England’s first finalist is….

By: Nathan | May 1st, 2007

Admittedly, as a neutral, I had trouble watching the Chelsea Liverpool first leg semi-final on the heels of the Milan/Manchester masterpiece. At this point of the competition, and really the season, 2 teams from the same league make FAR too familiar pitch combatants. There is way too much info known about not only the opposition’s style, but their individual traits as well. Add that to Jose moaning about Reds players trying to get Chelsea men another yellow (though allowing Drogba to flop like a mindless fish in the second half?!?!?!) and we had the makings for a timid game 1. Liverpool helped not a damn thing by fielding a team fit for the opening rounds of the Carling Cup…am I to believe Zenden is a game breaker in a CL semi? I digress as this game should have much more passion and energy, not the least starting with the crowd. Rafa will need to unleash the greyhounds, but looking at the early line-ups I am going to need a Red to explain to me why Pennant and more importantly Sissoko (was no-one watching the ~~Real Madrid~~ Barca games?) are not in the initial team sheets?

Chelsea vs. Liverpool @ 2:30pm ET LIVE on ESPN2
Here is some other news for the all Engerland Semi from around the world wide web:
* As for the managers war of the words, I personally most enjoyed Mourinho’s ‘testimonial’ comment about the Liverpool squads of the last few domestic games.
* Let’s start with the Chelsea injury news, Ballack, Carvalho and now Sheva are out. On a good note - Robben is ready!
* As for Ballack - stories abound that he had minor surgery on his ankle on the advice of Deutschland and not Chelsea…I think Ballack sums up the credibility of that theory with this quote, “”No player would be willing to miss an FA Cup final against Manchester United, and a possible Champions League place for a qualifier against San Marino…I didnt’ have this surgery for fun…”
* Everyone thinks Crouch will start up front from the jump, Essien pipes in on his challenge du jour.
* If you’re a Red, you like the memories involving the man with the whistle.

So there you have a lot of inconsequential information that when the whistle blows will mean not a whole heck of a lot. The atmosphere will be wonderful, the team sheets loaded, and of course everything to play for. What do I see? I see a Liverpool team that has alot of turnover from last year and doesn’t look like a potent unit. Their blue-collar attitutde isn’t as defined as their last CL run. They get goals in unconventional ways - meaning Carvalho loss may not be so bad - and face a hungry Chelsea team that is ONLY worried about this trophy. With all the talent on the pitch, the Engerland boys of John Terry and Frank bring it home for Chelsea. If not an outright Blues win, a 1-1 draw will do the trick.

Random note of non-CL news. I have watched English football in 2 stadiums - today both stadium occupants made news. The first for all the wrong reasons…and the second for all the right.