Chelsea 3 - 2 Liverpool - AET Player Ratings

Chelsea Players Rating

Petr Cech 5.5

Michael Essien 7.5

Ricardo Carvalho 7

John Terry 7

Ashley Cole 6.5

Claude Makelele 7

Michael Ballack 7

Salomon Kalou (off 70 mins ) 7

Joe Cole (off 91 mins) 6.5

Frank Lampard (off 119 mins) 8.5*

Subs

Florent Malouda (on 70 mins) 7

Nicolas Anelka (on 91 mins) 7

Andrei Shevchenko (on 119 mins) 6

Liverpool Players Rating

Jose Reina 6

Alvaro Arbeloa 5

Jamie Carragher 7

Martin Skrtel (off 22) 6

John Arne Riise 6

Xabi Alonso 6.5

Javier Mascherano 6.5

Dirk Kuyt 6

Steven Gerrard 6.5

Yossi Benayoun (off 78 mins) 7.5

Subs

Sami Hyypia (on 22 mins) 5

Jermaine Pennant (on 78 mins) 6

Ryan Babel (on 99 mins) 6.5

CHELSEA

Petr Cech: 5 – Had a fine game for 115 minutes and then uncharacteristically fumbled a Babel shot to gift Liverpool a second goal and almost a way back into the match.

Michael Essien: 8.5 – He doesn’t have the same influence at right back as in midfield, but the Ghanaian will simply not let that stop him. Was a driving force from start to finish, and barely put a foot wrong. Was absolutely everywhere.

Ricardo Carvalho: 6.5 – His usual assured performance at the back. A couple of 'dodgy' moments, but a solid display nonetheless.

John Terry: 7 - A decent game, survived some handball scares and coped well with Liverpool’s attack, by and large.

Ashley Cole: 7.5 - Coped comfortably with the threat of Kuyt and offered his best performance for some time.

Michael Ballack: 7.5 - Another strong performance by the German. Unlucky with a free kick which only just missed at the end of the first half and won the penalty for his side. Won the midfield battle against Xabi Alonso.

Claude Makelele: 6.5 - Should have dealt with Benayoun for the goal and looked a little off the pace at times. Still an improvement from the first leg, though.

Frank Lampard: 8 - His neat and perceptive passing kept the Blues going forward. A lovely ball to put Kalou through for the first goal and showed true guts to step up and take the penalty which he finished nervelessly.

Joe Cole: 5 – Poor showing, and most definitely Chelsea's worst player on the evening. Offered little going forwards and was lucky to last 90 minutes. Eventually gave way to Anelka.

Didier Drogba: 10 – A performance to silence his many critics. Great finish for both goals which he finished expertly and caused Carragher and Hyypia problems all night. It is displays like this that win trophies, and the night has to be about him and Avram Grant.

Saloman Kalou: 6.5 - His run and shot set up Drogba for the opener but other than that he did little and it was no surprise to see him replaced by Malouda.

Substitutions:
Florent Malouda: 6.5 – Was marginally more effective than Kalou the man he replaced.

Nicolas Anelka: 6.5 – Great cross to set up the winner for Drogba.

Shevechenko - NA

LIVERPOOL

Jose Reina: 7 - Made some strong saves in tricky conditions in the first half but could only watch helplessly as the sheer power of Drogba’s shots flew past him. Had no chance with Lampard’s expertly taken penalty.

Alvaro Arbeloa: 5.5 - Was caught out for the first goal and had some problems as Ashley Cole doubled up. An average showing.

Jamie Carragher: 6.5 – Made some great challenges at times but tired as the game wore on and was beaten by Drogba for the winner.

Martin Skrtel: n/a Injured early on in a tackle with Drogba and only last twenty minutes before limping off.

John Arne Riise: 5.5 - Looked desperate to atone for his error in last week’s match but didn’t and was caught napping as Anelka teed up Drogba for Chelsea’s third.

Javier Mascherano: 6.5 – Didn’t have the influence on the game he would have liked and was sloppy in possession at times.

Xabi Alonso: 5.5 - Overshadowed by Ballack and Lampard in midfield in the first half. Improved in the second, but couldn’t quite get Liverpool going with his passing.

Dirk Kuyt: 4 - Struggled against Ashley Cole and his only notable contribution was a shot Cech saved well at the beginning of the second half.

Steven Gerrard: 7 - Anonymous in the first half but a second half performance helped his side get back into the game. Couldn’t produce the match winning performance his side needed this time around though.

Yossi Benayoun: 6.5 – Had little impact on the game in truth but then a great run and pass set up Torres for the equaliser. Replaced by Pennant.

Fernando Torres: 6.5 - Was hardly involved but having said that had a good shot saved in the first half and scored the vital equaliser in the second. In fact you wouldn’t have bet against him scoring again if presented with a chance but was replaced by Babel due to an injury.

Substitutions:
Sami Hypia: 4 - Replaced the crocked Skrtel after 20 mins and had a shocker to be honest. Was beaten by Kalou for the first goal and fouled Ballack for the second. Might have earned his side a penalty in extra time but referee waved his appeal away.

Jermaine Pennant: 6 – Made little impact apart from one solitary run up the right that resulted in nothing.

Ryan Babel: 7 - Scored with a speculative shot from miles out with only three minutes left but goalkeeper really should have saved.

Gill Clark