Liverpool and Chelsea will meet once again at Anfield this weekend, with obvious ramifications for both sides on this game, with the Reds chasing the title and the Blues flirting with another season in the Europa League.
There has been many a thrilling match between the two sides, creating somewhat of a friendly rivalry between the two clubs over the years as Chelsea have gone to win trophy after trophy leaving Liverpool in their wake.
Ahead of the blockbuster fixture on Merseyside, take a walk down memory lane with some of the most memorable moments this match-up has produced.
Fernando Torres Announces Himself In England
‘His armband proved he was a Red.’ Fernando Torres arrived at Anfield from boyhood club Atletico Madrid, leaving his home as captain of the club for pastures new in England in 2007.
Torres debuted for the Reds against Aston Villa on opening day of the Premier League, and made his Anfield debut the following week against Chelsea.
With just 15 minutes on the clock, Steven Gerrard picked the ball up in midfield before threading Torres through on the left hand side.
With one burst of speed, El Nino blew past Tal Ben-Haim before sliding the ball past Petr Cech and sending Anfield into delirium.
That would be the beginning of a special partnership between Gerrard and Torres, up until…
Chelsea’s New No.9
The transfer window in January 2011. Liverpool fans all over the world switched on their televisions, checked their mobile phones, and saw the news that they never wanted to see. Fernando Torres completes English record transfer to Chelsea.
It was a manic end to the transfer window where the Reds brought in Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez, and despite all the success that the former had with the club, Torres wearing Chelsea blue is still something that does not sit well with the Kop faithful.
Torres became frustrated with Liverpool’s lack of success and wanted to win trophies, ultimately forcing a move out of Anfield and over to Stamford Bridge where he won a Champions League and a Europa League, but never the Premier League as he was on loan at AC Milan in 2014/15 when Chelsea lifted the league trophy.
Suarez Sinks His Teeth Into The Matter
Arriving from Ajax in that transfer window, Luis Suarez had hogged his fair share of headlines. He had been suspended multiple times in Eredivisie for incidents of spitting and biting and was involved in one of the most controversial World Cup moments with his handball against Ghana.
Chelsea went to Anfield in April of 2013 in somewhat of a dead rubber as both teams were out of the title race, with Chelsea seeking to consolidate their place in the top four.
With the visitors 2-1 up approaching the last 15 minutes, a tangle between Suarez and Branislav Ivanovic in the box sparked raucous protests from the players on the pitch as the Uruguayan striker was seen to bite Ivanovic on the arm.
Adding to the controversy, Suarez would snag a point for Liverpool with a 97th minute header, before being banned for 10 games by the FA.
“Oh, Gerrard’s Slipped!”
In the Spring of 2014 in England, everything was pointing towards Liverpool finally getting their hands on the Premier League title as they rode an 11-game winning streak coming into the final three games of the season.
Brendan Rodger’s side looked to make it 12 on the trot when Chelsea rolled around, with Jose Mourinho publicly admitting that he would field a weakened side, with the likes of Aussie Mark Schwarzer, Tomas Kalas and a very young Mohamed Salah handed rare starts.
Liverpool pressed for an opening goal and dominated much of the match, but on the stroke of half-time Gerrard – who countless times had lifted the club out of the dirt in order to win – slipped at the halfway line allowing Demba Ba to score at the Kop end.
Liverpool, and Gerrard in particular, went about chasing the game in the second half but somehow were unable to find the net as a late Willian goal made it 2-0 to Chelsea.
The Reds would go on to draw away at Crystal Palace after leading 3-0 to leave their title aspirations in tatters.
Did It Cross The Line?
Failing in the league, Liverpool defied the odds to reach the last four of the Champions League in 2005 where they faced Chelsea for a spot in the final in Istanbul.
After a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge in the first leg, the opening stages of the second leg at Anfield created one of the most contentious moments in football history in an instant.
Milan Baros was played through on goal and was brought down by Cech, leaving the ball to bobble free to Luis Garcia whose flicked shot was cleared away by William Gallas, but not before it was deemed to have crossed the line.
With goal line technology and VAR merely a twinkle in the eyes of football at the time, there was no review and Liverpool advanced to the final against AC Milan, and the rest is history.
