Liverpool came within milli-metres of drawing with Chelsea in today’s FA Cup Final.
However, it was the negative team selection and cautious tactics in the first half that handed the initiative to Chelsea and they duly took advantage with Ramires easily beating Pepe Reina after mistakes by young Jay Spearing and the out-of-form Jose Reina.
Liverpool were ponderous and lethergic in the first half with Suarez isolated up-front as the lone-striker.
Meanwhile Gerrard, Spearing and Henderson were all sat too deep to support Suarez in any meaningful way.
It took a second goal for Chelsea by Didier Drogba to finally change the tactics and personnel with Andy Carroll coming on for Spearing and the Liverpool team instantly looked more threatening.
Carroll soon got Liverpool back in the match with a well-taken goal on 64 mins and was less than an inch away from an equaliser when his header was somehow stopped right on the line by Cech.
That was as close as it got for the Reds who lost 2-1 to Chelsea.
Yet they can take great comfort in their second half performance when they totally dominated Chelsea and deserved extra-time, at least.
If only Kenny had started with Carroll and Suarez upfront and didn’t start the game so defensively.