Choáng váng với ngân sách chuyển nhượng của Liverpool

Khoản ngân sách dự kiến chi cho chuyển nhượng hè 2009 mới được tiết lộ của Liverpool chắc chắn sẽ khiến nhiều người sốc. Một lần nữa, HLV Benitez phải vỡ mộng sau những lời hứa hão từ bộ đôi Tom Hicks & George Gillett khi ông được thông báo sẽ chỉ có vỏn vẹn 5 triệu bảng để tăng cường lực lượng, giúp Liverpool lấy lại chiếc ghế đã mất trong nhóm Big Four.

Sau những cuộc họp với chủ tịch Martin Broughton, Benitez vẫn chưa hề yên tâm khi mà tiền bán cầu thủ có thể không được trích ra cho quỹ chuyển nhượng. Và quả thực, điều đó đã xảy ra.

Nhóm cầu thủ này sẽ phải làm "vật tế thần" để Benitez mua sắm.

Các ông chủ Mỹ vẫn đang phải oằn mình chống chọi với khoản nợ lên tới 800 triệu bảng, trong đó có số tiền 351 triệu bảng mà Liverpool đang nợ với mức lãi suất khổng lồ 40 triệu bảng/năm. Khoản nợ sẽ đáo hạn trong 18 tháng tới và hiện tại vẫn chưa có động thái nào từ phía hai nhà tư bản cho thấy họ có ý định cắt giảm khoản nợ bằng việc bán CLB.

Điều đó khiến Rafa phải tính tới phương án bán bớt cầu thủ để làm đầy thêm két chuyển nhượng. Hiện giờ, 4 cái tên đã được xác định sẽ phải rời Anfield gồm Yossi Benayoun, Albert Riera, Philip Degen và Ryan Babel.

Benitez sẽ làm tất cả để giữ lại thủ quân Gerrard.

Tuy nhiên, cựu HLV Valencia cho biết ông sẽ không để Steven Gerrard và Fernando Torres rời CLB. Đây là hai nhân tố quan trọng bậc nhất trong đội hình của The Kop. Sau khi mùa giải kết thúc, họ đã nhận được nhiều lời mời mọc, trong đó Jose Mourinho công khai bày tỏ ý muốn đưa "Stevie G" về với sân Bernabeu để gia nhập dải thiên hà Galacticos 2.0 mà ông sắp dẫn dắt mùa giải tới.

Cả "G8" lẫn "T9" đều đang tập trung cho World Cup và sẽ đưa ra quyết định sau khi hoàn thành nghĩa vụ quốc gia. Có ý kiến cho rằng có thể Benitez sẽ buộc phải để một trong hai siêu sao ra đi mùa hè này nếu muốn tăng cường lực lượng.

Ngoài ra, Javier Mascherano, Pepe Reina và Glen Johnson cũng là những cái tên có thể rời Merseyside. Trong số này, khả năng ra đi của Mascherano là sáng tỏ hơn cả vì Barcelona muốn đưa tuyển thủ Argentina về sân Nou Camp, trong khi đội trưởng của La Albiceleste không đạt được thoả thuận gia hạn hợp đồng với The Reds.

Vào ngày thứ Tư tuần này, đồng chủ tịch Tom Hicks đã phủ nhận khả năng bán những trụ cột của đội bóng và hứa sẽ có một sự đầu tư đáng kể dành cho Liverpool trong mùa hè này. Ông dự tính doanh thu của CLB và quỹ chuyển nhượng sẽ được tăng gấp đôi, điều lần đầu tiên xảy ra kể từ năm 2007. Nhưng cần nhớ rằng, năm ngoái, hai ông chủ Mỹ đã nuốt lời và chỉ cấp cho Benitez một số tiền chuyển nhượng ít ỏi. Chính Benitez cũng từng lên tiếng chỉ trích cách cư xử của các sếp.

Tom Hicks chỉ là một kẻ thất hứa.

Ngân sách bèo bọt khiến tương lai của Gerrard, Torres và chính Benitez bị đặt dấu hỏi khi họ nhìn vào triển vọng không mấy tươi sáng của CLB, kéo theo nguy cơ thất bại của những kế hoạch lớn trong kỳ chuyển nhượng mùa hè.  Ví dụ, The Kop đang ngắm Danny Wilson, trung vệ của Rangers được định giá 2 triệu bảng nhưng có thể nâng lên thành 4 triệu, số tiền ngốn tới gần như toàn bộ khả năng chi trả của CLB mùa hè này. Mới chỉ có một cái tên mới sẽ ra mắt tại Anfield là Milan Jovanovic, tiền đạo người Serbia, chuyển đến từ Lokomotiv Moscow mà Liverpool không phải bỏ ra xu nào.

