Stifling the life out of football

If we go on like this, we'll have the life strangled out of football.

Chelsea stifled every attempt by Liverpool to bring beauty to the game at Anfield yesterday, but the superbly organised defence of the visitors left no room for manoeuvre. It was a shame that Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard - such an influence on the club - made the mistake that led to the first goal. The second goal - deep into stoppage time - was an irrelevance, as Liverpool pushed forward to try and get the equaliser.

With six across the back and a deep midfield three in front of them, Chelsea - with exceptionally strong players, and superbly organised - were always going to be difficult to break down, and so it proved.

But it is a bit rich for Jose Mourinho to play like this when earlier in the season he accused West Ham (who defended solidly at Stamford Bridge for a 0-0 draw) of 'playing 19th century football', and when Chelsea have virtually unlimited resources from the pockets of Roman Abramovich. I might understand a team with little chance of winning to play by parking the proverbial bus, but when it's a team who has won so many things, with two potential starting elevens better than most teams in the Premier League, it makes me fear for the future of football.

But of course, this was the way Chelsea won the Champions League two years ago. Heaven help us if they manage to do so again this year.

A couple of months ago Everton boss Roberto Martinez accused Chelsea of employing every trick in the book to win games - and they do. So we had the usual time wasting, tiptoeing forward at free-kicks, haranguing of the referee, and similar for the fourth official. Again - from a club with millions? Come on.

Mourinho says that Chelsea deserve respect. Sorry, but actually they do far too many things that deserve loss of respect..

Let's hope they don't continue to win by stifling the life out of football.

England make it to the Brazil World Cup

England made it to the World Cup Finals in Brazil next summer after their 2-0 win against Poland last night. When Steven Gerrard's toe-poke went in with just a few minutes remaining, it was at last time for England fans to relax.

England left themselves having to win their last two games in the group after failing to beat any of the other main contenders in the group in the first four attempts, drawing with Montenegro, Ukraine (twice) and Poland, and only beating group minnows Moldova, and ultra-minnows San Marino.

However, the performances in the final two games have been fairly impressive, with the 4-1 win against Montenegro preceding last night's victory.

What a breath of fresh air Andros Townsend has been, taking the pressure of England's defence by running 30, 40, 50 yards with the ball and moving the balance of England's play deep into the opposition half. Such a change from the sideways passing or depressing chips forward to nothing that we have suffered for so many years.

And what a delight it is to have a left full-back who is willing to get past people and cross with his left foot rather than always come inside to nothing. Surely the Baines v Cole debate is over, and is decisive in Leighton Baines's favour?

There are some good youngsters coming through, although Gerrard (33), Carrick (32), Jagielka (31) do not count, and Baines (28), Cahill (27), Rooney (28 next week) should not either!

But let's not carried away. England are not good enough to win the World Cup, but might be good enough to make the quarter finals - as we often do.

Gerrard makes mockery of De Sanctis claims

Steven Gerrard's arrival on the pitch for the second half of the game against Napoli at Anfield sparked Liverpool into life in the Europa Cup last night.

His second-half hat-trick turned a one-nil deficit into a 3-1 win, putting Liverpool into a strong qualification position with two group games to go.

There was a ridiculous moment just after Gerrard scored his first goal. Chasing down a poor back pass by Andrea Dossena, he just beat Napoli goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis to the ball and forced the it into the net. De Sanctis quite clearly challenged for the ball with his feet rather than his hands, but then made a farcical claim to the assistant referee (fourth or fifth official!) that Gerrard had taken the ball from his hands! To add to the thespianic quality of the appeal he limped across to make the protest.

Such false claims are not needed.

It was pleasing to see Gerrard beat him twice more.

Liverpool reach a new nadir

Liverpool's chances of bagging a domestic trophy this season melted away faster than the snow covering much of the country last night as they were dumped out of the cup by Championship side Reading.

One misery follows another for the Anfield club, already 12 points adrift and in seventh place in the Premier League, and out of the Champions League. But they keep reaching new nadirs.

Leading one-nil and deep into injury time, a penalty thwarted their hopes of seeing off the Berkshire Royals, who equalised from the spot and then went ahead through Shane Long's header in extra time. It proved to be enough.

Liverpool started with both Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard, but lost Torres to a twisted knee after half an hour, and Gerrard to a hamstring strain at half-time. Replacements David Ngog and Ryan Babel didn't quite match up.

How long Liverpool fans - who booed their team off at the end - can stand for this is open to question. They must be numbed by the dismal failure of the team, and thus, of manager Rafa Benitez, to pull things round. An optimistic end to last season has disintegrated yet again.

Will fourth place (to qualify for next season's Champions League), or being crowned Europa Cup winners be good enough?