Liverpool vs Chelsea Champions League Preview: Who Loves Joga Bonito?

By: chris | April 22nd, 2008

Who’s ready for the third installment of Chavski-Reds in the Champions League semi-finals? Nobody? Sounds about right. ‘Tis the day absolutely nobody in their right mind has been waiting for. Unfortunately for CSKA London, this isn’t a best of three series anymore. Their best hope is to now push this to a best of five European tie.

Hopefully the two major differences in this game and the last couple will prove decisive and we’ll see a fanciful goal-scoring explosion of epic delight and butterflies and cupcakes for everyone. Those two differences, of course, are Fernando Torres, who has become Fernando Torres FC over the course of this year, and Avram Grant aka Jose Mourinho is missing from the equation.

When it comes to Torres, he has the ability to delight all by his lonesome simply by having the ball placed at his feet. So there’s the first plus for viewers. Unless Peter Crouch is on the field, that forward line can dazzle with the simple insertion of one person. (Of course, should Crouch play we’d all be forced to stick hot pokers in our eyes.) So at least that’s something to look forward to.

The big question will come down to whether or not Avram Grant can do what Jose Mourinho couldn’t, a task which may have ultimately cost him his job, and get Chelsea to the final, having beat Liverpool on the way. Tal Ben-Haim is silently shaking his head (equipped with unibrow and all) in the background. They’re certainly talented enough and, as Rafa has sarcastically said (though laced with a hint of truth), the coach doesn’t matter at Chelski. They’ve still got Roman’s billions and their first XI shows it.

Chelsea has the lead on the domestic front with a 2-0 win and a 1-1 draw at Anfield with Jose in charge, but Liverpool has that guy named Rafa Benitez. The guy eats Champions League competition for breakfast. For the two-legged win? Well, you’d be a fool to bet against Rafa in the CL.

Daryl will have a Liveblog of the game later today.