If it weren’t for the heroics of Chelsea ‘keeper Thibaut Courtois, Liverpool’s trip to Stamford Bridge next week for the second leg of their League Cup semi-final clash with the Blues wouldn’t be as finely balanced as it is.
Although Raheem Sterling would eventually find the equalizer after Eden Hazard put the visitors ahead from the spot, the Belgian net-minder made a string of fine saves in the second half to deny the Anfield outfit the win — most memorably, getting finger-tips to a punishing volley from substitute Adam Lallana. The former Southampton man, who has only just returned to fitness after picking up a thigh problem in the draw with Leicester City, replaced club captain Steven Gerrard not long after the midfielder struck the post with a composed effort from inside the area.
“I can’t believe the ‘keeper saved it, I was halfway on my celebration. It was a fantastic save and probably one of the reasons why he got Man of the Match. He is world-class and Chelsea are a world-class team” he told the clubs official website following the final whistle. “We come off the pitch disappointed, but still in the game. We’ll go to Stamford Bridge and we’re fully confident we can go through to the final.”
Jose Mourinho’s men, who sit at the summit of the Premier League, did well to marshal the Reds during the opening exchanges, but they went off the boil during the second half and were lucky to make it out of Anfield with a decent result as Liverpool not only piled pressure in abundance on their visitors, but restricted them to only one shot on net. On the back of that performance, they’ll have every confidence going into the next leg, but doing that at Stamford Bridge is a whole different prospect altogether…
