Capital One Cup
Semifinal First Leg
Full Time: Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea
Date: 20 January 2015
Venue: Anfield
The first leg of the English Capital One Cup semifinal between Liverpool and Chelsea ended 1-1 at Anfield on Tuesday night.
Liverpool started better of the two teams and created their first decent chance on goal in the 16th minute when Steven Gerrard let fly from 30-yards out, but saw his effort superbly saved by Thibaut Courois.
Two minutes later Chelsea were gifted the perfect opportunity to take the lead when Emre Can brought Eden Hazard down inside the box and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.
Hazard stepped up and made no mistake from the spot-kick to give Chelsea the lead, 1-0.
Liverpool tried to hit back, but their passing and decision making in the final third was poor as was Chelsea's when they attacked which resulted in very little goalmouth action for the remainder of the half.
The second half saw Liverpool come out firing and they found the equaliser in the 59th minute after a brilliant individual run from Raheem Sterling saw him pick up the ball 40-yards out, drive towards goal, beating three defenders before firing home from just inside the box, 1-1.
Ten minutes later Gerrard nearly gave Liverpool the lead, but he saw his 16-yard shot strike the left-hand post and bounce away from danger.
Adam Lallana also came close to scoring the Reds' second goal in the 80th minute, but his 24-yard volley was magnificently turned around the post by the Chelsea keeper.
The game ended all-square and the second leg is scheduled for next week Tuesday at Stamford Bridge.
