Liverpool: Chelsea are beatable

2006-08-14 08:45

Cardiff - Liverpool proved Chelsea's new-look team of superstars are beatable a week before the English Premier League season starts.

That doesn't bother Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who blames international commitments for the lack of sharpness that contributed to its 2-1 loss in the Community Shield on Sunday.

Mourinho has complained for weeks that Chelsea's bid to win its third consecutive title has been affected by players' late return from the World Cup, and Wednesday's international break.

Liverpool has a similar problem, but manager Rafa Benitez's second-choice team had the energy and pace to wear down Chelsea at Millennium Stadium - with John Arne Riise allowed to run most of the pitch to score a solo goal and Peter Crouch left unmarked by new England captain John Terry to head in the winner.

"I was feeling that difference of condition, not many of my players were in condition to play for 90 minutes," Mourinho said. "For sure, we had the greater possession... but sometimes in football, that means not a lot, especially when the difference of pace, of intensity, of rhythm, of sharpness, is big.

Both sides made multiple changes, with Liverpool giving new signings Mark Gonzalez and Jermaine Pennant starting berths, along with young defender Daniel Agger, who's played only a handful of games since joining in January. Steven Gerrard came off the bench, along with newcomers Fabio Aurelio and Craig Bellamy.

"It was difficult for us as it was for them," Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez said. "We are at the beginning of the season but the team is not fit 100%. It was important to see all the squad.

Liverpool has already played a Champions League qualifier, and next week faces the return leg against Israeli club Maccabi Haifa at a venue yet to be determined. But its strikers have began on target, a problem for Liverpool last season. Crouch didn't find the net for the first four months of last season.

Chelsea has also bolstered its strikeforce, with Andriy Shevchenko scoring for the Blues with a deft chip. Mourinho praised the work of Shevchenko and his other major signing, Michael Ballack, who lasted only 26 minutes before being taken off with what appeared to be a left hip injury.

Mourinho played Shevchenko up front with Didier Drogba, a return to using two centre forwards rather than the winger system he employed last season. He said that system would take time to gel.

The season starts next weekend and already Mourinho has fallen out with a fellow manager. Neither manager shook hands afterward - a tradition after every soccer match in Britain. Benitez blamed Mourinho for snubbing his handshake after Liverpool eliminated Chelsea from the FA Cup last season.

"I focus on my team and my supporters," Benitez said "After the FA Cup, he decided not to shake hands but for me, it's not a problem."

Mourinho said he wasn't bothered.

"You always look for these things and you never look for the game," he said. "The football is 90 minutes. I'm not thinking about that."

- AP