Chelsea Seal Title With Late Draw at Liverpool
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2014/9/27/1411830322907/Chelseas-Oscar-celebrates-014.jpgFirst Blood: Oscar opened the scoring for Chelsea late in the game to reignite hopes of a title win
Chelsea came to Anfield this evening knowing that a point would seal the Premier League title for them. The London club hadn't lost in the league since March's 2-1 defeat to West Ham, winning 4 of their last 5 league games. Liverpool, on the other hand, were battling relegation, and needed to hope results elsewhere carried them through to stay up.
Chelsea Starting XI: Courtois, Azpillcueta, Stones, Terry, Gaya, Casemiro, Ramires, Fisher, Oscar, Scott, Costa
Talking Points: Eden Hazard starts the game on the bench, while the wings are occupied by Chelsea's two young wingers, Gavin Fisher and Matt Scott, who were poached from Manchester United's Academy in March.
Liverpool Starting XI: Mingolet, Clyne, Skrtel, Sakho, Moreno, Lucas, Can, Henderson, Lallana, Firmino, Sturridge
Despite the expectations here, it was Liverpool who started the game the brightest, testing and stretching the Chelsea defence, and pressing high up the pitch when the title contenders did have the ball. Anfield was not the most buoyant of atmospheres, despite the Kop's best efforts to support their relegation-battling side.
It was Liverpool who struck first, through Brazilian midfielder Lucas, who drove through the heart of the Chelsea defence, leaving John Stones tied in knots, before stroking the ball past Courtois, and into the far corner. Anfield started to hope, and the fans started to sing.
The game was nothing short of tentative, with Liverpool protecting their slender lead, while the Chelsea attack grew visibly frustrated. Matt Scott and Diego Costa were replaced just after half time, Eden Hazard and Falcao replacing them.
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Goal: Lucas' early goal gave Liverpool a slender advantage.
The 1-0 advantage held until the 81st minute for Liverpool, when Oscar broke through from his Attacking Midfield position, and lifted the ball over Simon Mingolet to level the scores. The travelling fans celebrated: as it stood, they were league champions!
But Liverpool were not done yet, as an Emre Can cross from deep found an onrushing - and very out of position - Mamadou Sakho in the Chelsea box, and the Frenchman powered a header low and hard past Courtois. 2-1! Chelsea had no more than 7 minutes to draw level, and they threw everything at the Liverpool goal.
Heroes, though, come in the most unlikely form. The referee was glancing at his watch as Spaniard Jose Gaya flew down the left wing, sidestepping a reckless challenge from Adam Lallana, before pulling the ball back to Casemiro on the edge of the box. The Brazilian found his path blocked, and instead of shooting, he lifted a lobbed pass to right-back Azpillcueta, who's volleyed shot ricocheted off the thigh of Alberto Moreno. The Liverpool left back chased after the ball to clear into touch, but before he could reach, Chelsea's youngster Gavin Fisher slid underneath him, making sweet contact with the ball, which flew past Mingolet, ricocheted off the crossbar, and nestled in the back of the net.
Silence swept around Anfield, broken almost immediately by the roar of the Chelsea fans as they celebrated Fisher's goal - the boy who had broken the club's record for youngest goalscorer earlier in the season had just scored his 2nd goal for the club, and it was a title-winning goal!
