Match report: Chelsea 0 - 2 Liverpool

CRAIG Bellamy steered Liverpool into the Carling Cup semi-finals to heap further pressure on under-fire Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas.

Bellamy’s pinpoint delivery set up second-half goals for Maxi Rodriguez and Martin Kelly as the Reds took a step closer to winning their first silverware since 2006.

It completed an emotional return for Bellamy, who had been omitted from the squad for Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City on compassionate grounds following the death of close friend Gary Speed. The 32-year-old Wales winger provided the spark of creativity Liverpool needed to defeat toothless opposition who were prone to erratic defending. The ineffectual Andy Carroll, who started at Stamford Bridge, missed a first-half penalty while Chelsea should have been awarded a clear spot-kick after just two minutes.

It was Chelsea’s third defeat in four matches, a sequence spanning just 10 days, and the Portuguese is now in a precarious position, with his future certain to attract fresh scrutiny as the Blues continue to flounder under his guidance.

Kenny Dalglish has now never lost to Chelsea as Liverpool manager in 13 meetings, but that record would have been more seriously challenged had referee Phil Dowd not blundered in the third minute. David Luiz had dashed into the area but just as he appeared to have rounded Sebastian Coates, he was caught by the Uruguayan’s knee and tumbled over. Dowd was unimpressed, however, and booked Luiz for diving.

Dowd did point to the penalty spot in the 21st minute and it was Liverpool who were the beneficiaries. Alex blatantly handled but Carroll drilled his effort straight at Ross Turnbull.

But Liverpool were ahead in the 58th minute. Bellamy did the initial damage with a killer ball across goal for Rodriguez to complete a simple tap-in. It was 2-0 five minutes later as Bellamy supplied the ammunition again – this time from a free-kick – and Kelly was given all the time in the world to nod home his first goal for the club.

Bellamy left ten minutes before the finish to a richly deserved standing ovation from visiting fans, who taunted Villas-Boas by chanting “you’re getting sacked in the morning”.

Chelsea: Turnbull, Bosingwa, Luiz, Alex, Bertrand, Lampard, Romeu, McEachran (Ramires 41), Malouda (Anelka 64), Torres, Lukaku (Mata 64). Subs not used: Hilario, Ivanovic, Ferreira, Kalou.

Liverpool: Reina, Kelly, Carragher, Coates, Jose Enrique, Henderson, Lucas (Adam 70), Spearing, Maxi (Skrtel 79), Bellamy (Kuyt 79), Carroll. Subs not used: Doni, Suarez, Downing, Flanagan.