Chelsea v Liverpool match zone: Major miss for Maxi and Torres compares to Margi

07 February 2011 01:16
In 2006, Maxi Rodriguez scored one of the greatest goals in World Cup history. Yesterday, he produced arguably the most embarrassing miss of the Barclays Premier League season, somehow diverting Steven Gerrard's low cross on to the crossbar from less than three yards.[LNB] Luiz central to Carlo's plans Trailing 1-0 with 17 minutes to go, Carlo Ancelotti turned to . . . a central defender. The Chelsea manager's decision to send on David Luiz for the final part of the game provided a clue to the way the Italian intends to use his ?25million signing. [LNB]Although Luiz is nominally a centre half, he is very comfortable on the ball - as was evident even in his brief cameo yesterday - and he could potentially also be used in a holding midfield role.[LNB] It wasn't quite Jose Mourinho directing that 'Shh' gesture at Liverpool supporters in 2005, but Kenny Dalglish's dance of delight following Raul Meireles' winning goal reached its ecstatic peak while he was standing directly in front of the Chelsea bench, where a sullen-looking Fernando Torres was sitting. Pure coincidence, of course.[LNB] If Fernando Torres is worth ?50million, what price Lionel Messi? The Argentina genius scored a hat-trick as Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid 3-0 on Saturday and has now scored a staggering 40 goals in 34 games this season. [LNB] Simply the best: Lionel Messi collects another matchball[LNB]Barcelona's win was their 16th La Liga victory in succession, breaking the record set half a century ago by Alfredo di Stefano's legendary Real Madrid team. [LNB]This week it is 32 years since Trevor Francis became the first ?1m player. With Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore predicting a ?100m transfer, Messi is surely the only player on the planet who would justify a nine-figure transfer fee. [LNB] The anti-Torres banners displayed by Liverpool's travelling fans were a mixture of the downright abusive and those that had taken a little more thought, including one that compared Torres to Eighties actor and TV presenter Margi Clarke (right). But the banner that may have wounded Torres the most simply read: 'He who betrays will always walk alone.'[LNB] [LNB]  Explore more:People: Trevor Francis, Kenny Dalglish, Alfredo Di Stefano, Maxi Rodriguez, Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard, Jose Mourinho, Lionel Messi, Carlo Ancelotti Places: Barcelona, Liverpool, Argentina

Source: Daily_Mail