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Crouch sees Red as Blues earn win

Liverpool's Charles Itandje fails to keep a shot by Chelsea's Frank Lampard out of the net during their English League Cup quarter final match on Wednesday at the Stamford Bridge stadium in London. PHOTO: AP

Chelsea advanced to a League Cup semi-final meeting with Everton after beating Liverpool 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday in a match which saw England striker Peter Crouch sent off.

But the Chelsea manager could be forgiven for regarding the competition as a complete pain after Andriy Shevchenko suffered an ankle injury that could rule him out for Sunday's trip to Blackburn.

As if that wasn't bad enough, Claudio Pizarro missed the match with a fever and Florent Malouda was unable to make his expected return from a knee injury.

With Didier Drogba and John Terry already sidelined, Grant cannot afford to lose any more senior players as he tries to close the six-point gap with leaders Arsenal.

"Malouda is still injured. We thought he could play in this game but he has a problem and we will know more at the end of the week. It might be a few more weeks," Grant said. "Shevchenko has a swollen ankle. I don't know if it is serious."

The Chelsea boss was lucky not to lose John Obi Mikel as well after the midfielder was scythed down by an ugly two-footed lunge that saw Crouch sent off.

"I don't mind players being aggressive but not when they hurt people," Grant said. "It is a game you need to play aggressively and quickly so it is not easy for referees. But we have already lost John Terry and the priority must be to protect players."

Frank Lampard broke the deadlock in the 59th minute when his shot deflected in off Jamie Carragher and Crouch's red card a minute later effectively ended Liverpool's hopes of a comeback.

Andriy Shevchenko's 90th minute goal ensured the holders reached the last four for the third time in four seasons.

But it was Crouch's shocking challenge that proved the turning point. There is no love-lost between these English super-powers but the England striker, who also got involved in a row with a fan as he walked off, is not usually the aggressive type.

Rafa Benitez insisted Crouch had been provoked by constant fouling from Mikel, while Grant claimed Liverpool had set out to target the Nigerian.

While Chelsea celebrated a quarter-final win over their bitter rivals, Liverpool are in danger of failing to deliver on the promise they had showed earlier in the campaign.

Benitez's side are already well off the pace in the league and this defeat leaves only the Champions League and FA Cup as realistic ambitions.

The Spanish coach had no complaints about his team's efforts.

"I was really pleased with the performance of the team. We had chances but they have a very good goalkeeper," Benitez said.

"When we were playing with 11 players we were playing well, passing the ball, defending well. Sometimes you need a bit of luck," he said.

Grant conceded that the League Cup was low down his list of priorities but he knows he must deliver silverware of any kind to keep demanding owner Roman Abramovich happy.

"I am optimistic by nature. I feel we can win any competition. If you are a sportsman or coach you need to believe. If you don't believe you shouldn't be in this job," he said.

"I cannot lie and say this is my first priority. It is not. But if we are in this competition we want to win it," Grant said. "This is the first trophy of the season. But the last one is also important. A little bit more than this."
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