Theo VTC 

Benitez defends Liverpool record

Rafael Benitez has defended his record at Liverpool as his future as Reds manager continues to be the subject of speculation.
The Spaniard has been linked with a move away from Anfield with Inter Milan as a possible destination should Jose Mourinho move on after Saturday night's Champions League final. Benitez insists he is happy on Merseyside but he has been the subject of increasing criticism following a season where they finished seventh in the Barclays Premier League.
However, he told the Daily Mirror: "There is this legend that Liverpool hasn't won many trophies, that we have failed in that aspect. Well, Chelsea and Manchester United have won 10 trophies in the six years I've been in Liverpool; Arsenal, Spurs and Portsmouth one. Liverpool? Four trophies and we have played in three finals. Liverpool have been competitive."
He added: "Does Liverpool have to win the league, as everybody demands, every year?"
The former Valencia manager also feels he has not had as much control as he would have liked.
"Does the manager have absolute power in England?" he went on.
"No, it depends on a budget and on the executive director that negotiates the signings of players.
"And it depends on the money you have and the intelligence with which you operate in the market place.
"Look at the wages picked up by the players on Chelsea or Manchester United's substitutes' bench: (John) Obi Mikel, (Michael) Owen, (Salomon) Kalou, (Dimitar) Berbatov, (Michael) Carrick could be on £4million a year!
"When Portsmouth offered Peter Crouch more money than we were paying him and promised him a starting place, it became very complicated for us to keep hold of him. The arrival of Fernando Torres meant he couldn't play as often at Liverpool."

By football.co.uk

Liverpool - Education

In Liverpool primary and secondary education is available in various forms supported by the state including secular, Church of England, Jewish, and Roman Catholic. Islamic education is available at primary level, but there is currently no secondary provision. One of Liverpool's important early schools was The Liverpool Blue Coat School; founded in 1708 as a charitable school.

The Liverpool Blue Coat School is the top-performing school in the city with 100% 5 or more A*-C grades at GCSE resulting in the 30th best GCSE results in the country and an average point score per student of 1087.4 in A/AS levels.^[163] Other notable schools include Liverpool College founded in 1840 Merchant Taylors' School founded in 1620.^[164] Another of Liverpool's notable senior schools is St. Edward's College situated in the West Derby area of the city. Historic grammar schools, such as the Liverpool Institute High School & Liverpool Collegiate, closed in the 1980s are still remembered as centres of academic excellence. Bellerive Catholic College is the city's top performing non selective school, based upon GCSE results in 2007.

Liverpool has three universities: the University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores UniversityLiverpool Hope University. Edge Hill University, originally founded as a teacher-training college in the Edge Hill district of Liverpool, is now located in Ormskirk in South-West Lancashire. and

The University of Liverpool, was established in 1881 as University College Liverpool. In 1884, became part of the federal Victoria University. Following a Royal Charter and Act of Parliament in 1903, it became an independent university, the University of Liverpool, with the right to confer its own degrees. It was the first university to offer degrees in biochemistry, architecture, civic design, veterinary science, oceanography and social science.

Liverpool Hope University, founded in 1844, is situated on both sides of Taggart Avenue in Childwall and a second Campus in the City Centre (The Cornerstone). Hope is quickly making a name for itself within the Liberal Arts, the University has also enjoyed successes in terms of high graduate employability, campus development, and a substantial increase in student applications from outside of the City.

The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, founded to address some of the problems created by trade, continues today as a post-graduate school affiliated with the University of Liverpool^{[citation needed]} and is one of only two institutions internationally that house the de facto standard anti-venom repository.

Liverpool John Moores University was previously a polytechnic, and gained status in 1992. It is named in honour of Sir John Moores, one of the founders of the Littlewoods football pools and retail group, who was a major benefactor. The institution was previously owned and run by Liverpool City Council.

The city has one further education college, Liverpool Community College. Liverpool City Council operates Burton Manor, a residential adult education college in nearby Burton, on the Wirral Peninsula.

