Chelsea – Liverpool

Welcome to the second installment of this week's live Champions League action. Tonight we're focussing on Chelsea's semi-final first-leg tie with Liverpool.

Stamford Bridge is the setting for this intriuging clash of the two Premiership heavyweights. There's plenty of history between these two sides and plenty at stake tonight.

The teams are in and Liverpool opt to drop Peter Crouch in favour of Craig Bellamy. He partners Dirk Kuyt while Boudewijn Zenden is given an unlikely start in midfield. No surprises in the Chelsea line-up - Joe Cole, Claude Makelele, Jon Obi Mikel and Frank Lampard make up the midfield.

The players stroll out on the pristine pitch in West London. Benitez looks relaxed in the dugout and the famous Champions League anthemn is blasted out through the speakers. Minutes away from kick-off.

A period silence will now be held for World Cup winner Alan Ball who sadly died yesterday night.

Liverpool have the honour of kicking off and we're under way.

A few early slips on this greasy surface. It's a bright and quick opening and Chelsea look to push forward.

Chelsea on the front foot early doors. Lampard and Mikel look to break from midfield but they're held up by Xabi Alonso.

Only three minutes in and Liverpool make progress down the right with Gerrard. He fires in a cross that tests Terry's awareness, then Kuyt tries the same from the byline - both are hacked clear.

A few whistles from the Liverpool fans. Chelsea are stroking the ball around along their back four and the travelling support aren't impressed.

Liverpool's system will allow for changes and switches with Bellamy dropping off and Gerrard cutting in from the right.

Head down, surrounded by red shirts, Drogba embarks on a mazy run that is predictably smothered out by the Reds defence inside the box.

A facinating battle of the chants going on in the crowd. Each set boasting of their achivements and talents. Who will win the battle on the pitch though?

First chance of the match and it falls to Frank Lampard. He would have thought it was going in as he lashed it goalwards, but Reina gets down well to block the danger. It set up nicely for the midfielder and had it been either side of Reina, it would have bulged the net.

Decent start for Chelsea. They're just shading the possession at the moment and look the more threatening going forward.

Liverpool don't look too solid at the back in the opening stages. Mind you, their hurried clearances and desperate stretches have prevented Chelsea getting shots on goal.

Benitez is playing and shouting at every ball. His arms are flaying and his voice is bellowing. Must have seen something he's not too pleased with.

Decent spell for Liverpool. They start to press Chelsea back momentarily but Zenden's break down the left is well thwarted by Mikel.

Sloppy back pass from Riise allows Drogba to break, but he fails to pick out the unmarked Joe Cole who was racing clear in the middle. Let off for Liverpool.

Neither side taking too many risks at the moment. Shevchenko fires a cross across goal when he should have rolled it across to Cole who was steaming in.

Liverpool are trying to mix things up and alter positions, but they're struggling to create any clear-cut chances thus far.

It's very congested in the centre of the park. No-one really has taken hold of the midfield yet and there's precious little time on the ball for any of them.

Glorious chance for Drogba! Totally unmarked, the Ivorian rushes in to meet a header with the onrushing Reina, but Drogba bottles it and fails to get a decent touch on his effort. Poor miss.

Free-kick for Chelsea and Lampard and he's inches wide from giving the Blues the lead. It whistles past the post from 30 yards and Liverpool survive.

A quarter of the game gone and Chelsea have been the better side. They've had the better chances and will be disappointed they are not ahead.

It's all Chelsea at the moment. Liverpool are struggling to get hold of the ball and the Blues are keeping possession well.

Chelsea are making Liverpool work so hard off the ball. Liverpool are chasing and hurrying, with most of the play emanating from the middle of the park.

GOAL: CHELSEA 1-0 LIVERPOOL

Wonderful goal for Chelsea that started with a break from defence by Carvalho. He fed Drogba who muscled his way past a weak Agger challenge and he found JOE COLE in the centre who stretched to force home the opener.

Chelsea deserve their lead and that is their first Champions League goal ever against Liverpool.

How will Liverpool respond. They've done little to suggest they've got a goal in them and need to up their tempo if they're to get back into it.

Zenden is being employed as Liverpool's main attacking threat, but he's just not delivering yet.

Chelsea come forward again and the slippery surface at Stamford Bridge has caused a few players to lose their footing. Plenty of energy and running in the Chelsea midfield - Liverpool trailing in every area of the pitch.

Lovely work from Kuyt down the left creates a chance for Gerrard who steams into the box to get in a header. Ashley Cole does enough to put him off his stride and the header flies over the bar.

Liverpool need to change things at the break. Chelsea are cruising at the moment and have hardly been troubled.

Scrappy end to the half with a few needless fouls and breaks in play, that won't help Liverpool at all.

Not sure why Liverpool persist with sending the ball down their left. They've got Gerrard down the right but are not getting him into the game enough. Instead, Zenden is flogging a dead horse down the left flank.

Insipid ending to the half as Liverpool huff and puff in midfield but fail to create any kind of opening.

A Gerrard corner fails to beat the first man in Lampard and a long searching pass from Alonso goes astray. That should be the last action of the half.

