Liverpool – Chelsea

It promises to be an evening of high drama at Anfield. Join us for every kick of the action from 19.45 BST.

Team News: Chelsea are without Robben and Duff, and have Geremi at right-back.

Milan Baros is back up front for Liverpool, with Igor Biscan and Dietmar Hamann a defensive midfield shield to allow Steven Gerrard the space to attack.

The Liverpool fans belt out "You'll Never Walk Alone". I'm sure the Chelsea players are quaking in their silver boots...

If you're not excited by this, you're either boring or dead. And if you're dead, that means they have the Internet in the afterlife. I bet the broadband speeds are incredible.

We're off. Benitez looks nervous, Mourinho unconcerned. Great atmosphere as Liverpool kick off.

Gallas throws himself to the ground under a sliding challenge from Garcia. I hope that isn't an indication of what's to come. Nothing annoys me more than diving.

Finnan accidentally stands on the back of Cole's leg following a foul out on the left touchline. Lampard swings in the free-kick, but Dudek collects comfortably.

Garcia and Gerrard combine down the right, but Gallas does well to fend off the danger. Chelsea win a free-kick when Garcia snaps too hard at Gallas' heels.

Geremi has only played once before at full-back for Chelsea, so this is a big game for him.

GOAL! Gerrard flicks a lovely ball over the top, Baros sprints on to the ball and flicks past Cech towards the goal. Terry gets back, but Garcia clips the ball over the line.

There's plenty debate as to whether Garcia's flicked shot from a couple of yards out crossed the line, or whether Carvalho got back in time to hook the ball clear.

Chelsea debated the linesman's decision to award the goal. It certainly was a close call.

Hamann's loose pass inside his own area gives Lampard a chance to shoot, but the German international gets back in time to block the Chelsea man's shot.

The Liverpool fans are making their delight obvious. Baros sprints in between Gallas and Carvalho, but the Portuguese defender sprints back to rob the striker inside the area.

Baros is then booked for a little kick on Carvalho as he attempted to put the Chelsea defender under pressure.

Liverpool have made an excellent start; they are getting plenty players forward to support Baros, who is looking typically lively.

In essence, though, the goal doesn't really change much; a single Chelsea goal would still put them through. It does mean, however, that we can't have extra-time tonight.

Traore shows good determination to get down the left flank, but Geremi and Terry combine to rob him.

Liverpool are hurrying and hastling Chelsea when the visitors have possession; they look very hungry.

A high ball to Drogba on the edge of the area is nodded back in to the path of Gudjohnsen. The Icelandic playmaker tries to cut inside the area, but Hyypia stands firm and clears.

Any spell of Chelsea possession - rare at the moment - is being greeted by 40,000 boos from the Liverpool fans.

Baros touches a pass back to Hamann on the edge of the area, but his shot is blocked. Liverpool soon have possession back when Drogba fails to hold on to a long ball.

Other than the goal, there hasn't been any real goalmouth action to speak of in the early stages of this match. Understandably, there is a lot of tension about.

A lovely reverse ball from Cole sets Drogba through down the right channel. He breaks in to the area, cuts back on to his left foot, but a Liverpool defender gets back to rob him.

Chelsea win a free-kick when Gudjohnsen is clattered in the air by Hamann. Lampard lofts the ball in to the area, but Hyypia clears.

Television replays are showing that the ball didn't seem to cross the line for Liverpool's goal. It's going to be a massive talking point should that goal prove crucial.

A nice patient build-up from Chelsea sees Tiago on the ball 25 yards out. He feigns to shoot on his right, cuts back on to his left, but drags his shot well wide.

Mourinho doesn't look too worried on the Chelsea bench, though he'll want his side to find their rhythm; Liverpool have got to them so far.

The referee will have to be careful and use a little common sense tonight, with so many players on yellow cards from the first leg.

Chelsea win a throw deep in Liverpool territory, but Riise charges down Geremi's cross to relieve a little of the pressure.

The Liverpool fans taunt Chelsea through the medium of song. Benitez did say that the supporters would play an important role tonight, and they're certainly trying their best to influence the tie.

