The ball hoepfully pumped into the Liverpool box and after a bit of ping pong Anelka heads tamely wide for a goal-kick.

Riera wins a free-kick after some determined work in midfield to earn Liverpool a rest bite and inch them ever so closer to victory.

Frustration for the home side - Mikel trying his luck from long range and sending the ball high into the stands behind Reina's goal.

A good move from Chelsea is broken up by Liverpool skipper Gerrard with a fantastci sliding challenge to dispossess Mikel and start a Liverpool attack, Kuyt drives the ball across looking for Babel but Chelsea clear.

A long throw into the box for Chelsea and di Santo is able to knock it on to Lampard who puts a lot of power behind the head at goal but Reina was able to gather with ease.

Wonderful slick passing and moving from the visitors and in the end Babel tried to delicately slip in Riera but Terry was able to clear the danger.

A moment of brilliance from Ryan Babel as he controls and turns Carvalho before striking right-footed towards the top corner with real venom but the shot goes fractionally wide as Cech scrambles.

Belletti slides the ball into Deco who controls and cuts inside Arbeloa but as he looks to shoot from close range the defenders make an excellent tackle and give away a corner.

Chelsea break and Anelka crosses towards the head of di Santo but he cannot direct the header on target as he angles his head back.

Liverpool have a free-kick that Gerrard will angle in from the left hand side - He gets it all wrong and it sails over the heads of everyone and for a goal kick.

Lampard turns and chips the ball towards di Santo who heads the ball beautifully into the path of the on rushing Cole but the full back slices the chance well wide. That's the best chance Chelsea have had and it has slipped through their fingers.

Frustration growing for the home side as they continue to being kept out by a sturdy Liverpool back line - Bosingwa angles a ball in to Lampard but he cannot control it and the ball runs through to Reina.

Mascherano was set through inadvertantly as the ball ricocheted off Gerrard but the Argentine was too eager to play the ball across the box when there were better options available. A waste of a great chance for Liverpool there.

Briliant one touch passing between Babel and Gerrard and the Liverpool skipper almost found the run of Babel in behind Terry.

The temperature just starting to rise inside the stadium now as Chelsea's players begin to get frustrated and the fans can sense it.

Xabi Alonso takes a free-kick from about 25 yards that is bent low, wrong footing Cech, but it struck the base of the post and Carvalho was able to turn it out of the danger zone. What an effort from Alonso, so nearly a wonderful goal.

A dipping cross from Lampard was almost headed home by Cole at the far post but Kuyt did enough to prevent the full back from directing the header goal bound.

Reina kicks long and sets up a Liverpool attack which results in a strike from Kuyt from outside the box but it flies wide.

Malouda seemed to be in the clear before being chopped down by Reina one-on-one but Liverpool were saved by the offside flag given against Malouda after Anelka's flick on.

Aurelio is over the free-kick but he sends it way over the bar - What a waste of a good opportunity to put the ball in the box.

Chelsea work the ball well and it ends up with Malouda in behind on the left but his cross aimed at Anelka is well read by Agger who is able to clear.

Riera steps inside Bosingwa and finds Gerrard who unleashes a shot from way out but Terry is there to block emphatically sending the ball well up the park.

A very generous free-kick is awarded to Bosningwa after he touched the ball round Aurelio and went to ground on the right - Lampard's free-kick reaches the back post where Carvalho brings it down but he cannot force it back towards goal.

Liverpool have a free-kick, about 35 yards from goal after Mikel tripped Riera as he cut inside - Gerrard will take - He works it to Macherano but his shot is badly struck and cleared.

Nearly a costly mix up for Chelsea after a rapid Liverpool counter attack ends in a loose ball in the Chelsea area. Mikel and Cole both stood off it and if Keane was alert to the situation he may have been able to step in but in the end Mikel clears.

John Terry finding himself well forward and slides the ball to Deco who shoots from range and forces another Chelsea corner. A free-kick is awarded to Liverpool for pushing as the corner came in.

Lampard rifles the free-kick from nearly 35 yards directly at goal but Mascherano stands up and heads it away - The midfielder seems a little dazed such was the force of the shot.

Gerrard is dispossed by Carvalho and he finds Kalou who slips it square to Deco who surges towards the box before shooting with his left foot from the edge of the area but it went just wide of Reina's right hand post.

Chelsea have the visitor's camped inside their own half now but they are really struggling to pick a gap in the solid Liverpool back four.

A sustained period of pressure for the home side as Bosingwa crosses twice from the right but Lampard's shot is blocked and in the end Liverpool are able to clear.

Chelsea have a corner after Lampard's long range effort was blocked but went behind - Lampard's corner is headed away at the near post by Agger.

Liverpool are doing well to set up a solid defence for Chelsea to try and break down and Mikel almost did with a wonderful chipped ball over the back four but Malouda couldn't bring it down to shoot.

Good play from the home side, a long diagonal ball is picked chested down by Ashely Cole and he tries to link up with Malouda but the final ball was just too firm and well picked off by Agger.

Again Deco finds space in the final third but once again his shot is well blocked and the ball is cleared and Riera is able to spear head another Liverpool attack.

Steven Gerrard almost doubles Liverpool's lead as he fires a dipping volley that almost eludes Cech but the keeper is able to tip it over the bar for a corner.

Deco works the ball wide to Bosingwa who is forward on the right wing, the low dipping cross is a touch behind Kalou who stoops to head at goal but it goes over the top.

Chelsea looking to find a way back in to the game and Deco crosses from the right flank but the ball is over hit and Liverpool are able to clear comfortably.

Riera does well to out muscle Bosingwa and break into the box but with options for the cross the winger tries to beat Cech at his near post but finds the side netting.

A late challenge from Alonso on Kalou as he comes through the winger. The home fans didn't like it but sensibly Howard Webb just gives the Spaniard a talking too.

Anelka slides the ball into Lampard who turns it past Carragher to Kalou who shoots left-footed early but he scuffs the ball into the hands of Reina.

Aurelio slides the ball down the left hand side for Riera to run onto but an excellent sliding challenge from Carvalho dispossess him and Chelsea take possession.

A nice move from Chelsea with some intricate passing from the three midfielders working the ball wide to Bosingwa who slid to Malouda in a crossing position but he is jusged offside and the play breaksdown.

The passing has been just a little scrappy from both sides in the opening exchanges as both sides try to come to grips with the greasy surface.

A slip from Alonso allows Anelka to pick up the ball but as he tried to shoot Carragher made a good challenge, the ball falls for Deco but his shot isdeflected wide by Alonso for a corner.

Almost an early chance for Liverpool as Gerrard wins the ball from Bosingwa but his attempted one-two with Keane went through to Cech as it skipped off the slick surface.