Tom Lappin: Chelsea winning without John Terry but Liverpool need Steven Gerrard

Published on Friday 5 November 2010 16:19

IT WAS a tale of two substitutes. Chelsea's comfortable Champions League victory over Spartak Moscow, and Liverpool's panicky win over Napoli in the Europa League, saw the respective club and England captains, John Terry and Steven Gerrard, starting on the bench, resting their priceless limbs for tomorrow's Premier League encounter.

• Steven Gerrard rescued Liverpool with a hat-trick against Napoli Picture: PA

Subsequent events mirrored their clubs' respective seasons. Chelsea didn't so much coast to an easy victory as hammer insistently against their opponents' dwindling resistance until they were thoroughly destroyed. Terry remained on the sidelines. His body language when Branoslav Ivanovic steered a brilliant header into the corner of the net for Chelsea's third was exquisite.

There was the little hop of satisfaction that the game was won, tempered by palpable resentment that the role of the big defender popping up in the opposition area to head key goals used to be his sole prerogative, now usurped by the impressive Serb.

Liverpool's captain had the satisfaction of a more telling contribution. Gerrard's hat-trick personified most aspects of his character. The first was pure athletic determination and competitive instinct, chasing down a casual back-pass from old chum Andrea Dossena for a full-blooded challenge that the Napoli goalkeeper, in Gerrard's pithy post-match assessment, "didn't fancy". The second was a penalty despatched nervelessly and powerfully into the corner. The third was an energetic run on to a smart through ball from Lucas Leiva, and a showboat chip over that hapless keeper to underline the maverick genius of Stevie G.

Roy Hodgson wore the aspect of a manager whose plan had signally failed, yet who had contrived to emerge with a victory and a morale-boosting 45 minutes from his captain. Hodgson's approach to a game against a respectable side that is fifth in Serie A was an attempt to emulate Manchester United, who had won on Tuesday with a side generously laden with young reserves.

That was a tad misguided given that United's reserves tend to be exciting attacking talent, while Hodgson's are more stodgy, hard-working midfielders, like Jay Spearing, Jonjo Shelvey and Nathan Ecclestone. Not that we should underestimate Hodgson's wisdom; the man does not resemble an owl by accident.

With Liverpool's new sugar daddy, John W Henry, looking on from the VIP box, this might have been a plan to loosen the purse-strings. If Henry is at Anfield tomorrow, he is likely to witness the gulf in class and resources between his club and Roman Abramovich's, the Russian's condescension maybe pricking Yankee pride. Chelsea are playing with ominous consistency this season, in a Premier League that is witnessing a broad decline in overall quality.

The appointment of Carlo Ancelotti looks more like a masterstroke with every passing week. Those who were sceptical about Chelsea's ageing squad may have overlooked the Milan school of conditioning and diet that elicits returns from players well into their thirties (Pippo Inzaghi, at 37, offered further reminders against Real Madrid this week). Ancelotti has brought that expertise (and key fitness personnel) to Stamford Bridge, and the effects are tangible.

Not that Chelsea's players are entering venerable Milan territory just yet. Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka are 32 and 31 respectively, and playing with the verve and pace of men ten years younger. Michael Essien is just 28, Ashley Cole and Florent Malouda both 30, Ivanovic just 26. These have been Chelsea's star performers this season, eclipsing the old English stalwarts, Terry and Frank Lampard (whose injury absences have seen Ancelotti reinvent and reinvigorate Chelsea's midfield).

Without any headline-grabbing transfer investment in the summer, Ancelotti has honed an impressive squad, which Hodgson can only envy. Compare the two managers' attacking options.

If he wants to rest the peerless Anelka and Drogba, the Italian can turn to the inventive and technically-adept Daniel Sturridge. When Sturridge came off the bench on Wednesday, he offered a refreshing alternative option as Chelsea continued to press for goals. Hodgson's main alternative to the sporadically listless Fernando Torres is the willing but limited David Ngog.

Hodgson's squad now bears the mark of a quick shopping-trip to Asda, because he didn't know there would be any cash to browse the shelves at Waitrose. Paul Konchesky at least provides commitment and professionalism but can only admire from afar genuine world-class left-backs like Cole and Gareth Bale. In the bafflingly poor Christian Poulsen, though, Hodgson seems to have bought the memory of a player who once merited his regard.

January is a notoriously poor time to make any significant transfers, but if Liverpool remain in the bottom-half, Hodgson may have to trawl through his European Rolodex in desperation for squad-strengthening signings. Up to now, Hodgson, maintaining calm and dignity in the face of increased criticism, has had to cut Liverpool's cloth to Fulham measurements. He has been unfortunate with injuries, Joe Cole joining Dirk Kuyt in the treatment-room at a crucial time of the season.

On Thursday night he was bullish about the way his side had responded to pressure with three successive wins. It's just unfortunate that the calendar asks his team's mini-revival to continue against the one side in the Premier League who look pitilessly adept at punishing any weakness.