Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea

The FA Community Shield
3.00pm, Sunday 13 August 2006
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
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13 August 2006
Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea

Click here for highlights of Liverpool's 2-1 win over Chelsea, where Peter Crouch and John Arne Riise netted for the Reds.

Liverpool have opened the season with victory over their rivals Chelsea, by the same scoreline which they triumphed in April in The FA Cup semi-final, thanks to a late headed winner from Peter Crouch.

Despite making a number of changes to the side that played a Champions League qualifier in midweek, it was Rafa Benitez who was celebrating at the end of proceedings after seeing his side take a deserved victory.

John Arne Riise gave Liverpool the lead just as he did at Old Trafford in April, and also in the previous meeting between the sides at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium in the League Cup final.

Then with only 23 minutes played one of Chelsea's new signings Michael Ballack pulled up with a hip problem and departed the action almost immediately. Soloman Kalou came on to replace the German skipper.

It was undoubtedly blow to Chelsea to lose the physical presence of Ballack so early in the game, particularly with Sissoko performing so confidently in the new look central midfield partnership with Zenden.

Playing out their eleventh meeting in little over two seasons, it was inevitable that chances would come at a premium as both sides demonstrated a great deal of knowledge about their opponents. Yet Peter Crouch almost gave Liverpool a two-goal advantage going into the interval when he was fed by the impressive Mark Gonzalez.

Carlo Cudicini was equal to the looping finish and Chelsea survived the scare and set about levelling the scores at just the right moment, with their record signing Andriy Shevchenko providing a sublime finish to silence the Red supporters.

Frank Lampard presented the chance to the Ukrainian striker with an inch perfect lofted through pass. Shevchenko latched onto the ball and stole his way behind the Liverpool backline with deadly determination, guiding the ball into the bottom corner before Jose Reina could do anything to stop him.

Reina was called into action twice in quick succession early in the second half, as Chelsea's two strikers stretched him in a matter of moments. First Drogba's looping cross nearly caught Reina unawares in similar fashion to Paul Konchesky, then from the resulting corner Shevchenko stooped to head toward the bottom corner but Reina was again more than equal.

With the introduction of Craig Bellamy, Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso, Liverpool began to maintain a stronger attacking edge in the game and the game started to open up with the fans joining in the atmosphere.

It was Liverpool's new signing Craig Bellamy who provided the opening for Peter Crouch to win the game, a persistant threat to the Chelsea defence with his pace the Welshman took the ball to the bye-line and lifted a perfect cross to his strike partner which was powered home.

Another of Liverpool's new introductions almost made it 3-1 with three minutes of normal time remaining, instinctively firing the ball towards the bottom corner after an uncharacteristic mistake by John Terry, but Cudicini made an excellent save.

Chelsea: Cudicini, Paulo Ferreira (Mikel 81), Terry, Ricardo Carvalho, Essien, Geremi (Bridge 53), Ballack (Kalou 26), Lampard, Shevchenko, Drogba (Wright-Phillips 71), Robben (Diarra 62).
Subs Not Used: Hilario, Mancienne

Goals: Shevchenko 44

Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Agger, Carragher, Riise, Pennant (Gerrard 60), Sissoko, Zenden (Alonso 60), Gonzalez (Aurelio 56), Crouch (Sinama Pongolle 89), Luis Garcia (Bellamy 66)
Subs Not Used: Dudek, Hyypia.

Goals: Riise 9, Crouch 80

Referee: Martin Atkinson
Assistants: Roger East and Shaun Proctor-Green
Fourth Official: Mark Clattenburg

Attendance: 56,275