Advantage Chelsea as action shifts to Anfield

Chelsea's scoreless streak against Liverpool in the Champions League is over.

Chelsea’s scoreless streak against Liverpool in the Champions League is over. Joe Cole finally gave the Blues a goal to celebrate Wednesday, knocking in a cross from Didier Drogba to give Chelsea a 1-0 win in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals.

Chelsea, who are trying to win four major trophies this season, now have the edge heading into Tuesday’s second leg at Anfield.

“When the game starts in Liverpool, Chelsea is winning 1-0,” Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said. “(Liverpool) are a strong side at home. They have that historical advantage of success in the Champions League over decades.”

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Ricardo Carvalho started Chelsea’s scoring sequence in the 29th minute Wednesday, collecting the ball in his own half and passing to Drogba on the right. The Ivory Coast striker raced forward and shook off Daniel Agger before rolling the ball across the area for Cole to poke in.

The goal was Chelsea’s first against Liverpool in the Champions League. Last year in the group stage, the teams played to a pair of 0-0 draws. The year before in the semi-finals, they played to another 0-0 draw in the first leg, and Liverpool then won 1-0 in the second.

Frank Lampard had a chance to give Chelsea the lead in the eighth minute, but Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina made a good save. A minute later, Andriy Shevchenko curled a shot over the bar.

Dirk Kuyt had Liverpool’s best chance in the first half with a 22nd-minute header that was saved by Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech. Kuyt had another header in the 50th. Steven Gerrard then sent a hard shot on Chelsea’s goal in the 53rd.