Riise gaffe gives Blues advantage

For the third time in four years, a Champions League semi-final paired off Chelsea and Liverpool. This time however one side did have serious momentum going into the second leg

As time ticked down, Liverpool were holding on to a 1-0 lead, given to them by Dutch international Dirk Kuyt in the first half. The four minutes of added time were up and the Kop were in full voice. Chelsea substitute Soloman Kalou swung in a wicked cross, which the defender had to deal with.

The defender was another substitute, John Arne Riise. The ball was dipping on him and he wasn't sure how to deal with the ball, he had to do something otherwise Nicolas Anelka was sweeping it home behind him.

Riise chose to head the ball instead of swinging his right boot, it bounced a couple of yards in front of him and as he went to head it clear, it hit the top of his head and flew past his stranded goalkeeper.

An own-goal at the very end of the game and suddenly the balance of power shifted. The first leg being at Anfield was an advantage for the side from west London.

By winning the toss and making Liverpool shoot towards the Kop end in the first half, they had won the first psychological battle. By scoring in the last minute, they fired the final shot that'll linger in the air for eight days.

The game itself had been about as exciting as most pundits thought it would be. At half-time the ITV punditry team of Mark Hughes and Andy Townsend alongside presenter Steve Rider raved about what a good first half it had been - were they watching the same game as the rest of the watching world?

I know they are trying to keep people from turning over, but it felt insulting to my intelligence. People knock the BBC, but if a game is bad then Alan Hansen and Alan Shearer will happily state so.

The only real action in the first half had been a couple of half chances for Joe Cole, which he failed to connect cleanly with. There was a chance for Fernando Torres, but the Spaniard took an extra touch which allowed Petr Cech to narrow the angle. Then came the two interesting incidents of the half.

Didier Drogba was put through and was bundled to the ground by a Jamie Carragher challenge. The question was whether or not the defender got a touch on the ball, replays were inconclusive but if he didn't, then it would've been a free kick and the Liverpool player may well of seen red.

Liverpool's goal came from a very soft free-kick given away by Michael Ballack. Chelsea had around 42,978 chances to clear it but chose not to and Dirk Kuyt fired a shot between the legs of the giant Chelsea keeper to put Liverpool ahead just before the interval.

The second half saw both sides have a couple of chances but nothing spectacular until the final play of the game. It was just another dull encounter and maybe we were spoilt by the Liverpool v Arsenal game in the previous round, but I just didn't enjoy the game as a spectacle or as a game of football.

I'll no doubt watch the second leg next week but if I didn't have Sky+ then The Apprentice might well of won out.