Argy winger Rodriguez opened the scoring for the Reds — just as
he did in the league nine days ago — to help fire Kenny Dalglish's
side into the Carling Cup last four.
Andy Carroll
missed a first-half penalty but an emotional Craig Bellamy inspired
Liverpool in the second half, just days after sitting out the draw
with Manchester City following the death of Gary Speed.
Rodriguez finished a Bellamy cross after 58 minutes, before a
fine free-kick from the Welsh wizard found Martin Kelly who headed
in for his first senior goal.
A much-changed Chelsea were never at the races and AVB's men
slumped to their fifth defeat in just nine games and their third
loss in four.
Liverpool also made seven changes from the side that hosted City
on Sunday and the victory will come as huge boost to Dalglish after
earlier blasting the FA's scheduling of the game.
Multi-million pound January signings Fernando Torres and Carroll
lined up against each other after both warmed the bench in the
league clash earlier this month.
And there were starts for old heads Frank Lampard and Jamie
Carragher as both teams mixed youth with experience.
Prior to kick-off the sides lined up for a heart-felt minute's
applause following the tragic death of Speed, with his former Welsh
team-mate Bellamy shedding a tear.
The opening half was dominated by referee Phil Dowd and Chelsea
could have had a penalty just two minutes into the game.
David Luiz appeared to be caught by the knee of Sebastian Coates
as he rounded the Uruguayan in the box but only succeeded in being
booked by Dowd for a dive.
Dowd and Luiz were back in the thick of action just minutes
later at the other end as the Brazilian defender was lucky to get
away with a shove on Carroll after a Jose Enrique cross.
But the referee did finally point to the spot in the 22nd minute
in equally controversial circumstances.
Alex clearly handled the ball under pressure from Carroll but
Dowd waved away Liverpool's appeals until fierce protests from the
England striker.
Dowd eventually changed his mind but Carroll did nothing for his
fragile confidence as he smashed his penalty straight at Chelsea
keeper Ross Turnbull.
Chelsea finally found their way into the game without
threatening but were dealt a blow when their young England starlet
Josh McEachran limped off before half time.
And there was still time for another Dowd blunder in the opening
period when he booked Ryan Bertrand for a challenge on Jordan
Henderson when it was Romelu Lukaku who could have seen red for a
horrible foul.
The Blues were inches away from taking the lead early on in the
second half as Florent Malouda hit the bar before Coates cleared
Luiz's follow-up off the line.
And just minutes later it was Dalglish's men who broke the
deadlock as Henderson found Bellamy on the right hand side, who
timed his run perfectly to play in Rodriguez to comfortably
finish.
Liverpool's large and noisy travelling contingent were back on
their feet five minutes later as they grabbed a second.
Once more Bellamy supplied the ammunition — this time from a
free-kick — and England Under-21 full-back Kelly was given all the
time he needed to nod home.
The only blow for Liverpool came when instrumental midfielder
Lucas was carried off after 70 minutes, but that could not stop the
joy of visiting fans who taunted Villas-Boas with chants of "you're
getting sacked in the morning".
DREAM TEAM
STAR MAN - JORDAN HENDERSON (Liverpool)
CHELSEA: Turnbull 7, Bosingwa 6, Luiz 5, Alex
4, Bertrand 6, Lampard 6, Romeu 6, McEachran 6 (Ramires 5), Malouda
5 (Anelka 5), Torres 4, Lukaku 5 (Mata 5). Subs not
used: Hilario, Ivanovic, Ferreira, Kalou.
Booked: Luiz, Alex, Malouda, Bertrand,
Ramires.
LIVERPOOL: Reina 6, Kelly 7, Carragher 7,
Coates 6, Jose Enrique 7, Henderson 8, Lucas 7 (Adam 6), Spearing
7, Maxi 7 (Skrtel 5), Bellamy 7 (Kuyt 5), Carroll 5. Subs
not used: Doni, Suarez, Downing, Flanagan.
Booked: Coates.
