Heavyweights shine in a knock-out show

Football fans across Europe were treated to the English game at its most crazy and exciting best at Stamford Bridge last night, but no one will have enjoyed the unfolding contest more than Barcelona.

This match seemed like a boxing world title eliminator, with the two sides slugging it out for the dubious honour of taking on a true heavyweight in the next round.

Chelsea and Liverpool traded blows toe to toe for the full 90 minutes and while Guus Hiddink's side climbed off the canvas to finally claim victory, they will take on the might of Barcelona in the last four of the Champions League with more than just a bloodied nose.

Liverpool impressively exposed the Blues' defensive weaknesses time and time again and the masterful Barca trio of Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto'o and Thierry Henry are a cut above the front three that the visitors fielded last night in Dirk Kuyt, Fernando Torres and Yossi Benayoun.

To make matters worse, Chelsea keeper Petr Cech is probably in the worst form of his career and Ashley Cole is suspended for the first leg in the Nou Camp in two weeks' time.

However, Barcelona, who cruised into the semi-final in comparison after securing a 5-1 aggregate victory over Bayern Munich, will also be aware that even at their worst, Hiddink's side never stop battling.

How owner Roman Abramovich must have loved this, he certainly seemed to be taking his customary stroll across the pitch after the final whistle with renewed gusto.

It was almost six years ago to the day that his love affair with the sport was cemented after watching Manchester United beat Real Madrid 4-3 at old Trafford, only to still go out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage 6-5 on aggregate. Yet that game has been put in the shade and this time Abramovich had the pleasure of owning one of the protagonists.

Not that he, or any of the Chelsea fans in the stands, would have taken any joy from a first-half display that was abject at best.

It was remarkable considering the expertise they showed only one week ago in winning the first leg 3-1 at Anfield, as well as the unexpected pre-match boost that Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was out of the return leg due to his groin problem.

Of course, the home side were coming into the match on the back of a major scare against Bolton at the weekend, but it was still surprising to see they hadn't shaken off their hangover.

Liverpool took great joy in taking advantage. They pressed high up the pitch from the outset and Chelsea constantly gave the ball away as they retreated to protect the ailing Cech. Hiddink's big plan of having Michael Essien man-mark Gerrard, as he did to such good affect six days earlier, had been rendered useless and the Ghana international appeared to have no clue who to pick up instead, with Lucas, Benayoun and Kuyt all exchanging positions.

It was no surprise when Liverpool scored in the 19th minute, or that Cech was at fault. Fabio Aurelio took advantage of his poor positioning from a 35-yard free kick and struck a firm shot into the vacant bottom corner.

The visitors were level on aggregate eight minutes later through Xabi Alonso's penalty after he'd been hauled down in the area by Branislav Ivanovic.

Hiddink confirmed in his post-match press conference that some strong words were said at the interval, yet he had already made a bigger contribution by replacing the ineffective Salomon Kalou with Nicolas Anelka in the 36th minute.

It was a bold move and the Dutchman got his reward in the 51st minute when Anelka's cross was touched on by Didier Drogba and Pepe Reina could only palm the ball into his net.

It was Drogba's eighth goal under Hiddink and he has now matched the Champions League record of scoring in five straight games.

'Are you Riise in disguise?' the Chelsea fans crowed at Reina, clearly ignoring the fact the tie was still far from dead.

A spectacular free kick from Alex and a Frank Lampard finish from close range appeared to have ensured it was and Rafa Benitez certainly seemed to give up as he took off Torres.

But then Lucas's shot deflected in off Essien and with seven minutes left, Kuyt made it 4-3 with a fine header from substitute Albert Riera's cross. One more goal and Liverpool would be ahead on away goals and have completed a comeback to match that of Istanbul in 2005.

But then Lampard, wearing the captain's armband in the absence of the suspended John Terry, took the responsibility to make sure Chelsea went through to their fifth semi-final in six years with a fine shot that cannoned off both posts and into the net.

There was still time for Lucas to have a shot cleared off the line by Essien before referee Luis Medina Cantalejo brought an end to proceedings.

The whole of Europe used to dread Chelsea and Liverpool games - but this one will live on in the memory.