Heartache for Liverpool: The Reds Fall to The Blues in the FA Cup Final

Chelsea 2:1 Liverpool

Ramires (11'), Drogba (52'); Carroll (64')

Liverpool's hopes for a double this season were high as they arrived at Wembley ahead of the FA Cup Final clash with Chelsea. The two sides met for the 31st time since the start of the 2004-2005 season.

Kenny sent out a solid starting XI, electing to leave Andy Carroll and Dirk Kuyt on the bench, but providing skipper Steven Gerrard as support for Luis Suarez.

The Reds were in for a wake up call early on as Chelsea's Mata sent a ball past Jose Enrique to Ramires, who was able to slip away from the full back. Pepe Reina dove too soon for anyone's taste, rather than waiting for the shot, and could only watch as the ball went in easily at the near post at the 11th minute.

Craig Bellamy wasted no time, sending in a strong shot on the counter attack, only to have it blocked by Ivanovic.

Liverpool's midfield finally began to work after the half hour mark, with Steven Gerrard finding himself farther and farther up the pitch. Jordan Henderson was able to send in a marvelous header to Luis Suarez, who was only able to send it wide.  Any momentum the Reds were able to build was stopped at the half.

 

Just as Liverpool started getting back into the swing of things in the second half, Drogba found an opening on the left side and sending the ball through Daniel Agger's outstretched legs into the corner of the net in the 52'.

This was all it took for King Kenny to put Andy Carroll, the £35 million man into the game for Jay Spearing, while Fernando Torres, the £85 million man, could only watch from the bench. It took Carroll no time at all to have Terry thrown for a loop, twisting about before sending the ball past Cech into the roof of the net.

Again Carroll proved his worth, wearing down the tiring Chelsea side as he set up Jordan Henderson who sent a ball just wide.

The 81' saw Carroll come to Liverpool's aid yet again. Kind of. Suarez sent a cross across the goal which Andy headed into the goal. Or so he thought. Before it was disallowed. Because Cech had a hand on it before it crossed the line. Allegedly. Despite Carroll's header looking legitimate upon replay, one look from the linesman could have led to an understandable error. I suppose.

  

Even after his disallowed goal, Carroll made one last chance, only to find it blocked by Terry, leaving Liverpool to wallow in a moment of controversy denying them their double.

Despite the loss as Chelsea raised their 7th FA Cup, the Reds can take solace in the fact that Andy Carroll has finally found his form and place in the Liverpool side. And that Manchester United went out in the 4th Round. Suddenly, those runners-up metals don't seem so bad.

written by Yasmien Mizyed