Football story by Gareth Bowman, Wed, 07 Dec 2005 20:00:00 GMT


Reigning European champions Liverpool hung on to earn a draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge to finish on top of Champions League Group G. The match itself was played on a dull note since both teams had already qualified for the knock out stages.

Rafael Benitez's men had a point to prove as they set out to frustrate Chelsea for a second time in the Champion's League this season. John Arne Riise has the best chance to score for the Reds, but squandered it away. Eidur Gudjohnsen and Frank Lampard also came close, but it looked like neither team had a heart in the game.

However, the highlight of the match was an ugly knee-high tackle by Michael Essien on Didi Hamann. The referee Herbert Fandel did not notice the tackle and Essien was off the hook temporarily, but FIFA president Sepp Blatter said that the UEFA can take disciplinary action against him.

After the dull draw, which must have frustrated Jose Mourinho, Hamman said that he feared Essien had broken his leg. But he brushed aside that episode and added that Liverpool were in a strong position to challenge Chelsea in the Premier League as well, " I feel we are serious challengers now. It is either us or Manchester United. There is only a few points between us. United, like us, didn't have that good a start to the season and they are picking up," he said.

His comments found favor with Reds skipper Steven Gerrard, who was elated with the result despite the draw, "We are getting increasingly good results against the top sides and emerging as challengers to Chelsea," he said. "We overcame Chelsea in the Champions League last season and our intention has always been to do the same in the league."

Match Details
Referee: Herbert Fandel (Germany).

Chelsea: Cech, Paulo Ferreira (Del Horno 45), Ricardo Carvalho, Terry, Gallas, Essien, Robben (Carlton Cole 73), Lampard, Duff (Wright-Phillips 73), Gudjohnsen, Drogba.


Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Traore, Gerrard, Hamann, Sissoko, Riise (Kewell 60), Crouch (Morientes 68), Luis Garcia (Sinama Pongolle 80)

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