Liverpool – Chelsea

Join us on Sunday for the Carling Cup Final - the 45th League Cup Final. Cardiff plays host as Chelsea and Liverpool battle it out for the right to lift this season's first piece of silverware! Live coverage from 15.00 UK time.

So, the first trophy of the season is up for grabs. Will it be Rafa's Liverpool or Jose's Chelsea celebrating at 4.50pm? Stay here and find out...

Team news: Jarosik comes in in place of Tiago for Chelsea, and Morientes and Gerrard return for Liverpool.

A fantastic reception for both sides, as they come on to the pitch to fireworks and thumping soft-core dance music. No semi-naked cheerleaders, but you can't have everything.

Jose Mourinho stepped aside and allowed Carlo Cudicini to lead Chelsea out on to the field; Cudicini would have played for the Blues this afternoon had he not been suspended.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter is the Guest Of Honour and is introduced to both sides. It's all very high profile; a little like the Superbowl, perhaps.

Welsh soprano Catherine Jenkins sings the National Anthem; she has a lovely voice; like a soaring bluebird.

Chelsea kick off to an enormous roar; the stadium roof is closed, creating a cracking atmosphere. The pitch looks lush and green.

GOAL! Riise crashes a wonderful volley from a tight angle, right in to the top corner. A great cross from Morientes found the Norwegian in acres of space on the left-hand side of the box. The goal is timed at 45 seconds.

An incredible start from Liverpool. Paulo Ferreira completely lost his man, but it was a wonderful finish from the ginger legend.

Liverpool are playing with an exhilerating freedom. Garcia slings a great ball out to the left wing, where Riise runs at Ferreira and wins a throw-in.

Chelsea, to their credit, don't look too disheartened; they seem to be keeping their composure and knocking the ball about calmly from the back.

Lampard nips the ball off Kewell and puts a good ball down the line for Drgba to chase. He wins a corner off Hyypia.

Carragher heads away from danger from Duff's corner. Chelsea had plenty of players forward as they search for their equaliser.

Liverpool are lining up in a 4-5-1 formation, with Kewell playing just behind Morientes. Chelsea, meanwhile, have stuck with the 4-3-3 that has served them so well this season.

Joe Cole wins a foul from Traore as he cut in from the right wing. A chance for Chelsea to put in a good ball, but Carvalho gives away a free-kick challenging for the ball.

No real chances since the goal; I think both teams are just coming to terms with the explosive start.

Lampard and Gerrard both fly in to a challenge in the midfield; a fantastic, tough-but-fair clash between two of the best midfielders in the world.

Great turn from Drogba leaves Hyypia for dead, and the big Fin trips the striker as he darted past him. He is booked for the challenge.

Gerrard sends a high, sixty yard pass towards Riise, who beats Ferreira in the air. Morientes can't quite get on the knock-down.

Liverpool are allowing Chelsea plenty of possession at the back, but closing down their midfielders very quickly. It's a tactic that's working well so far.

Both managers are prowling their 'technical areas', trying to get some instructions to their men.

Lampard wins a free kick 40 yards out. Ferreira fires in the set-piece, but the delivery is poor and Liverpool clear easily.

Kewell breaks at pace down the Liverpool right and tries to find Riise, in space again on the left of Chelsea's box. His cross is cut out and Chelsea break.

Luis Garcia tries to send Riise away down the left, but Carvalho out-paces the Liverpool man. Play is brought back for a previous free-kick, however.

Cole goes to ground under a Traore challenge, but doesn't win the free-kick. He looks disgusted, and mouths something I'm unable to repeat in print.

Lampard bursts through the middle and is brought down 30 yards from goal by Gerrard, who is a little lucky not to get booked. Lampard strikes the shot hard and straight, but Dudek takes the shot well.

Hyypia is winning everything in the air against Drogba; Chelsea are going to have to come up with something different to get Drogba in the game.

Neat play on the edge of the box from Cole earns him the space to fire in a shot, but it is blocked well by the Red defence.

Carvalho fouls Morientes to give Liverpool a free-kick. It's lofted towards Morientes, but Kewell doesn't seem interested in getting on the end of the Spaniard's knock-down.

Good play down the right from Finnan, and his pass finds Garcia on the edge of the box. He tries to work some space but is robbed by Makalele.

