Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0

JOE COLE is gate-crashing the party at just the right time.
The Chelsea trickster has missed most of this season, first because of a knee injury and then a broken foot.
But he has been put back together just when Jose Mourinho’s Blues need him most.
Like a New Year’s Eve reveller who turned up to the bash at five minutes to midnight, he does not want to go to bed.
Making only his second start since late November, midfielder Cole gave Chelsea a vital edge in the first leg of this bitter Champions League semi-final showdown, racing into the box to slide home Didier Drogba’s cross on 29 minutes.
Yet Chelsea could still live to regret failing to push home their advantage against Liverpool.
Kop keeper Pepe Reina had much to do with that.
The Spanish stopper made two absolutely blinding saves to deny Frank Lampard — one in each half.
And in a tie where such small margins will be decisive, that could prove the difference after next Tuesday’s second leg at Anfield.
Mourinho moaned, of course. When does he not?
The Blues boss complained that “the new rules in football” were in operation again with Chelsea being denied a penalty when the ball struck Alvaro Arbeloa’s arm after he miskicked.
True, the ball did hit the Liverpool defender’s hand. But it was both accidental and outside the box and German referee Markus Merk waved play on.
Yet Mourinho’s persecution complex knows no bounds.
Liverpool will believe they can turn it round next week, although they will have to show a good deal more ambition than they did last night.
Skipper Steven Gerrard came closest to getting a goal back, forcing a superb save out of Petr Cech with a volley from the edge of the box.

But attacks by the visitors were few and far between and manager Rafa Benitez was a picture of frustration on the touchline.
Chelsea were deserved winners but Benitez can console himself in the knowledge Liverpool got out of jail.
With the passionate Kop fans behind their beloved side in the return, the Reds will surely be a different proposition.
European nights at Anfield are like nowhere else.
Chelsea have never stopped complaining about their defeat by the Merseysiders in the semi-final two years ago.
Liverpool went on to win the trophy but Mourinho still refuses to acknowledge the triumph and claims Luis Garcia’s winning goal did not cross the line.
Drogba seemed to be on a one-man mission to right that perceived wrong. He was in his own box heading away every Liverpool set-piece while wreaking his usual havoc at the other end.
He created a great chance on eight minutes, heading down Ashley Cole’s cross towards Andriy Shevchenko.
The Ukrainian turned and was just about to shoot when Lampard came flying in from eight yards and Reina made a superb reaction save.
Sheva was not best pleased at having the ball taken off his toes but Lamps’ 21 goals this season entitled him to have a go.
Drogba then failed to pick out Joe Cole after John Arne Riise gave the ball away.
But Drogba played a major part in the goal after Ricardo Carvalho, who had been doubtful with a hamstring injury, strode out of defence.
Carvalho picked out Drogba on the right and the Ivory Coast striker muscled past Daniel Agger, showing all his strength and desire, before spotting Cole sprinting forward. As the ball came in, Cole got in front of Arbeloa and slid it past Reina for his first goal since one in the Carling Cup at Blackburn six months ago.

Cole is getting better all the time as he plays his way back to fitness and there is a different dimension to Chelsea with him in their ranks.
He gives the powerhouse Blues a certain mystery and guile and makes them less predictable.
Arbeloa survived his handball soon after half-time before Craig Bellamy, who had not had a kick, was replaced by Peter Crouch.
Liverpool at least looked more of a threat with Crouch bullying the centre-backs. And as soon as he entered the battle, Gerrard produced his rasping volley which Cech kept out with a world-class save flying to his left.
Mourinho would not have been surprised. He believes Cech is the best and would not have expected anything else.
Salomon Kalou replaced Shev- chenko with 14 minutes left, al- though he was slightly delayed because, for some reason, he was wearing Shaun Wright-Phillips’ shirt.
Chelsea kept battling but the second goal which would have put such a different complexion on proceedings would not come.
Drogba headed past the post and Wright-Phillips — by now in the action having rescued his shirt from Kalou — fired high over the top.
Then, with the last chance of the game, Drogba got a strong head on Lampard’s corner but the ball bounced wide.
It may have been nowhere near as exciting as the tasty fare dished up by Manchester United and AC Milan on Tuesday night but this semi-final is no less intriguing.
It is still anybody’s guess which two teams will make the final in Athens on May 23.

By:SHAUN CUSTIS
Date:26 April 2007
Credit:www.thesun.co.uk