Gerrard is playing in an advanced role tonight, and a precise ball through to Baros is desperately cut out by Gallas. A crucial interception; Baros would have been through on goal.

Biscan and Carvalho challenge strongly in the middle of Chelsea's half. Again, the referee allows play to go on, where fussier officials might have blown. A positive sign.

Garcia gives the ball away close to his own area. Lampard pokes the ball through to Cole, but Dudek flies out of his goal to cut down the angle and make life difficult for him. The Chelsea man manages to clip the ball across goal, but no-one can get on the end of it. Garcia holds his hand up to apologise.

Cole goes down on the edge of the area under a challenge from Hyypia. No free-kick. Play breaks up field, and Hamann's speculative shot is easily saved by Cech.

Geremi curls a great ball in to the penalty area, but Drogba is half a yard from being in the right place to poke the cross past Dudek.

Gerrard attempts to cross in towards Baros; Terry blocks with his hand, but the linesman rules that it wasn't a deliberate handball and play goes on.

There's certainly a fast, Premiership-type pace to the game at the moment; not at all like a European semi-final.

Chelsea aren't shy to use the long ball up to Drogba, but Hyypia is more than his match in the air.

Carragher is brought down by Cole. Free-kick, and a chance for the players to take a quick breath.

Tiago finds a little space down the right, but his cross from deep towards Drogba is too high, and Dudek comes far from his line to collect.

Chelsea are starting to find their feet now. Lampard tries to clip a ball over the top to Drogba, but the striker is caught off-side. But the Blues are certainly getting more of the ball as the half goes on.

Gerrard bursts through the middle, but his intended pass towards Baros is cut out.

Makalele feeds Cole on the edge of the area, but his flick towards Lampard is mis-directed and Dudek claims. Much of Chelsea's play is coming through the middle; unsurprising considering they are missing both their influential wingers.

If the score stays this way, Mourinho won't wait too long to introduce Robben.

Baros is floored by a challenge from Terry as the pair competed for a high ball. He's on his feet shortly afterwards, but he seems to be complaining of a blow to the face. Accidental, of course.

Gallas finally finds the confidence to cross with his left foot; the ball flies low across the edge of the penalty area, but no Chelsea man steps up to strike a shot.

Lampard is seeing more of the ball now, and a couple of cute through balls intended for Gudjohnsen and Drogba are only cut out at the last minute.

Hamann clips a cross towards Baros, though a better ball might have been the one to Gerrard, who had made a late run in to the penalty area.

Lots of nice possession on the edge of the Liverpool penalty area, but Tiago can't manage to find the space to get a shot in.

Chelsea win a corner, but Liverpool are matching their visitors physically and they clear once more.

Chelsea have dominated the last ten minutes, but have yet to carve out a decent chance. Dudek has had to be alert, but he's not been forced in to a save as yet.

Drogba goes down after a challenge from Carragher. There didn't seem to be too much wrong with the tacke; perhaps he feel awkwardly.

Drogba hobbles off, though I suspect we'll see him back on the field in a moment. He seems to have a slight problem with his calf.

The half-time talk will all be about the goal, and whether the whole ball crossed the line. It was Gallas who got back to make the clearance, and he was convinced it wasn't a goal. As he would be.

Drogba does seem to be limping a little, and in slight discomfort. Kezman begins to warm up on the sidelines, just in case.

Liverpool will be glad to hear the referee toot on his whistle to signal the interval, though it's not as if their backs are to the wall. They've coped very well with everything Chelsea have mustered thus far.

Drogba makes a clever run across the back of the Liverpool defence, but Gudjohnsen's pass is cut out by a sprawling Carragher.

One added minute for stoppages. Garcia hits the turf after being struck in the face by a stray hand as Tiago attempted to rob him on the half-way line.

HALF-TIME: Liverpool are in pole position after Garcia's controversial early goal. Chelsea were slow to find their feet and will want to up the tempo after the break.

Chelsea kick off the second half. No changes at half-time, though Robben seems itching to get on.

