#CultClashes: Stevie’s slip and Garcia’s ‘ghost goal’ make the cut
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You don’t have to trawl through the annals of history or look into any great detail to conclude that Chelsea v Liverpool games tend to be pretty spicy.
Coincidentally, they also tend to have a lot riding on them and this weekend’s upcoming clash is certainly no different.
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp is desperately trying to assert his authority at Anfield while Chelsea gaffer Jose Mourinho is just trying to keep hold of his job.
So, nothing too major then…
We’re branching out to cover all competitions in this edition. Well, we couldn’t miss out Smug Mourinho and Luis Garcia’s ‘ghost goal’, could we?
Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool, Sunday 11 May 2003
When Danish winger Jesper Gronkjaer cut inside, unleashed a left-foot shot that arrowed its way to goal and promptly fell on his backside, he shaped the future of Chelsea club and the Premier League as we know it.
Sure, it was already known beforehand that a positive result would secure the Blues a spot in the Champions League which is fairly major in itself.
But the long-term repercussions have proved to be even greater.
Yes, as legend has it, this was the game that convinced Roman Abramovich to buy the club in 2003.
Gronkjaer’s effort has been dubbed the ‘£1bn goal’. And the Pensioners are forever indebted to him.
Liverpool 2-3 Chelsea, Sunday 27 February 2005
As League Cup finals go, this was a belter.
Jose Mourinho secured his first trophy in charge of Chelsea and even managed to get himself sent to the stands for riling the Reds supporters.
Liverpool took the lead in the first minute courtesy of a John Arne Riise strike before Steven Gerrard’s unfortunate own goal restored parity late on.
Didier Drogba and Mateja Kezman (remember him?) then put the Blues 3-1 up in extra-time before Antonio Nunez (see Kezman) pulled one back, but it wasn’t enough to stop the West London outfit lifting the trophy for the third time in their history.
Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea, 3 May 2005
They say revenge is a dish best served with a slice of controversy. Or something like that.
Luis Garcia’s ‘ghost goal’ has forever cemented his cult status amongst the Anfield faithful and at the time sent Liverpool through to their first European Cup final in 20 years.
After just four minutes of this Champions League semi-final, second leg, the diminutive Spaniard toe-poked an effort towards goal following a scramble in the penalty box.
Did the ball cross the line? The player in question insists it did though the debate rages on. But all that mattered was the result and thanks to Garcia it was Liverpool who were sent on their way to lifting the famous trophy.
Chelsea 0-1 Liverpool, Sunday 26 October 2008
Another Liverpool victory and another chance for the media to talk up a title tilt as the Reds went three points clear at the summit.
As we all know the Merseysiders didn’t go on to claim a maiden Premier League trophy.
But this victory did mean they ended Chelsea’s 86-match unbeaten home run in the top-flight.
Xabi Alonso’s 10th-minute goal did the damage for Rafa Benitez’s side on an afternoon to savour.
Liverpool 0-2 Chelsea, Sunday April 27 2014
Look away now Kopites. Apologies but we had to include ‘The Slip’ and reference the day Liverpool’s title destiny was taken out of their hands.
The Reds started the game in characteristic fashion, hoping to blow their opponents away early on as they had done to so many others throughout the season.
But they were met by a blue wall and Brendan Rodgers’ charges soon became both disjointed and dejected.
Steven Gerrard’s error let Demba Ba in to open the scoring at the end of the first-half before Willian sealed all three points in stoppage time.
Manchester City went on to win the Premier League, Rodgers has gone and Liverpool fans are still left rueing what might’ve been.
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