Liverpool held hosts Chelsea to a goalless draw in the all-English Champions League semifinal first leg at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
The Reds will be delighted to go into the second leg on May 3 unscathed but Chelsea will be undaunted by the task of winning 1-0 at Anfield for a second time this season.
England midfielder Frank Lampard wasted Chelsea’s best chance in the 22nd minute, firing over the bar from short range with goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek motionless.
Milan Baros forced a superb save out of his Czech Republic teammate Petr Cech shortly before half-time, the Blues stopper deflecting the striker’s powerful header round the post to keep matters even.
”I should have scored,” admitted Lampard.
”I thought it was a goal before it hit the back of the net and that’s a mistake. It’s a shame because it would have given us a big advantage for the second leg.
”But it’s a decent result. We didn’t concede a goal and we are confident we can score anywhere. We will be raring to go next week.”
Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard insisted his team still have a lot of work to do next week if they are to make the final, where either AC Milan or PSV Eindhoven will await.
”It was like a chess game. We defended well and 0-0 is a good result but the tie isn’t over, it’s just half-time,” said Gerrard.
”We would have liked to have scored, we didn’t come for a draw but hopefully at Anfield our fans will take the roof off and push us forward to a couple of goals.”
Chelsea, one win short of securing the Premiership title, started the clear favourites against Liverpool, who will be fortunate to finish better than their current fifth place, not high enough to secure a Champions League spot for next season.
The Blues notched up two 1-0 Premiership wins over Liverpool this season then came from behind to win February’s League Cup final in Cardiff 3-2 to rub salt in the wounds.
A hamstring injury ruled out Chelsea’s Republic of Ireland winger Damien Duff but Arjen Robben, not fit enough to replace him, started on the bench.
William Gallas came in for Robert Huth at left-back and Tiago came into central midfield.
Baros recovered from a knee injury in time to feature, much to Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez’s relief as substitutes Djibril Cisse and Harry Kewell were not fit enough to last 90 minutes.
Chelsea had the better of the opening exchanges in a keenly-fought match.
Joe Cole jinked into the Liverpool penalty box 11 minutes in but his shot was straight at Dudek.
The England midfielder was finding space down the right flank against Djimi Traore, and his cross two minutes later almost resulted in an opener.
Didier Drogba jumped for the header and the ball dropped kindly for a cross shot. His effort was heading wide but Eidur Gudjohnsen, sliding in at the far post, just failed to connect and score.
Liverpool’s Norway winger John Arne Riise cut into the penalty box on 19 minutes but shot straight at Cech who produced an instinctive block.
Lampard wasted a chance to score three minutes later when given a simple chance from close range.
William Gallas’ cross from the left was nodded down by Cole but Lampard’s shot cleared the crossbar with the goal at his mercy.
Liverpool gave the Blues a scare before the interval.
Baros forced an excellent save out of Cech on 39 minutes when his international teammate tipped a powerful header round the post following a curling Steven Gerrard pass.
Cole gave Traore further trouble five minutes after the interval, but after cutting inside the left-back, Sami Hyypia slid in to nudge the ball from his feet as he shaped to shoot.
Liverpool’s Igor Biscan and Chelsea’s Cole were cautioned as tempers flared before Netherlands winger Robben replaced Tiago with 31 minutes left.
Benitez responded by replacing Baros with Cisse in the lone striker role. The French forward blasted a fierce shot just wide on 68 minutes, leaving Luis Garcia bemoaning the spurned chance to cross.
Liverpool sensed the opportunity for a vital away goal and surged forward whenever possible. That tactic left defensive gaps to exploit and Blues striker Mateja Kezman came on for Cole with 13 minutes left to try and exploit them.
Liverpool’s Xavi Alonso was cautioned in the last few minutes to rule himself out of the return leg.
A goalless draw seemed to suit Benitez, who sent on Vladimir Smicer for Luis Garcia in the dying seconds to run down the clock.
Cech had to charge off the goal-line in injury time to deny a Cisse effort, securing a stalemate for the trip to Merseyside next Tuesday. – Sapa-AFP