Injuries keep mounting as Chelsea's prospects dim
LONDON: Avram Grant is facing an injury crisis that threatens to derail Chelsea's Premier League title challenge.
Grant's side advanced to a League Cup semifinal meeting with Everton after beating Liverpool 2-0 in the last eight at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
But the Chelsea manager could be forgiven for regarding the competition as a complete pain after Andriy Shevchenko suffered an ankle injury that could rule him out for Sunday's trip to Blackburn.
As if that wasn't bad enough, Claudio Pizarro missed the match with a fever and Florent Malouda was unable to make his expected return from a knee injury.
With Didier Drogba and John Terry already sidelined, Grant cannot afford to lose any more senior players as he tries to close the six-point gap with leader Arsenal.
"Malouda is still injured. We thought he could play in this game but he has a problem and we will know more at the end of the week. It might be a few more weeks," Grant said.
"Shevchenko has a swollen ankle. I don't know if it is serious."
Grant was lucky not to lose John Obi Mikel as well after the midfielder was scythed down by an ugly two-footed lunge that saw Liverpool striker Peter Crouch sent off.
"I don't mind players being aggressive but not when they hurt people," Grant said. "It is a game you need to play aggressively and quickly so it is not easy for referees. But we have already lost John Terry and the priority must be to protect players."
Frank Lampard broke the deadlock in the 59th minute when his shot deflected in off Jamie Carragher and Crouch's red card a minute later effectively ended Liverpool's hopes of a comeback.
Andriy Shevchenko's 90th minute goal ensured the holders reached the last four for the third time in four seasons.
But it was Crouch's shocking challenge that proved the turning point. There is no lovelost between these English superpowers but the England striker, who also got involved in a row with a fan as he walked off, is not usually the aggressive type.
Rafa Benitez insisted Crouch had been provoked by constant fouling from Mikel, while Grant claimed Liverpool had set out to target the Nigerian.
While Chelsea celebrated a quarterfinal win over its bitter rivals, Liverpool is in danger of failing to deliver on the promise it had showed earlier in the campaign.
Benitez's side is already well off the pace in the league and this defeat leaves only the Champions League and FA Cup as realistic ambitions.
The Spanish coach had no complaints about his team's efforts. "I was really pleased with the performance of the team. We had chances but they have a very good goalkeeper," Benitez said.
"When we were playing with 11 players we were playing well, passing the ball, defending well. Sometimes you need a bit of luck."
AFP
(China Daily 12/21/2007 page23)
