi final match of Champions League 2007-2008 on 30 April. You already know that the first leg match ended in a 1-1 draw at Liverpool. So, Chelsea has the away goal advantage in the match which will take place at Stamford Bridge, where the Blues projected a confidence booster 2-1 victory over Manchester United yesterday. So, Liverpool seems to face some strong challenges from Chelsea in the match.

Match: Chelsea vs Liverpool, second leg of semi final of Champions League 2007-08

Venue: Stamford Bridge

Date: 30 April, Wednesday

Time: 19:45 BST

Live on TV and Radio: Sky Sports 1, BBC Radio Five Live

Chelsea is now hoping for a double delight this season with keeping their title hope alive in premiership thanks to yesterday’s victory over Manchester United. This victory allowed Chelsea to bridge up the three-point gap between Manchester United and themselves, and now Chelsea is equal with Manchester United in terms of points with Manchester still holds the top place in league point table thanks to better goal difference. So, winning double this season for Chelsea now seems to be imminent. Chelsea has a formidable home record and the Londoners will have the away goal advantage when they take on Liverpool in the second leg of Champions League this season. So, there is enough ground Chelsea fans can hope for everything remaining this season.

Liverpool, on the other hand, is now under a bit pressure. They played well in the first leg home match, but unfortunately they conceded an own goal at the closing minutes of the match, when their Norwegian defender John Arne Riise’s head took the Liverpool net. Liverpool has not hope in English premier league because with 70 points and at the fourth place now, Liverpool has no chance to win the league. Besides, Liverpool is no more in fear to lose the fourth place to Everton, with Liverpool needing a point maximum to ensure their Champions League third qualifying round next year. So, it is apparent that Rafael Benitez men are now looking forward to lift the Champions League trophy this season, as it is the only way for Liverpool to win silverware this season.

Liverpool now has all its focus on Champions League, as they are only two matches away to win the title and replicate their 2005 Champions League success. Though Liverpool failed to gain any momentum in premier league over the last few years, the all reds has been proven to be one of the strongest and consistent sides in Champions League now, with reaching final of the tournament twice in last three years. So, if Gerrard and Co. can make it to another European final this time around, it would be their third in four years. Actually, Liverpool has been too much inconsistent in premier league, while in contrast, the club has been very much consistent in Champions league, and that fact is enough to lead you to presume something wrong about the skill and talent of the club. In fact, Liverpool is the most successful English club in Champions League with winning the tournament five times so far. On the other hand, Chelsea is yet to win Champions League title.

However, Chelsea has an excellent chance this time to reach the final of Champions league and make a shot to win the title for the first time. Chelsea is now at their best form this season. They defeated Manchester United 2-1 yesterday thanks to two goals from Michael Ballack. The way Chelsea outclassed the Red Devils at home was simply outstanding. You can add some more adjectives to it, because to be honest, Chelsea played excellent dominated throughout the match. Actually, it is not expected, considering their formidable home record. They went into the match on 80 match undefeated streak at home in premier league.

Chelsea manager Avram Grant had no option to rest any of his star players in the match, considering the significance of the match. Drogba, Terry, Ballack, John Obi Mikel, Essien Joe Cole, Kalou all were in Chelsea line up yester day. Only Frank Lampard missed the match as he was yet to get over the grief caused by hismother’s death. So, Chelsea took on Manchester United with full strength.

However, Liverpool manager had the liberty to sport a seemingly second line up during their latest EPL encounter with Birmingham City yesterday. Liverpool made a 2-2 draw with Birmingham City. It is clear that a victory over Birmingham was less important to Benitez than ensuring a full strength squad against Chelsea this week. I think, he has done the right thing giving rest to the likes of Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres in the match.

AFP reported:

Spanish striker Fernando Torres and England internationals Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher headed a list of no fewer than nine players who were wrapped in cotton wool ahead of Wednesday's show-down with Premier League rivals Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

"Fourth place is always a minimum requirement. You must qualify for the Champions League. We will be there now and we have to be satisfied with that," said Benitez.

"Obviously I would have liked to finish higher in the league and I would like to finish as high as possible in the future, but at the end you must be happy with fourth place, especially if you go on to win the Champions League.

Let’s now have a look at a comparative picture of the recent form of Chelsea and Liverpool. For Chelsea, I have mentioned earlier that they are now at their best form so far this season and they have been playing tremendous football over the last few weeks, except a shocking defeat away at Fenerbahce in the quarter final of Champions League. Out of their last seven matches, Chelsea won four, drew twice and lost one. I think, even this statistics does not reveal much about the current form of Chelsea.

Liverpool also maintained a good form over the last few weeks and I think, Chelsea and Manchester United could have found Liverpool as the third contender of the title at this moment, if Liverpool could perform consistently at the beginning of the season. Anyway, Liverpool is still a strong side and has all the quality, skill and talent to win the Champions League title for the sixth time in the history. Liverpool won the three out of their last seven matches in all competition with four draws and no defeat. In fact, Liverpool suffered their last defeat last month to Manchester United. However, their recent form is praiseworthy.

