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CONTRASTING EMOTIONS: Frank Lampard (left) cannot contain his joy as John Arne Riise lies on the ground after scoring an own goal and goalkeeper Jose Reina walks away dejectedly. -- PHOTO: AP
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AT ANFIELD - EXPLAINING the inexplicable is no easy feat and Rafael Benitez did not attempt it.
'It is difficult to understand,' the Liverpool manager said, after his team were held 1-1 by Chelsea in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.
It was.
The brilliance of Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, who made a hat-trick of brilliant saves at Anfield, was one reason.
But the hosts looked set to stamp their supremacy when Javier Mascherano, scarcely a renowned dribbler, slalomed past three opponents.
The fourth, John Terry, resorted to a crude block to stop him. It seemed a desperate bid to avert a second Liverpool goal.
Instead, Chelsea, courtesy of a comical, 95th-minute own-goal by John Arne Riise, levelled.
To widespread disbelief, they somehow escaped from Anfield with a 1-1 draw.
Advantage Chelsea, then. They have the away goal and Liverpool have never scored at Stamford Bridge under Benitez.
Yet his team talk next week could be: 'Same performance, different result, please.'
Same approach, too. Liverpool, after a slow start, were the more expansive, stretching the play and creating chances.
For the most part, it was a display to vindicate Benitez in his belief that he has his strongest squad yet.
Liverpool won individual duels, which bodes well for them in the second leg.
Jamie Carragher was immense in a mighty battle with Didier Drogba. Joe Cole made no headway against Fabio Aurelio. Ashley Cole failed to cope with the industrious Dirk Kuyt. And Xabi Alonso outshone Frank Lampard.
Having spent much of the preceding week at his ill mother's hospital bedside, Lampard has mitigating circumstances. Nevertheless, he was poor and compounded an ineffectual display by conceding possession for Kuyt's goal.
So the strange element is that, perversely, one of his best results created more problems for Grant.
Bringing back his big beasts, Michael Ballack and Lampard, hardly worked. Of his outfield players, only Ricardo Carvalho, who shadowed Fernando Torres effectively, impressed.
Besides possessing home advantage, their best news for the second leg is that they can welcome back the banned Michael Essien to provide dynamism, whether in midfield or at right-back.
A tight, defensive match would suit them, too.
Chelsea were at their most efficient on Tuesday when they could keep play squeezed, allowing Claude Makelele and Ballack to exert some control in a more compact formation.
An open game, such as the second half at Anfield, favours a more energetic Liverpool side and increases Cech's workload.
The difficulty for Chelsea is where they defend.
Too deep and they invite Liverpool on, allowing more room in midfield for the galloping Steven Gerrard.
Too high, and there is a chance Torres, as he did once in the first half, can slip off Carvalho's shoulder, use his pace and get in behind.
Chelsea are almost unbeatable at Stamford Bridge. Their natural caution makes Liverpool's job still harder, but Carvalho, Terry and Makelele risk being overworked if there is not more emphasis on the attack.
Florent Malouda, a surprise selection, was awful and Drogba lacked support for much of the match.
But at least the beleaguered Grant may receive some praise for one decision. Removing Joe Cole, Chelsea's ever-popular player, was a brave decision.
Cole was having his worst game for months and his replacement, Salomon Kalou, created the goal.
Grant, who had also brought on a second striker in Nicolas Anelka and rearranged his midfield in the closing minutes, may see it as a reward for adventure.
Liverpool may say simple bad fortune increases the chances of Chelsea going to Moscow in a month for the final.
The architect of a previous attempt to rule in the Russian capital said he wanted his generals to be lucky.
Napoleon Bonaparte would have loved Avram Grant on Tuesday.
stsports@sph.com.sg
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