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| Steven Gerrard last game chelsea |
The sense of awkwardness lingered long after Liverpool had formed a
guard of honour to welcome their triumphant hosts.
Only a win would have changed that — and the fact that they could not
produce one against a coasting Chelsea team means Brendan Rodgers requires a
miracle if his side are to return to the Champions League next season.
Liverpool shuffled out uneasily for the new-fangled tradition of
applauding the champions onto the pitch. And they shuffled off at the end,
heads bowed, aware they were now six points behind Manchester United with two
to play and 14 worse off on goal difference.
For all their dashing approach play, goals are a problem. They smashed
the century last season as they finished second behind Manchester City, but
Steven Gerrard's simple back-post header which equalised John Terry's opener
was only the 50th this term.
It has left a black hole, which is pulling them towards the unloved
Europa League after this campaign which has reinforced the theory that only
Luis Suarez (helped perhaps by no European competition) lifted them briefly
back into the elite.
Suarez is not about to return, Daniel Sturridge remains injured and
Gerrard, having proved in the last two games he can still summon an important
goal and influence results, is bound for Los Angeles.
It was nice that Chelsea supporters followed Jose
Mourinho's lead and applauded Gerrard off, but they have taunted him
relentlessly since his costly slip at Anfield, this time last year. And it is
easier to be magnanimous with the title in the bag.
Mourinho's infamous 'little horse' was never that small, but it has
grown and gathered pace as Liverpool lost ground which will be hard to reclaim.
Chelsea coasted through the occasion in a mood of self-congratulation
set by the guard of honour and pre-match flamethrowers and boosted by Mourinho,
who awarded a first start to teenager Ruben Loftus-Cheek and a recall for John
Obi Mikel.
Kurt Zouma came in at centre-half for the experience,
only to limp off with a knee injury before half-time, and Petr Cech would have
played too, according to the manager, were it not for a slight calf problem.
Still, the champions had few problems keeping the visitors at arm's
length and, compared to recent fiery clashes, it was all rather tame, despite a
flashpoint which exploded inside a minute and caught out referee Andre
Marriner.
Cesc Fabregas was late as he slid into a midfield tackle on Raheem
Sterling, which left the Liverpool winger writhing in agony, clutching his right
ankle. Marriner let play flow, but when the ball went dead he sought out Mikel
and showed him the red card.
As Mikel recoiled in shock, the referee took advice from an assistant,
made some hasty apologies, explaining it had been a mistake and showed a yellow
card to Fabregas. Mikel was eventually booked in the second half.
In truth, the Fabregas tackle could easily have been interpreted as a
straight red. Rodgers certainly thought so - and that might have made for a
very different game.
As it was, Sterling completed 90 minutes, although in obvious discomfort
and, a few minutes after his escape, Fabregas delivered the swerving corner
from which Chelsea took the lead.
Terry was the man on the end of it, climbing high above Rickie Lambert
to thump a powerful header past goalkeeper Simon Mignolet and Gerrard, who was
covering on the line.
It was the eighth of the season for the Chelsea captain and the 65th of
his club career. It also hoisted him clear at the top of the list of
top-scoring defenders in the Premier League, with 39.
Stamford Bridge reacted as if that was that, but Liverpool responded
well to the set-back and were level, two minutes before the interval.
Branislav Ivanovic fouled Adam Lallana and Jordan Henderson curled the
free-kick towards the far post, where Gerrard drifted away from Cahill and
Mikel to nod in a simple finish from a couple of feet out, his second headed
goal in as many games having grabbed the winner against Queen's Park Rangers.
Liverpool improved after the break. 'Outstanding,' said Rodgers, but, in
all honesty, it fell quite flat. There were tantalising glimpses of skill from
Lallana as he wriggled by Ivanovic and Philippe Coutinho rippled the
side-netting after a burst of energy from Sterling.
On went Nemanja Matic in a bid to generate a healthier tempo and add
aggression to the midfield and off came Loftus-Cheek. Mourinho hailed him 'a
Chelsea player, for sure' and promised more academy products would be on parade
at West Bromwich next week.
Willian and Fabregas went close in the closing stages but it didn't
happen, and the manager shrugged and said this was understandable.
'After being champions, celebrating and a couple of days off, it's
normal your intensity goes a bit down,' said Mourinho. 'We played at our limits
for many weeks trying to reach the title as soon as possible. I knew today
would be difficult.'
Liverpool's challenge faded, too. Rodgers sent on teenagers Jerome
Sinclair, who made his Premier League debut, and Jordan Ibe, leaving 20-year-old
Sterling as the oldest of a three-man front line.
Coutinho came closest to stealing the points. His ambitious effort hit
Cahill and took a meaty deflection but it also took the pace off the ball and
Thibaut Courtois was able to adjust, while sat on the turf and stop it rolling
over the line.
A sitting-down save seemed a fitting way to end the affair and those in
red put their heads down and left the scene.
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