There are two Jewish schools in Liverpool, both belonging to the King David Foundation. King David School, Liverpool is the High School and the King David Primary School. There is also a King David Kindergarten, featured in the community centre of Harold House. These schools are all run by the King David Foundation based in Harold House in Childwall; conveniently next door to the Childwall Synagogue

Liverpool - History

King John's letters patent of 1207 announced the foundation of the borough of Liverpool, but by the middle of the 16th century the population was still only around 500. The original street plan of Liverpool is said to have been designed by King John near the same time it was granted a royal charter, making it a borough. The original seven streets were laid out in a H shape:

• Bank Street (now Water Street)
• Castle Street
• Chapel Street
• Dale Street
• Juggler Street (now High Street)
• Moor Street (now Tithebarn Street)
• Whiteacre Street (now Old Hall Street)

In the 17th century there was slow progress in trade and population growth. Battles for the town were waged during the English Civil War, including an eighteen-day siege in 1644. In 1699 Liverpool was made a parish by Act of Parliament, that same year its first slave ship, Liverpool Merchant, set sail for Africa. As trade from the West Indies surpassed that of Ireland and Europe, and as the River Dee silted up, Liverpool began to grow. The first commercial wet dock^[7][8] Substantial profits from the slave trade helped the town to prosper and rapidly grow. By the close of the century Liverpool controlled over 41% of Europe's and 80% of Britain's slave commerce. was built in Liverpool in 1715.

By the start of the 19th century, 40% of the world's trade was passing through Liverpool and the construction of major buildings reflected this wealth. In 1830, Liverpool and ManchesterLiverpool and Manchester Railway. The population continued to rise rapidly, especially during the 1840s when IrishGreat Famine. By 1851, approximately 25% of the city's population was Irish-born. During the first part of the 20th century, Liverpool was drawing immigrants from across Europe. became the first cities to have an intercity rail link, through the migrants began arriving by the hundreds of thousands as a result of the

Inaugural journey of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway in 1830, the first ever commercial railway line.

Livepool was the port of registry of the ill fated ocean liner, the RMS Titanic. The words Titanic, Liverpool could be seen on the stern of the ship that sunk in April 1912 with the loss of 1,517 lives (including numerous Liverpudlians). A Memorial to the Engine Room Heroes of the Titanic is located on the city's waterfront.

The Housing Act 1919 resulted in mass council housing building across Liverpool during the 1920s and 1930s. Thousands of families were rehoused from the inner-city to new suburban housing estates, based on the pretext that this would improve their standard of living, though this is largely subjective. A large number of private homes were also built during this era. The process continued after the Second World War, with many more new housing estates being built in suburban areas, while some of the older inner city areas where also redeveloped for new homes.

During the Second World War there were 80 air-raids on Merseyside, killing 2,500 people and causing damage to almost half the homes in the metropolitan area. Significant rebuilding followed the war, including massive housing estates and the Seaforth Dock, the largest dock project in Britain. Much of the immediate reconstruction of the city centre has been deeply unpopular, and was as flawed as much town planning renewal in the 1950s and 1960s - the portions of the city's heritage that survived German bombing could not withstand the efforts of urban renewal. Since 1952 Liverpool has been twinned with Cologne, Germany, a city which also experienced aerial bombing during the war.

In the 1960s Liverpool was the centre of the "Merseybeat" sound which became synonymous with The Beatles and fellow Liverpudlian rock bands.

From the mid-1970s onwards Liverpool's docks and traditional manufacturing industries went into sharp decline. The advent of containerisation meant that the city's docks became largely obsolete. In the early 1980s unemployment rates in Liverpool were among the highest in the UK. In recent years, Liverpool's economy has recovered and has experienced growth rates higher than the national average since the mid-nineties.

20 Forthlin Road is one of many tourist attractions related to The Beatles.

Previously part of Lancashire, and a county borough from 1889, Liverpool became in 1974 a metropolitan borough within the newly created metropolitan county of Merseyside.

At the end of the 20th century Liverpool was concentrating on regeneration, a process which still continues today. To celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 2002, the conservation charity Plantlife organised a competition to choose county flowers; the sea-holly was Liverpool's final choice.

Capitalising on the popularity of 1960s rock groups, such as The Beatles, as well as the city's world-class art galleries, museums and landmarks, tourism has also become a significant factor in Liverpool's economy.

In 2004, property developer Grosvenor started the Paradise Project, a £920 m development centered on Paradise Street, which involved the most significant changes to Liverpool's city centre since the post-war reconstruction. Renamed 'Liverpool 1', the centre opened in May 2008.