An unconvincing clearance from Cech falls to Hamann, but Liverpool can't create anything. Finnan then crosses across the edge of the area, but Riise's shot is sliced horribly wide.

Gerrard hasn't been particularly dominant tonight, though he has been at the centre of most of Liverpool's most decisive counter-attacks.

Liverpool are defending deep and in numbers in the opening stages if the second half. I think they were expecting a Chelsea blitz after the break, but it hasn't really materialised.

Carragher is quickly in on Drogba, another strong challenge to rob the Chelsea striker of the chance to turn and run at the Liverpool defence.

Chelsea win a free-kick in a dangerous position, out on the right touchline. Lampard swings the ball in, Finnan heads clear and Cole's shot from the edge of the area is blocked.

Chelsea win a corner. Carragher turns the cross away from a crowded area. Terry seems to be limping a little, and Gudjohnsen looked to have taken a stray boot to the face.

Gudjohnsen requires treatment on a cut just above his eye following a clash with Traore. He's a little upset when the referee asks him to leave the field to receive the attention.

Chelsea have plenty of attacking options on the bench; Forssell, Kezman and Robben all wait for the nod from Mourinho.

Gudjohnsen is allowed back on the field having had his cut treated. Great challenge from Carragher halts a nice one-touch move from Chelsea.

Chelsea are having plenty of the ball but finding it nigh-on impossible to thread their neat passes through the heart of the Liverpool defence.

Chelsea need to get a substitute on; their current offensive plan isn't working in the slightest.

Terry attacks a defensive header and sprints forward to try and add another man to a Chelsea attack. It comes to nothing, but at least the Chelsea skipper is showing some gumption.

Gudjohnsen ghosts past a couple of challenges but Cole doesn't make it easy for his team-mate by pulling wide when a dart in between Finnan and Carragher would have given Gudjohnsen a great option.

SUB: Ciise on, Baros off. The French striker will take on a similar role to the man he's replacing, but he will add fresh legs and energy.

Ciise's first touch is a bad one as he gifts away possession around the half-way line. Liverpool need him to hold the ball up to give their defence a breather.

Ciise then trips Makalele just inside the Liverpool half. Lampard clips the free-kick towards Drogba, but for the umpteenth time tonight, he is beaten in the air by Hyypia.

Chelsea then win a free-kick in a better position; central, around 30 yards out. Drogba takes it, but wastes the chance by curling a shot well over the bar.

Still no sign of a change from Mourinho.

Chelsea have created absolutely nothing so far. Liverpool have been so strong in defence and midfield, Carragher, Finnan and Hyypia in particular.

Gudjohnsen is barged by Traore; 25 yards out, central. Drogba is nowhere to be seen after his previous effort.

Oooh! Lampard this time takes the set-piece, crashing a low shot through a crowd, which Dudek palms around the post at full-stretch.

SUB: Kezman on, Tiago off; Robben on, Cole off. Mourinho makes his first move, bringing on another striker. Chelsea will change their formation too, going more 4-4-2.

Cole isn't particularly happy about being brought off, but he has been contained brilliantly by Finnan.

Biscan is doing a good spoiling job just in front of the back four, but he has given the ball away a couple of times in midfield. Liverpool need their players to show a little more composure in possession to help relieve the pressure.

Gudjohnsen tries to bring Robben in to the game with a ball inside Finnan, but the full-back shows good pace to slide and cut the pass out.

Liverpool prepare to make another substitution, with Kewell receiving some last-minute instructions from his manager.

Kezman is unable to control Lampard's lofted pass in to the area. A good touch and the striker might have been able to cut inside Traore and get a shot off.

SUB: Hamann off, Kewell on. Hamann's lack of fitness has shown a little in the second half, and Benitez will be hoping that fresh legs and strong running might help Liverpool contain Chelsea.

Carvalho fouls Ciise down near the Chelsea corner flag. He escapes a booking that would have meant he would have missed the final - should his side get there.

Chelsea prepare to make their last substitution, Huth stripping off on the sidelines.

Robben gets on the ball inside the area; he cuts back on to his right foot, but Carragher throws himself at the shot and blocks. Great defending.

