Peter Crouch was also missed. The player who did more than most to unsettle a makeshift Chelsea rearguard at Anfield three months ago, his height and touch was once again ignored in favour of the pace and penetration of Craig Bellamy.
At least Benitez acknowledged an error when he introduced Crouch with the second half barely seven minutes old, and Liverpool’s performance was much improved.
But while the Reds boss was prepared to admit his shortcomings, what of the man in the opposite dug-out? Even by his own standards, Mourinho’s moans were bizarre.
“When the penalties are so clear, I don’t understand. I go for the facts and it’s a fact. The penalty is a big chance for us to be 2-0. Then it would be a completely different game and a different story. I feel it is not fair.”
Let’s be factual then.
The penalty incident Mourinho referred to, Arbeloa’s handball, was accidental, and took place two feet outside the Liverpool penalty area.
Of course a similar incident in the opposite penalty box next week will produce a cry of “handball” which would probably be heard at Stamford Bridge. The Anfield factor will undeniably play a part.
Jose Mourinho under-estimated the power of the Kop two years ago. “A crowd has never scored a goal,” he sneered.
He changed his mind afterwards, when he credited Reds fans with the assist for Luis Garcia’s matchwinner.
The Anfield crowd will need no prompting, no cheer-leading of the cringeworthy type served up at Stamford Bridge last night.
But a positive, attacking line-up – with Pennant and Riise employed from the start – could help whip up the atmosphere to an intensity even greater than two years ago. And we all know what happened then.
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