Let’s take a look back at one of the stand-out fixtures in the football calendar between two legendary teams in English football.
Join us at SportsBreaks to explore the history, intense fan rivalry and a selection of unforgettable matches that have defined this fixture throughout the ages.
Liverpool v Chelsea – The Rivalry
The two sides have long been in competition with each other for silverware and a place in the top four of English football.
The rivalry really started upon the arrivals of Jose Mourinho and Rafa Benitez in 2004. Early on Mourinho openly discussed efforts to try and bring Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard to Chelsea, stirring up quite the controversy in Merseyside.
Shortly after came two games that defined the rivalry for years to come. First was the Carling Cup final which ended in Liverpool defeat after an own goal from Steven Gerrard. Three months later, the two faced each other again in another big game; the Champions League semi-final where this time Liverpool came out on top thanks to Luis Garcia’s infamous and controversial ‘ghost goal’.
Liverpool went on to win that Champions League and Chelsea took the league title and the rivalry has been heated ever since. Both battling for success across all competitions and memories of the heartbreak caused by their rivals always in the forefront of their minds.
Memorable clashes at Anfield
1. Mourinho’s first and only Premier League defeat at Anfield
Mourinho’s Chelsea side had confidence heading to Anfield, having won all of their premier league clashes at the stadium since the arrival of Jose Mourinho, but January 2007 would break that cycle thanks to two early goals from Liverpool. The first came just three minutes in from Dirk Kuyt, and the second from Jermaine Pennant. By the 20th minute the game was won, and Chelsea had a long trip home to soak in their first defeat at Anfield in 3 years.
2. Liverpool’s hopes of Premier League glory
The 2018/2019 season was one of hope for Liverpool fans as they breezed through the start of the season and come April 2019, they sat in a great position but their game against Chelsea was a must win if they wanted to stay on top of Manchester City. They absorbed the pressure and despite their tough competition, came away with a 2-0 win thanks to two goals in three minutes from Mané and Salah. This put Liverpool two points ahead of City with one game in hand, ultimately it wasn’t enough to take the title, but it proved a decisive victory at the time.
3. Chelsea’s biggest defeat at Anfield in 12 years
The most recent clash between the two teams at Anfield took place in January 2024 in which The Reds displayed a dominant display to beat Chelsea 4-1, their biggest win against their rivals in over 10 years. Four different goal scorers got on the scoresheet including Diogo Jota, Conor Bradley, Dominik Szoboszlai and Luis Díaz.
Looking ahead
Despite the shake up in personnel in recent years, this fixture remains one of the most anticipated games in the football calendar and the fierce rivalry established in the 2000s follows the two sides every time they meet.
To experience this yourself, you can register your interest in future matches and view our Liverpool FC ticket page.
Join us for more stories, updates, and fan experiences at SportsBreaks, where the game never ends, and every match is more than just a game.
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