Reds pay the penalty

Reds denied by penalty

By Peter O'Rourke   Last updated: 20th August 2007

Reds pay the penalty

Torres: On the run

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Frank Lampard's controversial penalty earned Chelsea a fortunate 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Anfield.

Fernando Torres started to repay some of his massive transfer fee as he gave Liverpool the lead in the first half with his first goal for the club.

Chelsea were handed the chance to equalise just past the hour mark when referee Rob Styles controversially adjudged Steve Finnan to have fouled Florent Malouda inside the box, even though it looked as if the Frenchman jumped into the defender.

Lampard scored from the resulting spot-kick to earn Chelsea a point as both sides saw their 100 per cent starts to the season come to an end.

The incident set the tone for the rest of a fractious match in which Styles almost lost control. In the latter stages he appeared to book Michael Essien for a second time without sending off the Ghanaian only for the fourth official reveal the booking had been issued to John Terry.

Chelsea's vulnerability on their right flank saw them a goal behind on 16 minutes.

Gerrard played the ball with the outside of his right foot, finding Torres heading into the area.

The Spain international took on Tal Ben-Haim, leaving the ex-Bolton man in just a couple of yards before squeezing a clever side-foot shot just inside Cech's far post.

Chelsea responded with a Drogba free-kick that was deflected wide and Kalou saw a six-yard box chance disappear as he failed to shoot quickly.

Chelsea brought on Claudio Pizarro for Kalou at the break, to provide better support for Drogba.

And the Peruvian made an instant impact. First he nodded on a Lampard corner for Jon Obi Mikel to head just over, and then he stretched at the far post to head wide himself.

Much of Liverpool's play in the opening half was geared to containment, but they were more adventurous attacking the Kop end and Gerrard and Xabi Alonso both saw chances go wide while a Riise free-kick was charged down.

But on 61 minutes, Chelsea were level from the penalty spot. It was a controversial decision by referee Styles to penalise Steve Finnan for a challenge on Malouda.

It looked as if Malouda had jumped between Finnan and Carragher before tumbling and Carragher was booked for arguing before Lampard drove the spot-kick home.

Lampard was soon booked for dissent, with Terry following, Chelsea fuming at what they perceived as a Torres dive looking for a free-kick.

There was more argument involving Essien before the free-kick went Liverpool's way. The Ghanian appeared to be booked for a second time but Styles later confirmed that only Terry had been yellow-carded.

Cech did well to keep out a close-range Riise effort as Liverpool pressed again.

Dirk Kuyt's flicked header just cleared the bar before Alex came on for his Chelsea debut in place of Malouda.

Chelsea were now intent on the point, which they achieved after Babel skimmed a late effort inches wide.