Chelsea 3-2 Liverpool: Drogba double seals victory for Chelsea

Chelsea 3 (Didier Drogba 33, Frank Lampard Pen 98, Didier Drogba 105)
Liverpool 2 (Fernando Torres 64, Ryan Babel 117)

CHELSEA have beaten Liverpool 3-2 at Stamford Bridge for a 4-3 aggregate victory.

A Didier Drogba goal put Chelsea in the lead at Stamford Bridge as they moved closer to their first Champions League final.

Drogba, heavily criticised by Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez for his supposed 'diving' antics in the first leg, grabbed a priceless goal 12 minutes from the break.

Liverpool suffered a major blow losing centre-back Skrtel after 22 minutes with a knee injury. He was replaced by Sami Hyypia.

Liverpool wanted Skrtel's raw strength and power to contain Drogba, but that job was now inherited by the veteran Finn.

Chelsea had a clear grip at this stage, their assurance and solid team play leaving Liverpool on the back foot.

And after 33 minutes Chelsea made their superiority tell. Lampard's ball sent Kalou in on the left and his fierce drive was punched away by Jose Reina.

But the ball went only as far as Drogba. Riise was not close enough to block the effort, and the Ivorian's angled drive thundered past Reina at the near post.

The striker's celebrations were directed at only one man, Benitez, who had caused a storm pre-match with his criticism of the Chelsea man's perceived inability to stay on his feet.

Chelsea had controlled much of the first period, with Liverpool on the back foot and suffering the loss of young defender Martin Skrtel with a knee injury.

Drogba caught Steven Gerrard on the ankle with a late tackle, which was not penalised, and Liverpool were hanging on as half-time approached. Xabi Alonso was booked after 40 minutes for a foul on Kalou.

Avram Grant sent on Florent Malouda for Kalou after 70 minutes and stung Chelsea into a response, with Essien firing in a low 25-yarder that Reina saved to his right.

Another Essien surge down the right ended with a shot into the side-netting, with Liverpool taking off Benayoun after 78 minutes, sending on Jermaine Pennant.

Anxiety was all around Stamford Bridge now after such a commanding performance.

Ballack was limping with an ankle injury and Chelsea were clearly unsure of how to handle a situation where one mistake at the back could let Liverpool in again.

Chelsea will play Manchester United in the Champions League final in Moscow on May 21.