RODGERS WELL SHORT OF ELITE
Lacklustre Liverpool can’t spoil title party
THE sense of awkwardness lingered long after Liverpool had formed a guard of honour for 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 t he new- f angled t r adition 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 boosted by Mourinho, who awarded a first start to teenager Ruben Loftus-Cheek and a recall for John Mikel Obi.
Kurt Zouma came in at centrehalf, 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 bay and, compared to recent fiery clashes, it was rather tame, despite an early clash which 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.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 above Rickie Lambert to thump a powerful header past goalkeeper Simon Mignolet and Gerrard, 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 i n the Premier League, with 39.
Stamford Bridge reacted as if that was that, but Liverpool responded well and were level two minutes before the interval. Jordan Henderson curled a f ree ree- kick t owards t he f ar post, where Gerrard drifted away from Cahill and Mikel to nod in a simple finish. His second headed goal in as many games having grabbed the winner against Queens Park Rangers.
Liverpool i mproved 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.
Chelsea’s manager said the lack- lustre display was understandable.understandable ‘After celebrating and a couple of days off, it’s normal your intensity goes down,’ said Mourinho. ‘We played at our limits for many weeks. 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 end and those in red put their heads down and left the scene.