HALF-TIME: CHELSEA 1-0 LIVERPOOL

That's it for the first half and Joe Cole's strike separates the two sides.

So here we go for for the second half. The players are ready and Chelsea get the game back under way.

It's delicately poised going into the second period, but after the way Chelsea played in the first half, they'll want a second goal to take to Anfield.

The Chelsea fans certainly seem happy with events at Stamford Bridge. They're boisterous tonight that's for sure.

Huge shout for handball by Arbeloa. The referee waves play on and just as well for Liverpool as it was inside the box.

First chance of the half drops to Kuyt. It was a difficult chance and in the end he does well to direct his header goalwards after Zenden's deep cross.

Peter Crouch is stripped and ready to come on. Liverpool have started well this half and Zenden forces a corner. Chelsea clear with ease though.

Here comes Crouch. Bellamy will be the one to make way after a minimal contribution.

Wonderful save from an sublime volley from Gerrard. The Liverpool skipper's left-foot rasping drive looked to be heading in until Cech's outstretched hand palmed away the effort.

A brief stoppage ensues with Mikel injured after an aerial clash with Crouch. He should be fine to continue.

Liverpool have flown out of the traps this half and look lively and dangerous. Their fans have responded too, can they give them their all important goal?

Liverpool will want to keep this pressure on but also be aware of the Blues breaking on the counter. Another break from Drogba down the right is well snuffed out by Gerrard.

Gerrard, as is so often the case is leading the Liverpool fightback. He's bursting through the midfield to good effect and giving Ashley Cole problems down his left.

Zenden breaks beyond Ferriera again and forces a corner. Gerrard takes and picks out Carragher who loops a header four yards wide.

At the other end Joe Cole slashes a speculative effort high and wide. No danger but another reminder of their threat on the break.

Crouch is being man-marked by Drogba at every set-piece and so far it's paid off. Crouch has certainly made an impact since he's come on and Chelsea for the first time look a little rattled.

Zenden is making good ground down his left flank again and is regularly being used in the Liverpool attacks. He just needs to find the killer cross for Crouch who is lurking with intent.

Liverpool are pressing and hurrying Chelsea far more this half and it's unsettled them. Chelsea may have the lead but they don't have the dominance at the moment.

Chelsea have lost their shape somewhat with Cech reduced to hoofing it long for Drogba.

Is Shevchenko playing? I've hardly seen him touch the ball this half and surely Mourinho won't put up with him for too much longer. Drogba is working a two-man shift up front.

Scrappy period of play and Liverpool's momentum is disrupted. You just sense that Chelsea are raising their game again.

There's not been too many chances this half though. Liverpool have had the best of them, but both goalkeepers have had little to do this half.

The game is opening up now but the passing on both sides is poor and it's preventing Liverpool from sustaining a meaningful attack.

Training ground free-kick from Liverpool but again Crouch is again penalised for fouling the keeper.

Comedy moment on the Chelsea bench. Salomon Kalou strips himself in preparation to come on, only to have Wright-Phillips emblazened on the back of his shirt.

It looks like Kalou will replace Shevchenko who has been his usual elusive self.

Drogba fires in a low snap shot that forces Reina to make a diving save low to his left. Well gathered by the Spaniard.

Time running out for Liverpool to grab a vital away goal. Gerrard and Alonso are trying their best to get Liverpool going but Chelsea are standing firm.

Javier Mascherano becomes the first name to enter the referee's book for a clumsy and cynical foul on Lampard.

Drogba rises at the back post to meet a deep cross but fails to direct his header back across goal and it bounces wide.

For all Liverpool's dominance and industry, they've not created enough clear-cut chances to worry Chelsea.

Lampard almost makes it two for Chelsea with a venomous half-volley that brings a stunning reflex save from Reina. He dived to his right and got a big hand to Lampard's effort to prevent Chelsea from adding to their lead.

Liverpool look to add some more width to their play as Jermaine Pennant enters the fray in place of Xabi Alonso.

Chelsea look to make a change of their own with Shaun Wright-Phillips preparing to come on.

The goalscorer Joe Cole makes way with Wright-Phillips sprinting on to take over the left wing duties.

Liverpool have been pegged back in their own half by Chelsea who have seized the initiative once more.

Liverpool offering precious little now and look to be happy to hold on to the 1-0 scoreline. Mikel tries his luck with a speculative dipping half volley but it flies well over the bar.

Chelsea fans are cheering their side to the finishing line and will be buoyed by their side ending the game the stronger of the two sides.

Chelsea are pressing and chasing every Liverpool pass and the Reds are struggling to keep hold of the ball. It's tense stuff at the end.

The referee's assistant signals two added minutes will be played.

Agger cracks an effort from 40 yards that flicks of Mikel and safely into the arms of Cech. It was desperate but well worth a hit.

Corner for Chelsea and Drogba beats everybody in the air but can't get any direction on the header and it drops wide.

FULL-TIME: CHELSEA 1-0 LIVERPOOL

That's it. Chelsea come through with Joe Cole's first-half strike all that separates the two sides heading into the second leg next week. Liverpool offered little in response and will have to raise their game for the return leg at Anfield.