In 2007 the city celebrated the 800th anniversary of the foundation of the borough of Liverpool, for which a number of events were planned. Liverpool is a joint European Capital of Culture for 2008. The main celebrations, in September 2008, included La Princesse, a large mechanical spider which is 20 metres high and weighs 37 tonnes, and represents the "eight legs" of Liverpool: honour, history, music, the Mersey, the ports, governance, sunshine and culture. La Princesse roamed the streets of the city during the festivities, and concluded by entering the Queensway Tunnel.

Second city of Empire

Lime Street, Liverpool in the 1890s, St.George's Hall to the left, Great North Western HotelWalker Art GallerySessions House in the background. Statues of Prince Albert, Disraeli, Queen VictoriaWellington's Column in the middle ground. to the right, and and

Liverpool was described as such by Benjamin Disraeli, the Prime Minister associated with the height of Britain's Imperial ambition. For periods during the 19th century the wealth of Liverpool exceeded that of London itself,^[9] and Liverpool's Custom House was the single largest contributor to the British Exchequer.^[10] Liverpool's status can be judged from the fact that it was the only British city ever to have its own Whitehall office.^[11]

The first United States consul anywhere in the world, James Maury, was appointed to Liverpool in 1790, and remained in office for 39 years.

As early as 1851 the city was described as "the New York of Europe"^[12] and its buildings, constructed on a heroic, even megalomaniacal scale stand witness to the supreme confidence and ambition of the city at the turn of the 20th century. Liverpool was also the site of the UK's first provincial airport, operating from 1930.

Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March No.1, often seen as Britain's Imperial anthem, was dedicated by the composer to the Liverpool Orchestral Society and had its premiere in the city in October 1901.

During the Second World War, the critical strategic importance of Liverpool was recognised by both Hitler and Churchill, with the city suffering a blitz second only to London's, and the pivotal Battle of the Atlantic being planned, fought and won from Liverpool.^[13]

Inventions and innovations

School of Tropical Medicine, the first in the world

Ferries, railways, transatlantic steamships, municipal trams,^[14] electric trains^[15] and the helicopter^[16] were all pioneered in Liverpool as modes of mass transit.

The first School for the Blind,^[17] High School for Girls,^[18][19] council house^[20] and Juvenile Court^[21] were all founded in Liverpool. The RSPCA,^[22] NSPCC,^[23] Age Concern,^[24] Relate, Citizen's Advice Bureau^[25] and Legal Aid all evolved from work in the city.

In the field of public health, the first lifeboat station, public baths and wash-houses,^[26] sanitary act,^[27] medical officer for health, district nurse, slum clearance,^[28] purpose-built ambulance,^[29] X-ray medical diagnosis,^[30] school of tropical medicine, motorised municipal fire-engine,^[31] free school milk and school meals,^[32] cancer research centre,^[33] and zoonosis research centre^[34] all originated in Liverpool. The first British Nobel Prize was awarded in 1902 to Ronald Ross, professor at the School of Tropical Medicine, the first school of its kind in the world.^[35] Orthopaedic surgery was pioneered in Liverpool by Hugh Owen Thomas,^[36] and modern medical anaesthetics by Thomas Cecil Gray.

Oriel Chambers, the first 'modern' building in the world

In finance, Liverpool founded the UK's first Underwriters' Association^[37] and the first Institute of Accountants. The Western world's first financial derivatives (cotton futures) were traded on the Liverpool Cotton Exchange in the late 1700s.^[38]

In the arts, Liverpool was home to the first lending library, athenaeum society, arts centre^[39]public art conservation centre.^[40] Liverpool is also home to the UK's oldest surviving classical orchestra, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.^[41] and

In 1864, Peter Ellis built the world's first iron-framed, curtain-walled office building, Oriel Chambers, the prototype of the skyscraper.

In 1897, the Lumière brothers filmed Liverpool,^[42] including what is believed to be the world's first tracking shot,^[43] taken from the Liverpool Overhead Railway - the world's first elevated electrified railway.

Liverpool inventor Frank Hornby was a visionary in toy development and manufacture and produced three of the most popular lines of toys in the twentieth century: Meccano, Hornby Model Railways and Dinky Toys.

