Liverpool:Chelseawill face Tottenham Hotspur or Sheffield United, who play the second leg oftheir last-four clash on Wednesday with the London side leading 1-0, in thefinal at Wembley on March 1.
“Thisis a new Liverpool team (from earlier in the season) and a very difficultopponent. So I’m even happier because we beat a very good team over two legs,”Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho told Sky Sports.
Thiswas a very different Chelsea side to the one that was beaten 4-2 by Bradford inthe FA Cup at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with manager Jose Mourinho makingnine changes.
FULLTHROTTLE
Thefirst half was played at full throttle with both teams looking to seize theearly initiative, but the visitors had the better chances with Chelsea keeperCourtois producing excellent saves to deny Alberto Moreno and PhilippeCoutinho.
WhileChelsea struggled to create opportunities, they did have loud appeals for apenalty waved away when Costa, who was lucky to be on the pitch after stampingon Emre Can’s ankle earlier in the match, was felled by a clumsy tackle fromSkrtel.
Tempersbegan to flare after the break with Brazilian-born Spain striker Costa involvedin another stamping incident, but as the match wore Chelsea began to craft thebetter openings.
EdenHazard beat four men and drove a shot just wide, and Mignolet superbly deniedCosta twice with his feet, first from a deflected shot and then when thestriker was through on goal.
Ivanovicensured Chelsea would not have to rely on the away goals rule, which would onlyhave come into play after extra time, to progress while Liverpool’s best chancein extra time fell to Jordan Henderson, who headed wide.
ForLiverpool boss Brendan Rodgers, the difference between the teams was Chelseakeeper Courtois.
“Wewere better in every aspect of our game but we just couldn’t get the big goals.Sometimes you have a barrier in your way and tonight and last week it wasCourtois,” he said.
TFE