Chelsea vs Liverpool

There we are! The holders are through and relatively easily after the minute in which they scored and saw Peter Crouch sent off for a very nasty tackle. Thanks for your company. Until next time....

Does anyone know why Steve Sidwell wears the number nine shirt for Chelsea?! Hardly prolific is he?!

With his work done, Shevchenko is off to be replaced by Steve Sidwell.

Goal! The decider! Bridge crosses from the left, Ballack leaps to flick on and Sheva hammers the ball through the keepers legs and Chelsea are through. Chelsea 2-0 Liverpool.

Yet another shooting opportunity for Essien but he screws it well wide. Where's the Essien who fired in that goal of the season contender against Arsenal last season?!

Oh dear. All Liverpool can muster in that attack was an off-balance half-volley from Voronin who appears to believe he can score from anywhere. He can't. Not today anyway.

Shevchenko strikes the free-kick with venom but it curls narrowly wide.

Sissoko now shows his frustration, kicking the ball away after a free-kick was awarded against him. Yellow card.

Again Cole wastes a great opportunity to cross towards the back post where his team-mates were queuing up to nod home.

Liverpool look ragged now, and Chelsea could push for a clincher if they had the urgency. Joe Cole should have done much better there.

Kalou has been excellent this half and he befuddled Carragher there. After skipping past the Liverpool skipper Kalou picked out Shevchenko and his fierce shot was only interrupted by 'fat' Frank Lampard, who was lurking in an awkward position.

Chelsea have switched off a bit here, Shevchenko now carelessly gives the ball away.

Now Voronin has a pop! An awful ball by Bridge set the Ukranian away but he shot ambitiously from a narrow angle and it dribbles wide.

Ooh, perhaps I spoke too soon! Nabil El Zhar, on for Xavi Alonso is slipped in by Voronin and shoots tamely wide. A poor end to a promising move.

Its all long ball stuff from Liverpool now, and poor long ball stuff at that.

Poor ball from Benayoun and Liverpool have the rancid stench of defeat firmly lodged in their nostrils.

Another decent effort from Essien, but again Itandje can watch it sail marginally over.

Perhaps Rafa has just admitted defeat and prefers to save babel for the weekend?

Looks like Voronin is up top on his own for Babel-less Liverpool now.

Another crazy Benitez substitution, Babel being the most lively player on display for the visitors tonight.

Now, the change ofor Liverpool, Benayoun is on for Babel.

Jamie Carragher is keeping Liverpool in it at the moment, clearing twice from crosses then piling into Joe Cole as he looked threatening.

Liverpool are all over the place at present. Unless Rafa makes a positive change, they are sliding out of the Carling Cup.

Neat work by Wayne Bridge, who affords Kalou a decent crossing opportunity. Kalou can only pick out goalkeeper Itandje though.

This is the German's first appearance for eight months, since he badly damaged his ankle against Newcastle in April.