CHELSEA
Petr Cech: Was not tested until the last 20 minutes. Made one good low save from Suarez and a brilliant stop to deny Andy Carroll's header and could do nothing about the goal he did concede. 7
Jose Bosingwa: Would have expected a tougher time from Stewart Downing but was given too comfortable time. Positional play questionable and caught in possession for Liverpool's goal. 4
Branislav Ivanovic: Was not really exercised until Andy Carroll was sent on and then lost many of the aerial battles with the striker. 6
John Terry: Found it easy to deal with an isolated Luis Suarez but when the pressure did come was nearly always in the right place at the right time and produced goal-saving tackle to deny Carroll in injury time. 6
Ashley Cole: Did not get forward as much as he would usually up against the pace of Bellamy but rarely beaten. 7
Ramires: Strong run and finish for his goal, helped by Jose Reina's mistake. Faded as the game went on but had done all his best work in the first half and was replaced by Raul Meireles. 8
John Obi Mikel: Defensive responsibilities denied Liverpool any space for long periods but was stretched in the closing stages. 6
Frank Lampard: Given plenty of room in midfield and played the perfect pass for second goal. 7
Salomon Kalou: Had a bright opening but drifted out of the game once Chelsea found themselves under pressure. 6
Didier Drogba: Was a concern for Liverpool's defence throughout and although may not have dominated physically as he has done in the past took his goal expertly. 8
Juan Mata: Another player who had a good first half but found himself increasingly cut out of the game. Replaced by Florent Malouda in added time. 7
Substitutes
Raul Meireles: (on for Ramires, 76): Sent on to shore up central midfield and did a good enough job. 6
Florent Malouda: (on for Mata, 90): Purely a time-wasting substitution and had little time to make an impact. 5
LIVERPOOL
Jose Reina: Tried to anticipate Ramires' angled shot but only succeeded in diving the wrong way and letting ball inside his near post. 5
Glen Johnson: Once he was given the space to get forward he found himself in some good positions but did not really provide the width and crosses required. 5
Martin Skrtel: Appeared to have handled Drogba well but was slightly slow closing him down for the second goal. 7
Daniel Agger: Looked good bringing the ball out of defence and was tidy enough at the back. 6
Jose Enrique: Was dominated by Ramires for most of the game and shrugged off ball by the Brazilian too easily for the first goal. Was poor in possession and distribution. 4
Jay Spearing: His mistake led to opening goal and allowed Lampard to go past him too easily to play the pass for the second. Replaced by Andy Carroll after 55 minutes. 4
Steven Gerrard: Having initially struggled to get forward he came into his own more as the game opened up and started to drive the team forward but it was too little, too late. 7
Stewart Downing: Disappointing for the majority of the game and only livened up in the last 25 minutes. Failed to test right-back Bosingwa and never got behind Chelsea's defence. 5
Jordan Henderson: Found himself switched about in a number of positions as Liverpool changed their formation and never really settled. Wasted the couple of shooting opportunities he got. 5
Craig Bellamy: Replaced by Kuyt 10 minutes from time. Did not provide the cut and thrust from wide areas expected of him. 5
Luis Suarez: Isolated for too long in the first half but improved once he had a partner alongside. Some twisting runs in the second half looked threatening but never had a clear opening. 6
Substitutes
Andy Carroll: (on for Spearing, 55): Took his goal brilliantly and looked a threat from the moment he came on. Unlucky to be denied a second by Cech but bizarrely produced probably the most effective 35 minutes of anyone in his team. 8
Dirk Kuyt: (on for Bellamy, 79): Usually the man for the big occasion but never got the chance to show it. 6
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