Lampard is harshly booked by Referee Bennett for a challenge on Garcia, who seemed to make the most of a strong tackle.

Gerrard goes down in the Chelsea area under a heavy challenge from Makalele. It could very easily have been given a penalty; the Frenchman was all over Gerrard.

Drogba breaks through the middle and prods a shot goalwards, but Dudek gets a hand on his shot and it goes narrowly wide.

From the resulting corner, Carvalho heads towards Terry, who redirects the ball over Dudek and goalwards. Garcia, on the post, clears on the volley.

Cole finds Gudjohnsen in the box, and he cuts the ball back towards Drogba. Carragher is in the right place to hoof the ball clear.

Lampard whips a free-kick in to the box, but Dudek claims comfortably. Gallas and Duff combine down the left to win a throw.

Duff fires across a lovely volleyed-cross towards Drogba, but Traora manages to just divert the ball away from the Chelsea man.

Duff works a little space for Cole to shoot from distance, but the young England man scuffs his shot and it dribbles towards Dudek.

Chelsea are having plenty of the ball at the moment. Traore is booked for a foul on Ferreira. Lampard's free-kick is too deep.

Gerrard tries to find Morientes with a chipped ball in to the box, but it is overhit. Liverpool are defending their lead well; getting plenty of men behind the ball.

Riise's goal is the only attempt at goal that Liverpool have had so far. They have struggled in the final third to find a decent pass.

Duff is found rampaging down the left by Lampard, but Traore manages to get back to make a desperate sliding tackle to avert the danger.

Duff swings in another Chelsea corner but Terry's header is easily claimed by Dudek. Liverpool have defended the set-pieces very well.

Gerrard gives away a free-kick for a tackle on Cole. Referee Bennett is forced to have a word with a couple of players from each side, asking them to calm things down.

There are a lot of niggly fouls at the moment that are ruining the flow of the game. It will certainly suit Liverpool that the game is so fractured.

Duff gets away from Riise and whips over a left-foot cross from the right-hand side. Drogba jumps, but is again beaten by Hyypia.

HALF TIME: Riise's stunning 45-second goal puts Liverpool in a goal to the good at half-time. Chelsea have dominated the possession, but failed to create any decent chances.

SUB: Gudjohnsen on for Jarosik. A striker replaces a midfielder for Chelsea as they look to get back in to the match.

Cole bursts past Hyypia, who brings the Chelsea man down. The referee reaches for his pocket, consults with his linesman, and gives the free-kick. Hyypia, who has already been booked, escapes a second yellow.

Chelsea have started the second half with a lot of determination and energy. Drogba almost finds some space in a crowded box but is hustled off the ball.

Dudek comes out to punch a Duff corner, and is fouled in the process.

Lampard manages to find Cole after a nice turn from Gudjohnsen. Cole cuts inside from the left but his shot from 20 yards is blocked.

Mourinho and assistant manager Steve Clarke are incensed on the sideline at Jamie Carragher. The trio exchange words and have to be restrained by Referee Bennett.

Liverpool are now having to play the game under great pressure, in their own half. They can't find an outlet for their passes from midfield, inviting Chelsea pressure.

Harry Kewell is shortly to be replaced after signalling that he is struggling with a groin injury.

Ferreira puts over a dangerouns cross from the right, but Carragher clears with the header. This could be a long half for Liverpool if they continue to defend so deep.

Drogba is found on-side by Cole, but the ball just wouldn't drop in time for him to get his shot in.

Joe Cole cuts in on to his right foot and finds Gudjohnsen with a great cross. The striker's header is low and heading in to the bottom corner, but Dudek produces an excellent save to deny him.

SUB: Nunez on for Kewell. The Australian is very particular about his fitness and has been complaining of an ankle knock, apparently.

Lampard tries to find Gallas with a cute little through ball but substitute Nunez reads the danger well and clears.

Stevie Gerrard goes down with a touch of cramp. He is treated on the field, and receives a number of concerned equiries from both Liverpool and Chelsea players.

Chelsea have been so dominant in this second half, but have only created one real chance; Gudjohnsen's header.

Traore almost combines with Riise and Gerrard on a rare counter attack from Liverpool, but the ball runs out of play.