Liverpool is going to play the match away at Chelsea, so let us have a look at their away performance of late. To be honest, it is quite satisfactory. Except the last month’s defeat at Manchester United, Liverpool did not stumble in the away matches over the last two months. In fact, Liverpool defeated Inter Milan, drew twice with Arsenal and once with Chelsea away since February this year.

Now, you might be thinking about the home record of Chelsea as the match is going to be held at Stamford Bridge. To tell the truth, Chelsea perhaps holds the most successful home record at this moment in Europe. In their last 10 home matches, Chelsea won on eight occasions and drew twice. However, given Liverpool’s away form and Champions League success as evidence, I think, Chelsea’s home form is going to be tasted once again in the second leg semi final of Champions League. So, there is every possibility to experience an exciting match.

Chelsea and Liverpool faced each other on a number of occasions in both Champions League and Premier League. For example, the two English giants met each other on four occasions including the first leg semi final match this season. The two premier league encounters ended up with a draw, while in League Cup, Chelsea defeated Liverpool that made them out of the tournament. Now, Liverpool must be gearing up to knock Chelsea out of Champions League as part of their revenge, while Chelsea must be taking inspiration from the league cup victory.

Chelsea now needs a goal less draw in to reach the final of Champions League thanks of their away goal advantage. Liverpool, on the other hand, either has to win the match or has to come up with at least a 2-2 draw at Chelsea. A 1-1 draw would require 30 minutes of extra time football and if the match is still not decided after the extra time, tie breaker round will come up to decide the winner. I think, both teams will look to win the match and ensure their entrance in Champions League.

Both sides have some key players in the match. I think, Liverpool will look to Spanish striker Fernando Torres, who is currently the highest goal scorer for Liverpool this season. He scored 22 league goals, second highest after Manchester United midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo’s 28 goals in the league. Torres also has five goals to his credit in Champions League this season. It has been a quite few years, Steven Gerrard has been the ace players of Liverpool. Liverpool captain has formed a lethal combination with Torres this season, which many termed as one of the best. Gerrard scored 6 goals in Champions League so far this season which is second highest after Cristiano Ronaldo’s 7 goals. Dutch forwards Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel will have an important role to play for Liverpool in the match. Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano is another key player of Rafael Benitez.

For Chelsea, they have a number of star footballers. Didier Drogba will be seen playing in the up front, while Michael Essien, John Obi Mikel, Michael Ballack and Joe Cole will have some significant role to play for Chelsea. In the back, Captain John Terry will be the key man for the club.

Chelsea vs Liverpool: Captain’s Talk

Both captains are hopeful for the success of their respective teams. Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard said that Liverpool was as good as Chelsea, if not better. He also added that their performance had been better every time they faced Chelsea this season.

Sky Sports reported:

"We really feel that we are as good as Chelsea, if not better than them" Gerrard said in the Sunday Mirror.

"We have certainly been the better team when we have played them this season.

"We were the better team at Anfield and again in the Champions League only for both games to end in draws.

"Now we have got to back up a good performance with the right result."

Chelsea captain John Terry has talked a bit about off field matter. He has said that Liverpool fans were terrible when they traveled Anfield and urged the Chelsea fans to do the same when Liverpool comes at Stamford Bridge to play the second leg match of Champions League.

Goal.com reported:

The England international wrote, "I've got to say that the stick us players took from their fans was horrible, but I'm sure every Chelsea fan will give it back to them on Wednesday night."

He continued, "We've heard about their fans around the last two semi-finals and how the second leg at Anfield is to their advantage.
"Well, I'll tell you what I think. Our fans are just as great as theirs when the game's a big one."

It is natural that English defender seeks a favor from the fans. However, the reality is that Terry along with other defenders may to face some strong challenge from Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard and especially from Fernando Torres. So, Chelsea defense must be at their best in the match. I am not yet sure, if Chelsea gets Frank Lampard available for the match. Lampard missed the match against Manchester United. I have not found any injury news so far in both the teams.

Chelsea vs Liverpool Champions League: Online Live Score and Update

It is needless to say that Chelsea vs Liverpool second leg semi final match is going to be one of the most important matches of Champions League this season. Naturally, football fans around the world are eagerly waiting for this all English semi final match. I guess, you already started to manage your time so that you can enjoy the fullest of the match on television. However, still some of you may not be able to stick to your television set due to personal and professional works. If that is what you are worried about, I would request you not get disheartened. You can still take the live score and updates of the match from different live score websites from your office and or even when you are on the go. Well, when you have no other option, is not it better to at least take the live score and updates after every few minutes during the match? Here, I am giving some links of websites from where you can get the online live score and updates of the match:

Live Score

Goalzz

Footie Scorez

Sportpress

Goal.com

At last, I think, this is going to be a mouth watering clash there at the Stamford Bridge stadium. If Chelsea’s incredible home record is what Chelsea fans are banking on, then Liverpool’s imposing form in Champions League will make their fans hopeful about their success this time around. If Chelsea becomes desperate to win their first Champions League title, then Liverpool will be determined to win Champions League title in order to finish the season with silverware and prove the critics wrong. So, you can see that so much is at stake ahead of this match. Now, it is safer to say that those who will be able to play according to their plan and talent, and have a bit of luck will get the ticket of Champions League final this season.

What do you think about it?