League Cup round-up:Craig Bellamy steered Liverpool into the League Cup semi-finals to heap further pressure on under-fire Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas. Bellamy's pinpoint delivery set up second-half goals for Maxi Rodriguez and Martin Kelly as the Reds took a step closer to winning their first silverware since 2006 with a 2-0 win.
It completed an emotional return for Bellamy, who had been omitted from the squad for Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City on compassionate grounds following the death of close friend Gary Speed. The 32-year-old Wales winger provided the spark of creativity Liverpool needed to defeat toothless opposition who were prone to erratic defending.
The ineffectual Andy Carroll, who started at Stamford Bridge, missed a first-half penalty while Chelsea should have been awarded a clear spot-kick after just two minutes. Villas-Boas will be disappointed by the poor defending that led to both goal and hastened Chelsea’s third defeat in four matches, a sequence spanning just 10 days.
The Portuguese is now in a precarious position, with his future certain to attract fresh scrutiny as the Blues continue to flounder under his guidance. Adding to Villas-Boas’ woes was the performance of anonymous striker Fernando Torres, who was a peripheral figure against his former club.
Kenny Dalglish has now never lost to Chelsea as Liverpool manager in 13 meetings.
Premier League leaders Manchester City also reached the last four when Sergio Aguero scored late in a 1-0 defeat of Arsenal in front of a 60,000 strong crowd at the Emirates. The hosts had created the better chances before Aguero’s 83rd minute strike but City’s stand-in goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon pulled off more than one fantastic save to keep the scores level.
Arsenal’s young winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain had impressed throughout but the strike-force of Marouane Chamakh and Park Ju-young looked toothless without captain Robin van Persie’s presence.
Scotland striker Miller opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a low left-footed finish and Gerrard sealed the win by nodding home five minutes after the break after Blackburn keeper Mark Bunn had failed to deal with a corner.
At the other end David Goodwillie had his headed effort well saved by Cardiff keeper Tom Heaton and Scott Dann also nodded wide, but in truth Rovers were well beaten and the visiting support made clear their dissatisfaction with repeated chants of “Kean out”.
