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Liverpool's Martin Skrtel (left) and Chelsea's Diego Costa battle for the ball. EMPICS Sport
Analysis

3 talking points as Chelsea edge past Liverpool to gain place in League Cup final

Costa controversies, Balotelli’s ineptitude and more thoughts.

1. Mario Balotelli the villain again

IT’S NO SECRET that Mario Balotelli is highly unpredictable at the best of times.

When on form, he looks a top-class striker, and such talent has prompted several clubs to spend millions on the Italian international, who is still only 24.

Yet his brilliance has been seen all too sporadically at Liverpool, and tonight was no exception.

Balotelli’s continual lack of energy is antithetical to the high-intensity style that Brendan Rodgers is always eager to implement, and the former Milan player was at fault for the goal to boot, giving away the ball that led to the free kick and failing to properly mark Ivanovic as the defender scored the decisive header.

2. A bad night for the officials

https://vine.co/v/OTTtA92JeXK

The officials won’t want to re-watch tonight’s game anytime soon.

Several contentious decisions were made over the course of the contest, leaving both teams’ managers with cause for complaint.

Diego Costa was both lucky and unlucky. The striker should have been sent off, as he stamped on both Emre Can and Martin Skrtel, and was also involved in another controversial incident with the latter, when the defender’s clumsy challenge could easily have resulted in a penalty.

Moreover, Costa was not the only one who was fortunate to avoid being dismissed — Jordan Henderson, who was on a booking, should have gone by the letter of the law following a deliberate handball, while Lucas Leiva also got away with it, after his professional foul on Eden Hazard was not deemed to be worthy of a red.

3. Courtois the inspiration as Chelsea’s remarkable home defensive record continues

Don’t be fooled by the fact that it was 0-0 for the majority of the contest, this encounter was a fast-paced and thoroughly entertaining affair.

Before the game, Jose Mourinho took a gamble, picking Kurt Zouma ahead of the more experienced Gary Cahill, in an ostensible attempt to combat the pace of the Liverpool attack and in particular, Raheem Sterling.

The selection paid off ultimately, as Chelsea kept Liverpool at bay for the full 120 minutes of play. The outcome was consequently further evidence of the Londoners’ incredible defensive record at home — emphasised by the fact that they have conceded just three Premier League goals all season at Stamford Bridge.

Yet while it was undeniably an impressive collective effort, they had one man in particular to thank for their victory — goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was in inspired form throughout the match, making a couple of vital saves and earning a deserved man-of-the-match award as a result.

With the Belgian international also man-of-the-match in the first-leg match between the two sides last week, Liverpool must be sick of the sight of the prodigious 22-year-old at this stage.

Balotelli is happy at Liverpool but we’ll see in the summer, says agent>

Van Persie casts doubt over Manchester United future>

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