Liverpool Strike Silver

There was no mistaking the joy that victory in the Community Shield brought to Liverpool’s players, management and fans. They out-thought, outplayed and out-supported Chelsea to an extent that was almost embarrassing at times and as a result they emerged with a trophy won at the expense of their bitter rivals and, perhaps more significantly, a massive boost to their confidence at the dawn of the new season.

So impressive was this performance that in truth they never looked like losing, despite the fact that they played the whole of the first half without Gerrard, Bellamy, Xabi Alonso and Hyypia. They swept into an 8th minute lead when Riise was allowed to take the ball from the edge of his own penalty area after a Chelsea corner and run the length of the field before surprising Cudicini as he rifled the ball home from almost 30 yards. Five minutes before the interval, they should have increased their lead when Crouch and Garcia got in each other’s way and failed to run in Gonzalez’ neat cross, then almost on the brink of half-time Chelsea grabbed an equaliser, as the impressive Shevchenko majestically converted Lampard’s through ball after the Reds were caught square at the back.

The second half brought a rash of substitutions – including Aurelio for Gonzalez; Gerrard and Alonso for Pennant and Zenden; Bellamy for Garcia and Sinama-Pongolle for Crouch – and a more aggressive approach from Chelsea, but it was Liverpool who triumphed, courtesy of meticulous planning, hard work, an inspired midfield display by Sissoko, and a wonderful 79th minute left flank cross from Bellamy to set up a close range header from Crouch.