In 1999, Liverpool was the first city outside the capital to be awarded blue plaques by English Heritage in recognition of the "significant contribution made by its sons and daughters in all walks of life."[44

Liverpool

Liverpool (pronounced /ˈlɪvɚpuːl/) is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880. Liverpool is the fourth largest city in the United Kingdom and has a population of 435,500, and lies at the centre of the wider Liverpool Urban Area, which has a population of 816,216.^[3]

Historically a part of Lancashire, the urbanisation and expansion of Liverpool were largely brought about by the city's status as a major port. By the 18th century, trade from the West Indies, Ireland and mainland Europe coupled with close links with the Atlantic Slave Trade furthered the economic expansion of Liverpool. By the early 19th century, 40% of the world's trade passed through Liverpool's docks, contributing to Liverpool's rise as a major city.

Inhabitants of Liverpool are referred to as Liverpudlians but are also known as "Scousers", in reference to the local dish known as "scouse", a form of stew. The word "Scouse" has also become synonymous with the Liverpool accent and dialect.^[4] Liverpool's status as a port cityBlack African community in the country and the oldest Chinese community in Europe. has contributed to its diverse population, which, historically, were drawn from a wide range of peoples, cultures, and religions, particularly those from Ireland. The city is also home to the oldest

The popularity of The Beatles and the other groups from the Merseybeat era contributes to Liverpool's status as a tourist destination; tourism forms a significant part of the city's modern economy. In 2007 the city celebrated its 800th anniversary, and in 2008 it held the European Capital of Culture title together with Stavanger, Norway.^[5]

In 2004, several areas throughout the city centre were granted World Heritage Site status by UNESCO. Referred to as the Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City, the site comprises six separate locations in the city including the Pier Head, Albert Dock and William Brown Street^[6] and includes many of the city's most famous landmarks.

Ferguson cay cú với "món quà" Gerrard tặng Chelsea

Ngôi sao của đội tuyển Anh đã mắc sai lầm khi chuyền bóng bất cẩn về cho thủ môn Reina. Tận dụng cơ hội, tiền đạo Didier Drogba nhanh chân băng xuống ghi bàn thắng mở tỷ số cho Chelsea. Nhật xét về tình huống ghi bàn này, HLV Ferguson của MU tỏ ra vô cùng thất vọng. “Tôi chỉ xem lại tình huống đó sau khi trận đậu kết thúc. Đó là một món quà lớn mà Gerrard đã trao cho Chelsea. Tuy nhiên, tôi không hề nghi ngờ về tình huống đó mà chúng tôi chỉ biết chấp nhận nó mà thôi”, chiến lược gia người Scotland chán nản nói.

Drogba hớn hở với "món quà" vô giá của Gerrard.

Trong trận đấu muộn tối hôm qua, MU cũng đã giành được chiến thắng tối thiểu 1-0 trước Sunderland. Nếu muốn giành chức vô địch giải ngoại hạng Anh mùa giải này, MU buộc phải đánh bại Stoke City trên sân Old Trafford ở vòng đấu cuối và hy vọng Chelsea không vượt qua được Wigan trên sân Stamford Bridge. Tuy vậy, HLV Ferguson vẫn hy vọng may mắn sẽ tiếp tục mỉm cười với Quỷ Đỏ.

"Bạn không bao giờ biết điều gì sẽ xảy ra vì bóng đá là một môn thể thao luôn cho những điều bất ngờ. Man City đã giúp chúng tôi đánh bại Chelsea trong cả hai lượt trận mùa giải này còn Wigan cũng là một đội bóng láng giềng của chúng tôi và bạn hãy chờ xem điều gì sẽ xảy ra”, Sir Alex tin tưởng.

Trong khi đó, HLV Carlo Ancelotti tỏ ra rất hài lòng khi The Blues giành chiến quan trọng 2-0 trước Liverpool. Với 3 điểm có được, đội bóng thành London gần như chắc chắn có được chức vô địch giải ngoại Anh thứ 4 trong lịch sử vì ở vòng 38, họ chỉ phải gặp đội bóng yếu trên sân nhà.

"Trận đấu với Liverpool có tính chất quyết định tới cơ hội giành chức chức vô địch Premier League mùa giải này của chúng tôi và chúng tôi đã chơi rất tốt. Chiến thắng trong trận đấu hôm Chủ Nhật là hoàn xứng đáng. Nhiệm vụ của chúng tôi lúc này là chuẩn bị tốt nhất cho trận đấu trên sân nhà ở vòng đấu cuối”, chiến lược gia người Italia hồ hởi nói.

Theo VTC

Liverpool 0 - 2 Chelsea

Steve Gerrard's backpass gifted the opener to Chelsea

Chelsea moved to the brink of the Premier League title as they cruised to a comfortable victory against Liverpool at Anfield.