Liverpool aren't helping themselves by giving the ball away so cheaply when they get possession. Some of the passing from the back to the front has been abysmal.

Superb counter attack from Liverpool. Garcia is found on the left-hand side by Morientes; his low ball is met first-time by Hamann, but his low drive from 20 yards is superbly saved by Cech. Great football.

Igor Biscan is shortly to come on for Liverpool; he's warming up on the touchline.

Ferreira puts over a good cross in to a very dangerous area, but Dudek flies off his line to punch clear and rid the Liverpool area of the threat.

SUB: Traore off, Biscan on. Traore has got an injury of some description and hobbles off. Riise will move back to left-back, with Biscan operating in midfield.

Morientes robs Ferriera on the Liverpool left, but his ball to Gerrard, running free through the middle, is poor and Terry clears.

Duff breaks past Riise and flights over a high cross with his right foot, but Dudek comes and claims easily.

Chelsea break at pace; Gudjohnsen lofts a ball in to space for Cole to run on to, he collects and chips a ball in to the box, but Liverpool clear.

Liverpool break after Chelsea commit men forward. Biscan turns down the chance to send the ball wide to Nunez, and instead shoots from 30 yards. It's high and wide and awful.

Gudjohnsen stabs a ball in to the box. Gallas holds off his man and lofts a dangerous ball over Dudek, but Riise clears at the back post.

Liverpool are managing to keep hold of the ball a little better now; they are eating up time and edging closer to the title.

SUB: Morientes off, Baros on. Kezman on, Gallas off. One substitution each from Benitez and Mourinho. Chelsea are all-out attack now.

Biscan breaks down the right and pings over a low cross in to the middle, where Gerrard and Ferreira challenge on the six-yard box. The ball beats Cech and dribbles just wide of his post. Goal kick.

Kezman shows good strength to hold off Carragher, before attempting an overhead kick from about 16 yards out. It flies just over Dudek's bar.

The Liverpool fans are beginning to believe that the trophy might be theirs. Roman Abramovic looks anxious in the executive area.

Referee Bennett stops play to book Hamann after he bundled over Lampard, breaking in to space. Chelsea are furious that he didn't play the advantage.

GOAL! A Gerrard own goal! Ferreira's free-kick is lofted in to the box, Gerrard leaps highest but flicks a header in to his own net off the post.

Replays show Mourinho celebrating the goal by putting a finger to his mouth and turning towards the Liverpool fans behind him. The anger and violence on their faces is quite disturbing.

SUB: Glen Johnsen on for Cole. A move by Mourinho to shore things up after making so many attacking changes.

Mourinho is sent off for his celebration, and will be forced to watch the rest of the match on television. Or, if he can get to a computer, via this commentary on soccernet.com

Drogba takes a Gudjohnsen chest-down and fires a volley goalwards, but Carragher throws his body in the way of the shot and blocks his effort.

Duff is brilliantly found in the area by Lampard, but his low shot from six yards is well saved by Dudek. The Czech goalkeeper has played really well this afternoon.

Dudek is down injuredm, receiving treatment. This could be a problem for them, as they have used all three substitutes already.

Dudek seems to have suffered a gash on his shin as he challenged for a loose ball with Duff following his low save a moment or two ago.

Finally play gets underway again after Dudek's treatment. He looks in good enough shape to continue unhindered.

Gudjohnsen flicks a ball in to the area for Kezman to run on to, but the Serbian striker crashes his volley high and wide.

Kezman finds Duff, who shoots low from 25 yards. His effort is deflected just wide by Carragher, who threw himself in front of the shot.

There will be SIX added minutes of injury time. Lampard shoots just wide from 20 yards. Dudek was worried for a moment.

Chelsea certainly deserve to be level in this game, considering all the possession they have had throughout the match.

Who's legs will be the stronger going in to extra time? Liverpool have had an extra day to prepare for the match, having played their Champions League match on Tuesday as opposed to Wednesday.

Biscan flicks a ball through to Baros, but the striker's first touch is too heavy and the angle narrowed. His eventual shot is high and wide. Good chance for Liverpool.

Drogba can't quite bring the ball down from Kezman's cross, and Liverpool clear. Chelsea win a dangerous free-kick after Duff is fouled 35 yards out.