SUB: Huth on, Geremi off. A strange substituion. Huth has taken a position up front. So, we can expect plenty of long balls knocked in to the tall Chelsea front-men.

Robben threads a pass through to Drogba, who lays the ball back to Robben to shoot, just outside the area. Gerrard tracks back well, however, and tackles as the Dutch winger prepares to let fly.

Gallas looks over to the Chelsea bench for advice on the formation; it all looks a bit like 'playground' tactics from the visitors at the moment.

Ciise manages to find some space in the box, but he plants his header from Kewell's cross straight at Cech.

Of course, Chelsea are only one goal from going through; a 1-1 scoreline at 90 minutes would see the Londoners win on away goals.

Carvalho slides in and fouls Riise. Free-kick, but again there is no card. It's good refereeing, because he must know that a booking will mean some players missing the biggest match of their lives.

Huth is doing a reasonable job of holding the ball up and laying off to a team-mate.

Lovely skill from Gudjohnson on the right-edge of the penalty area, but his cross is too close to Dudek, who claims comfortably.

Garcia gives away a free-kick out on the left touchline. Robben scuffs the set-piece a little and Liverpool clear the low cross with some ease.

Benitez's men are less than ten minutes from booking their place in the final in Istanbul.

Oooh! Robben crosses brilliantly from the left, but Kezman is inches from planting a header past Dudek from two yards. Traore puts the ball out for a corner.

Liverpool clear the corner. Ciise collects and launches a pacy, one-man counter-attack. He gets to within 30 yards of goal before Carvalho nicks the ball off him.

SUB: Nunez on, Garcia off. A fan invades the pitch, but is eventually collared by four stewards inside the Chelsea goal. Moments later, a second man sprints on to the pitch, waving a Liverpool scarf. He too is ejected with some force.

Abramovic smiles nervously in the executive box.

Gerrard is playing much deeper now that Kewell has come on to the pitch, and he is doing a great job of protecting his back four.

Two Robben mistakes in the space of a minute. They don't help the Chelsea cause. Liverpool are doing a good job of eating up time, keeping possession as best they can in the corners.

Gudjohnsen crashes a left-foot shot from just outside the area, but Gerrard blocks. Chelsea are having plenty possession and throwing everyone forward, but they still haven't tested Dudek.

Ciise picks up a loose ball and prods a shot goalwards. It takes a deflection off the legs of Carvalho and goes out for a corner. Liverpool attempt to take it short and waste some time, but some miscommunication hands the ball back to Chelsea.

Incredibly, there will be SIX added minutes of stoppage time. They've come from nowhere, and will give Chelsea some heart.

Huth is making a nuisance of himself up front, but Liverpool are defending wonderfully. They have prevented the visitors getting anywhere near their goal.

Liverpool enjoy some time in the Chelsea half. They use up time really well down in the corner, and the visitors are becoming frustrated.

The Liverpool fans look distraught with nerves. One woman tries to eat her scarf. I can't imagine it tastes terribly nice.

Ciise latches on to a ball over the top of the meagre Chelsea defence, but his prod towards goal is saved by Cech, flying out of his goal.

Liverpool win a corner when Robben sprints back and slides in on Nunez inside the Chelsea penalty area.

The whistles from the Liverpool fans begin to ring out. Kezman hits the floor in the penalty area under a challenge from Traore. He pleads with the referee but gets nothing.

Oooh! Gudjohnsen latches on to a flick-on inside the penalty area. Six yards out but faced with a tight angle, he crashes a shot to the far post, but it flies inches wide.

FULL-TIME: Incredible performance from Liverpool. They snuff out Chelsea all game, and Garcia's controversial early goal sends them to Istanbul.

The celebrations are wild. Mourinho shakes Benitez's hand, and goes on the field to console his team.

Riise, Gerrard and Finnan celebrate in front of the Kop, who sing their little hearts out. What a story - unfancied Liverpool make the Champions League final?

Join us here at Soccernet tomorrow evening to find out who Liverpool will play in the final.