Steven Gerrard's unforseen deployment between Robbie Keane and the Liverpool central midfielders undid Chelsea
There has been head-scratching in the past over Rafa Benítez's predilection for changing personnel. But yesterday Liverpool's manager showed all the cunning of a top coach with clear tactics which made the most of the players available to him and got the very best out of Steven Gerrard.
Arsène Wenger surprised his opponents by deploying Abou Diaby behind Emmanuel Adebayor in the Arsenal team that beat Fenerbahce last week, and Benítez did something similar against Chelsea. Javier Mascherano would have been expected to play deepest in a five-man middle line but not so. The Argentinian tagged on to Frank Lampard, Xabi Alonso marked Deco and Gerrard switched between helping Robbie Keane up front and linking with his central midfielders.
With the indefatigable Dirk Kuyt on the right and the running Albert Riera on the left, this was no smash and grab but an away performance of controlled excellence in a high-intensity match.
Benítez, shorn of Fernando Torres, found the perfect recipe for success. He will use this formula regularly away from home and Gerrard's input cannot be overstated. Playing short or long passes, he excelled in that important space between Liverpool's solid midfield and their lone front man.
Although his minder, Mikel John Obi, showed energy and was adept on the ball, he did not hamper and disturb Gerrard as Claude Makelele would have done. Gerrard, playing in a similar position to the one he took up for England in the second half in Belarus, needed man-marking.
When Chelsea had possession at the back Gerrard moved into areas where he would be available if Liverpool regained the ball. Because Chelsea's full-backs were far more aggressive going forward than Liverpool's, he found areas wide of Mikel to pick up the ball and counter. With Keane playing across the width of the box, cleverly holding the ball up, Liverpool retained possession with precise passing and had plenty of dangerous efforts at goal.
For all the neat interplay of Lampard, Mikel and Deco, Chelsea could not open up Liverpool because Benítez's back four never left their defensive spots. Nicolas Anelka lacked the muscle to challenge the imperious Jamie Carragher, and Florent Malouda and Salomon Kalou were peripheral. I thought Luiz Felipe Scolari might mirror Liverpool in the second half by pushing Lampard further forward off Anelka and sitting Deco and Mikel behind. But he was restricted by injuries and for once his bench looked skimpy.
There has been head-scratching in the past over Rafa Benítez's predilection for changing personnel. But yesterday Liverpool's manager showed all the cunning of a top coach with clear tactics which made the most of the players available to him and got the very best out of Steven Gerrard.
Arsène Wenger surprised his opponents by deploying Abou Diaby behind Emmanuel Adebayor in the Arsenal team that beat Fenerbahce last week, and Benítez did something similar against Chelsea. Javier Mascherano would have been expected to play deepest in a five-man middle line but not so. The Argentinian tagged on to Frank Lampard, Xabi Alonso marked Deco and Gerrard switched between helping Robbie Keane up front and linking with his central midfielders.
With the indefatigable Dirk Kuyt on the right and the running Albert Riera on the left, this was no smash and grab but an away performance of controlled excellence in a high-intensity match.
Benítez, shorn of Fernando Torres, found the perfect recipe for success. He will use this formula regularly away from home and Gerrard's input cannot be overstated. Playing short or long passes, he excelled in that important space between Liverpool's solid midfield and their lone front man.
Although his minder, Mikel John Obi, showed energy and was adept on the ball, he did not hamper and disturb Gerrard as Claude Makelele would have done. Gerrard, playing in a similar position to the one he took up for England in the second half in Belarus, needed man-marking.
When Chelsea had possession at the back Gerrard moved into areas where he would be available if Liverpool regained the ball. Because Chelsea's full-backs were far more aggressive going forward than Liverpool's, he found areas wide of Mikel to pick up the ball and counter. With Keane playing across the width of the box, cleverly holding the ball up, Liverpool retained possession with precise passing and had plenty of dangerous efforts at goal.
For all the neat interplay of Lampard, Mikel and Deco, Chelsea could not open up Liverpool because Benítez's back four never left their defensive spots. Nicolas Anelka lacked the muscle to challenge the imperious Jamie Carragher, and Florent Malouda and Salomon Kalou were peripheral. I thought Luiz Felipe Scolari might mirror Liverpool in the second half by pushing Lampard further forward off Anelka and sitting Deco and Mikel behind. But he was restricted by injuries and for once his bench looked skimpy.
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