01/10/2000  Chelsea 3 Liverpool 0
 
An embarrassing own goal by Liverpool goalkeeper Sander Westerveld, a sweet 
strike from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and a thoroughly deserved third for the 
hard-working Eidur Gudjohnsen gave the Italian his first win since succeeding 
Gianluca Vialli as manager a fortnight ago. 
The result - which was sealed by two goals inside the first 11 minutes - 
continued Liverpool's record of never having won at Stamford Bridge since the 
formation of the Premier League eight years ago.

The Reds have now taken just two points from a possible 12 this season - 
giving manager Gerard Houllier a clear indication of where his side's problems 
lie.

This match - which was littered with nasty bust-ups - was decided when Chelsea 
scored twice in the space of 50 seconds.

The first came courtesy of a nightmare blunder from Westerveld.

Gianfranco Zola took Chelsea's second corner from the left, swinging it into 
the six-yard box with his right foot.

The Liverpool keeper came to punch it but, under pressure from Chelsea skipper 
Dennis Wise, he somehow diverted it back into his own net.

Red-faced Westerveld chased after referee Dermot Gallagher to protest that he 
had been impeded by Wise, but he was clutching at straws and the goal was 
rightly allowed to stand.

Liverpool were still in a state of shock when Hasselbaink doubled the lead in 
the 11th minute with a well-worked goal.

Zola fed Gudjohnsen down the right flank, he slipped the ball into the box and 
nicely into the path of the big Dutch striker who swept home his fifth goal of 
the season from 15 yards.

The icing on the cake came after 70 minutes when Gudjohnsen chased a wayward 
backpass by Stephane Henchoz, rounded Westerveld and tucked the ball home from a 
tight angle.

Liverpool could offer little in reply, with their expensive trio of England 
strikers - Michael Owen, Emile Heskey and Nick Barmby - failing to gel.

The first time we saw Owen was after 20 minutes when a delightful burst of 
pace took him wide of Marcel Desailly and Graeme Le Saux, but his shot from 20 
yards was fisted away by Ed de Goey.

Chelsea stepped up the pressure and after 34 minutes Gudjohnsen showed good 
control on the edge of the box before seeing his shot blocked by Henchoz.

The loose ball did not quite fall for either Hasselbaink or Albert Ferrer and 
Liverpool cleared the danger.

Three minutes later, Gudjohnsen was again involved down the left when he 
teed-up Le Saux from 20 yards, but the England defender blasted the ball well 
over the bar.

Liverpool were defending too deeply and their only other chance in the first 
half came after 41 minutes when Dietmar Hamann drove a 25-yard free-kick into 
the wall and then volleyed the follow-up wide.

Chelsea were looking sharp after the midweek disappointment of crashing out of 
the UEFA Cup with a 2-0 defeat at St Gallen.

They made six changes, the most notable being the return of de Goey in goal 
after missing seven matches, plus Ferrer making his first start of the season.

Liverpool - who progressed in the same European competition after drawing 0-0 
at home to Rapid Bucharest - made five changes, including welcome returns for 
Christian Ziege, Heskey and Barmby.

There had been some minor exchanges in the first half, notably between Jamie 
Carragher and Sam Dalla Bona, Wise and Steven Gerrard - although Liverpool 
assistant boss Phil Thompson and Ranieri also had a heated exchange on the 
touchline.

But the England squad members renewed their rivalry seven minutes after the 
break when Wise made a studs-up tackle on Gerrard. The Liverpool man retaliated 
and both men were booked.

Liverpool had two early chances to get back into the game.

Firstly, within two minutes of the restart Ziege crossed for Barmby, but he 
poked his shot just wide of the far post.

Ten minutes later Liverpool won a free-kick on the right edge of the box after 
Le Saux elbowed Heskey and Ziege curled it just over the bar.

Houllier introduced Fowler for Barmby after 65 minutes, but the match was sewn 
up by the home side five minutes later.

Gudjohnsen marked his full debut with his first goal in the Premiership as he 
beat Westerveld to a sloppy backpass and finished coolly.

This fixture was a dress rehearsal for the third round of the Worthington Cup, 
although Chelsea must travel to Anfield for that tie.

That will give the Reds the chance for some rapid revenge - although there is 
no doubt Chelsea will now be taking the competition seriously as that and the FA 
Cup may offer their only route back into Europe.