SOCCER/Liverpool 2 Chelsea 1: Make that three defeats in a row for Chelsea. It is an exceedingly deceptive statistic, yet rivals have to muster hope as best they can.
The champions were overcome in the closing two Premiership fixtures of last season, once the title had been retained, but the Community Shield match here yesterday was played in earnest, especially in the first half.
There was bound to be a snarl to the game, even if this occasion is prone to being a well-bred affair. Liverpool, after all, are the one club who always get under Jose Mourinho's skin. The Chelsea manager had limbered up for the season, though, with an uncharacteristic ploy as he depicted his club as disadvantaged.
His reckoning was that Liverpool, needing to get into shape for the Champions League qualifier with Maccabi Haifa, were in better condition than his own squad, who returned to training later. If the new rivalry was to see who could seize the role of underdog then Rafael Benitez was ready with his reply.
Stalwarts such as Sami Hyypia, Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso, plus new signing Craig Bellamy, were named among the substitutes. The first half came close to illustrating that the rapport in Liverpool's line-up can be worth more than individual merit. Chelsea might argue that they rebutted that theory since it was the unique quality of Andriy Shevchenko that allowed them to equalise.
Considering that the Ukrainian cost €44.6m it is understandable that there is no one on Liverpool's books who bears any resemblance to him, yet still the Anfield team discovered within their ranks the means to win.
As Benitez's men have previously proved in the Champions League and FA Cup, there is no fluke in their capacity to unsettle Chelsea.
The winner came 10 minutes from time when Bellamy crossed from the left and Peter Crouch took advantage of slipshod marking to head past Carlo Cudicini. Despite the welter of players introduced after the interval to share the workload, Chelsea lacked focus and the impressive contribution of Michael Essien was not sufficient to halt Liverpool.
Mourinho will have departed reflecting that, for all his fabled resources, it will be important to get Petr Cech and Joe Cole back from surgery and injury.
He might conceivably make a mental note to seek conciliation with the disaffected William Gallas. In addition, Claude Makelele's rest must be well and truly over now.
A Community Shield game cannot be treated as definitive, yet the events in Cardiff, coupled with victory in the 2006 FA Cup final, do suggest that improvement is inexorable under Benitez.
Before the interval, they revelled in their own play and had it not been for the lack of a specialist finisher could have made Chelsea's position irretrievable. Momo Sissoko was utterly dominant in that phase in midfield and was the outstanding player in the match overall, imposing an authority that upset Chelsea.
Mourinho, in fairness, did have a point when he contended that Chelsea are not in peak physical condition, but Benitez's group are still likely to be formidable even when rivals are perfectly honed.
The opener, nonetheless, was a surprise. Shevchenko had almost burst through after running at Jamie Carragher and Steve Finnan, before being checked by John Arne Riise. From the resultant corner, in the ninth minute, however, the Norwegian broke down the right and came inside to let fly from 25 yards even though Cudicini ought to have parried it.
Liverpool could not quite polish off Chelsea at that stage. Luis Garcia turned delightfully after 42 minutes to find Mark Gonzalez but, homing in with Crouch on the return ball, failed to connect properly and Cudicini tipped the attempt over the bar.
Shevchenko was always dangerous in the first half and Lampard picked him out in the 43rd minute as he slipped into the gap between Carragher and Finnan. He controlled with his chest, raced through and slipped the ball past Jose Reina as if there was no fuss about converting such a chance.
Having observed Michael Ballack go off with a hip knock, the Stamford Bridge manager will appreciate the encouraging sight of Shevchenko scoring.
Liverpool ensured that there was nothing else for Mourinho to savour.
CHELSEA: Cudicini, Paulo Ferreira (Mikel 81), Terry, Ricardo Carvalho, Essien, Geremi (Bridge 53), Ballack (Kalou 26), Lampard, Shevchenko, Drogba (Wright-Phillips 71), Robben (Diarra 62). Subs Not Used: Hilario, Mancienne. Booked: Ballack, Lampard, Diarra. Goals: Shevchenko 43.
LIVERPOOL: Reina, Finnan, Agger, Carragher, Riise, Pennant (Gerrard 60), Sissoko, Zenden (Alonso 60), Gonzalez (Aurelio 56), Crouch (Sinama Pongolle 89), Luis Garcia (Bellamy 66). Subs Not Used: Dudek, Hyypia. Booked: Alonso. Goals: Riise 9, Crouch 80. Att: 56,275.
Referee: M Atkinson (W Yorkshire).