FULL TIME: Extra time will be played after Gerrard's own goal hands Chelsea a deserved equaliser.

So, Liverpool kick off the 30 minutes of extra time. If the scores are still level, we'll have penalties.

Drogba is narrowly denied twice in the opening 30 seconds by strong Liverpool defending, first from Carragher, then from Finnan.

Oooh! Drogba hits the post with a stooping header after great play from Gudjohnsen and Duff. So unlucky.

Strong, determined running from Baros results in a throw deep in Chelsea territory for Liverpool.

Nunez plays a cross against Ferreira to win a Liverpool corner. Hyypia trots forward, but Chelsea break after a Liverpool short-corner falls kindly.

Glen Johnsen's deep cross is easily claimed by Dudek. Liverpool won't want to simply defend for 30 minutes; they'd like to threaten Chelsea, I'm sure.

Duff holds the ball up well and finds Makalele with a short pass. The French midfielder spots Lampard in a yard of space in the box, but his pass is over-hit.

Terry breaks from defence, but a breakdown in communications with Drogba results in a poor pass.

Great ball from Lampard finds Nunez down the right. His deep cross is met on the volley by Garcia but Johnsen blocks the shot.

There is very limited support for Baros up front. Liverpool are not showing a great deal of ambition, with Hamann, Biscan and Gerrard all sitting in front of the back four.

Lampard finds Kezman on the edge of the area, and his left-foot shot is horribly scuffed out for a goal kick.

Luis Garcia makes a clever run to take a short ball from a free-kick. He clips a ball in to the box, but Biscan heads over from six yards.

Kezman finally shows a little class as he cuts inside from the right wing and curls a low left-foot shot towards goal. Dudek saves low to his right.

HALF TIME, EXTRA TIME: Chelsea are applying all the pressure, but Liverpool still look capable of nicking a goal on the break.

Hamann fouls Kezman to give Chelsea the chance to send Terry forward. Dudek does well to punch a high ball out for a throw.

GOAL! Johnson's long throw is bundled in by Drogba. The £24million man benefits from Hyypia's inability to get a head to Johnson's throw.

Drogba wins a valuable free-kick after being fouled on the half-way line by Hyypia. Chelsea will be looking to keep as much possession as they can.

There is a little scuffle in the centre-circle as Hamann flies in to challenge Makalele before the free-kick had been taken.

Drogba wins another free-kick down near the corner flag after battling with Finnan. The big striker is doing an excellent job for his team at the moment.

GOAL! Lampard fires in the free-kick, Dudek can't hold the ball and Kezman is the Jonny-on-the-spot to push it home.

GOAL! Gerrard fires in a free-kick, Lampard heads high in to the air and Nunez leaps highest amongst a crowd of players to head in to the empty net. Incredible finish to this game.

Handball from Kezman. Free-kick is taken quickly towards Riise, who wins a throw right in the corner.

Chelsea are doing well to hold on to the ball and run the clock down. Liverpool are desperately chasing the ball in an effort to launch a final assault on the Chelsea goal.

Carragher is booked for abusing Referee Bennett for a handball decision that went against Liverpool. The free-kick is moved forward 10 yards.

Lampard fires the free-kick high over the Liverpool bar.

Neither side can really get hold of the ball for long enough to create any late chances. It is a very tense finish to the match, very scrappy and nervous.

There will be two minutes of extra time. Hyypia has decided to go up and play centre forward.

Great cross from Biscan is met by Biscan, who heads straight at Cech from a tight angle. Liverpool's last chance?

FULL TIME: There is is: Mourinho's first trophy in England. Reports from the ground suggest that he will shun the chance to collect the trophy after being sent off after the Chelsea equaliser.

The Chelsea players celebrate loud and long. They are deserved winners after dominating the game. Abramovic looks mildly pleased in the executive area.

Mourinho watched the last forty minutes of the match in a television room after being sent off for allegedly 'inciting the crowd'. He has told reporters he will not go back out on to the pitch to celebrate.

He must have changed his mind, as he strolls out to congtratulate his team. He still looks very cool and calm.

Is this the first of many trophies for Jose and Chelsea? Stevie Gerrard looks inconsolable; will he be a Blue next season?