Carlo Ancelotti's side must beat Wigan at home on the final day of the season to guarantee the crown, following Manchester United's later 1-0 win at Sunderland.

After a slow start at Anfield, they were put on the path towards the title by Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, who gifted Didier Drogba the opening goal after 33 minutes with a dreadful backpass that left the striker with an easy job of scoring in front of The Kop.

The goal, and the manner in which it was conceded, ended Liverpool's fleeting resistance and Chelsea cantered to victory.

Frank Lampard added the second from Nicolas Anelka's cross nine minutes after the interval, with only Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina preventing a more emphatic victory margin.

Much had been made of the potentially unpalatable prospect - for Liverpool fans at least - of a victory for their team opening the door for United to eclipse the Anfield club's tally of 18 titles. But suggestions that Rafael Benitez's side would stand aside to avoid this eventuality proved incorrect.

Liverpool were not betrayed by a lack of effort, it was a lack of energy after playing through 120 minutes against Atletico Madrid on Thursday to no avail that was part of their downfall. And more crucially, in a condemnation of a managerial reign that may well be coming to a close, it was a lack of quality and squad strength assembled by Benitez that was brutally exposed by Chelsea.

As Chelsea ruthlessly closed in on the points, Liverpool saw their last faint hopes of Champions League football extinguished with one game left of a season that started with so much optimism but is ending awash with uncertainty surrounding the future of Benitez, and the ownership of the club.

Benitez joined Liverpool's squad and their families as they made their way around Anfield as a "thank you" to their supporters after the final whistle - but the response to the manager was relatively muted and there is a growing sense that this is likely to turn out to be his final game at Anfield in charge after a six-year reign.

In contrast to Liverpool's despair, Chelsea know the title is almost in their grasp - with the possibility of clinching an historic double with the FA Cup final against Portsmouth still to come.

Benitez resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes after Liverpool's Europa League exit. Injured Glen Johnson was replaced by Sotirios Kyrgiakos, while Maxi Rodriguez, ineligible against Atletico, came in for Ryan Babel.

Lampard was just off target from long-range inside the first minute, but Liverpool emerged as the better side in what was admittedly a desperately mediocre opening half hour.

Alberto Aquilani came closest in that spell with a drive from outside the penalty area that glanced off the bar with Chelsea keeper Petr Cech beaten.

As the opening half threatened to drift aimlessly to its conclusion, a shocking error from Gerrard presented Chelsea with a lead their lacklustre efforts barely deserved. Under no pressure, Liverpool's captain sent a backpass straight to Drogba, who could barely believe his luck as he rounded Reina to score in an unguarded net.

Chelsea believed they should have had the opportunity to double their advantage in the dying moments of the half when Salomon Kalou fell as he raced into the box accompanied by Lucas. Referee Alan Wiley appeared to put the whistle his lips in readiness to award a penalty, but then waved away Chelsea's claims.

Ancelotti's side started with real purpose after the break, with Anelka somehow failing to convert Kalou's cross from almost on the goalline - but they did not have to wait long for the goal their fans clearly believed clinched the title.

Anelka made amends for his earlier miss by beating Liverpool's attempts to play the offside trap before crossing for Lampard to slide in a simple finish.

The fight visibly drained out of Liverpool, who had to replace the injured Jamie Carragher with Daniel Ayala, and Reina had to produce an outstanding save low to his left to turn away Florent Malouda's volley.

Reina was keeping the score within respectable proportions for a Liverpool side who had barely raised a gallop after Drogba's goal, and he was forced to save twice from Anelka in the space of seconds as Chelsea went in for the kill.

All that was left was for Chelsea to play out time without any mishaps - which they were able to do without alarm as they moved to the brink of reclaiming the Premier League that they last won in 2006.

Huang rubbishes Anfield link

Reported Liverpool suitor Kenneth Huang has denied weekend stories that he is closing in on a takeover at Liverpool.

One Sunday newspaper claimed that the former Wall Street stockbroker was in advanced negations to buy the Anfield club.

Current co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett confirmed earlier in the month that they are actively seeking buyers for their respective 50 per cent stakes in the Reds.

However, China-based businessman Huang has released a statement distancing himself from an impending deal.

"Mr Huang would like to clarify that he did not speak with the newspaper and did not make the statements attributed to him," said the statement.

"Mr Huang would not make any comment in relation to Liverpool FC."

www.football.co.uk