Articles
Glenn slates pitch
Even Glenn Hoddle's presence could not inspire Chelsea to victory, as Liverpool held on for a point in a grim struggle at Stamford Bridge.
Hoddle named himself in Chelsea's side for the first time this season and 1.5 million pound striker Mark Stein made his first appearance since last May's FA Cup Final as substitute, but Chelsea's inconsistent form remains a problem.
The Londoners have now won only two of their last 11 League and Cup games and badly needed to restore some consistency before their European Cup-Winners' Cup quarter-final against Brugge in the New Year.
They also face a difficult seasonal programme with games against Manchester United and London rivals Wimbledon and QPR.
Liverpool, who looked a better team for long periods of a largely featureless game, will regard this as two points thrown away in their attempt to stay in touch with the Premiership's title contenders.
Hoddle last started a game for his side on March 30 last year, but Achilles tendon problems have kept him out ever since. But the player-manager decided to bring himself back into the team after last Saturday's 3-0 hammering at Norwich.
His presence made little difference in the early stages as Liverpool imposed their passing style on the game - Mark Walters going close with an angled drive.
But then a mistake by John Barnes allowed Paul Furlong to set up Dennis Wise for a stinging shot that Liverpool 'keeper David James could only touch onto a post.
It should have been the signal for a Chelsea assault, but instead Liverpool went close with Michael Thomas forced keeper Dmitri Kharine into action.
Hoddle then set up a chance for Furlong, but again James was in the way - and the Liverpool keeper was equally capable in keeping out a second effort from Furlong, and from Gavin Peacock.
Both defences dominated the game, with chances few and far between.
Neil Ruddock forced Kharine into a neat save and then the Chelsea 'keeper was well positioned to deal with a low drive from Robbie Fowler.
Furlong should have broken the deadlock in the 63rd minute when Peacock's flick put him clear, but his fierce shot was beaten away by James.
That was virtually the last clear scoring chance and although the consistently impressive Wise flicked a glancing header wide and then dipped a shot over, the game looked increasingly unlikely to produce a goal.
Hoddle was fiercely critical of the Stamford Bridge pitch: "I'm desperate to get the pitch bigger. It is at its minimum size now. This was decided three years ago by the architects and I've got to change it. It has made it more difficult for us with such a small pitch. The players have been saying it all season. We have lost three yards on width and two yards on length and we need to do something about it."
On the match itself, Hoddle said: "It was very frantic. There was not a lot of cohesion. I came back because I felt we needed experience against Liverpool's system. They can run you ragged if you haven't got people out there to talk to each other. Fitness-wise it was always a gamble - I'll have to go to bed for four days now!"
Liverpool manager Roy Evans said: "I felt this was probably two points dropped. We had a lot of the play but never looked like scoring a goal. That is the way it has been for us all season.”
Copyright - British Soccer Week
Hoddle named himself in Chelsea's side for the first time this season and 1.5 million pound striker Mark Stein made his first appearance since last May's FA Cup Final as substitute, but Chelsea's inconsistent form remains a problem.
The Londoners have now won only two of their last 11 League and Cup games and badly needed to restore some consistency before their European Cup-Winners' Cup quarter-final against Brugge in the New Year.
They also face a difficult seasonal programme with games against Manchester United and London rivals Wimbledon and QPR.
Liverpool, who looked a better team for long periods of a largely featureless game, will regard this as two points thrown away in their attempt to stay in touch with the Premiership's title contenders.
Hoddle last started a game for his side on March 30 last year, but Achilles tendon problems have kept him out ever since. But the player-manager decided to bring himself back into the team after last Saturday's 3-0 hammering at Norwich.
His presence made little difference in the early stages as Liverpool imposed their passing style on the game - Mark Walters going close with an angled drive.
But then a mistake by John Barnes allowed Paul Furlong to set up Dennis Wise for a stinging shot that Liverpool 'keeper David James could only touch onto a post.
It should have been the signal for a Chelsea assault, but instead Liverpool went close with Michael Thomas forced keeper Dmitri Kharine into action.
Hoddle then set up a chance for Furlong, but again James was in the way - and the Liverpool keeper was equally capable in keeping out a second effort from Furlong, and from Gavin Peacock.
Both defences dominated the game, with chances few and far between.
Neil Ruddock forced Kharine into a neat save and then the Chelsea 'keeper was well positioned to deal with a low drive from Robbie Fowler.
Furlong should have broken the deadlock in the 63rd minute when Peacock's flick put him clear, but his fierce shot was beaten away by James.
That was virtually the last clear scoring chance and although the consistently impressive Wise flicked a glancing header wide and then dipped a shot over, the game looked increasingly unlikely to produce a goal.
Hoddle was fiercely critical of the Stamford Bridge pitch: "I'm desperate to get the pitch bigger. It is at its minimum size now. This was decided three years ago by the architects and I've got to change it. It has made it more difficult for us with such a small pitch. The players have been saying it all season. We have lost three yards on width and two yards on length and we need to do something about it."
On the match itself, Hoddle said: "It was very frantic. There was not a lot of cohesion. I came back because I felt we needed experience against Liverpool's system. They can run you ragged if you haven't got people out there to talk to each other. Fitness-wise it was always a gamble - I'll have to go to bed for four days now!"
Liverpool manager Roy Evans said: "I felt this was probably two points dropped. We had a lot of the play but never looked like scoring a goal. That is the way it has been for us all season.”
Copyright - British Soccer Week
