Goals from Maxi Rodriguez and Martin Kelly put Liverpool into the semi-final of the Carling Cup at the expense of Chelsea, who were unable to take revenge for the Premier League defeat at the hands of the same opposition earlier this month.
Rodriguez opened the scoring just before the hour mark, meeting Craig Bellamy’s pass to net his second goal of the season against Andre Villas-Boas’ side. Bellamy was again instrumental in Liverpool’s second, when Kelly flicked the Welshman’s free-kick past Ross Turnbull.
Florent Malouda had arguably Chelsea’s best chance of the game when his header hit the crossbar shortly before Liverpool took the lead.
Liverpool also had a first-half penalty saved by Turnbull, taken by Andy Carroll after Chelsea centre-back Alex handballed after Jose Enrique crossed the ball into the penalty area from the left wing. Carroll sent the penalty straight down the middle with force but sent the effort directly at the goalkeeper.
The striker’s miss did not prove costly, however, thanks to second-half goals from Rodriguez and Kelly that sealed the Reds’ progression to the last four.
Chelsea: Turnbull; Bosingwa, Luiz, Alex, Bertrand; McEachran (Ramires 41), Romeu, Lampard; Malouda (Anelka 64), Torres, Lukaku (Mata 64)
Liverpool: Reina; Kelly, Carragher, Coates, Enrique; Rodriguez (Skrtel 89), Henderson, Spearing, Lucas (Adam 70), Bellamy (Kuyt 79); Carroll
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