Liverpool pile on misery for Chelsea

Nov 29, 2011, 23:50 GMT

London - Liverpool reached the semi-final of the Carling Cup on Tuesday with a 2-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, but lost midfielder Lucas to a knee injury.

There were wins for Manchester City and Cardiff City in the evening's other quarter-finals.

For Chelsea, it was a fifth defeat in their last nine games and will raise further questions about the future of Andre Villas-Boas.

Although Andy Carroll missed an early penalty, goals from Maxi Rodriguez and Martin Kelly in the second half gave Liverpool the win.

The only shadow was the injury suffered by Lucas, who was carried off with blood dripping from his knee midway through the second half.

Liverpool wasted a golden chance to take the lead midway through the first half, with Carroll missing from the penalty spot after Alex handled a Jose Enrique cross.

Referee Phil Dowd had earlier rejected a strong penalty appeal from each side, and he compounded a poor half by booking Ryan Betrand for a red-card foul committed by Romelu Lukaku on Jordan Henderson.

Frank Lampard hit the bar Sebastian Coates cleared off the line from David Luiz as Chelsea began the second half brightly, but it was Liverpool who took the lead after 58 minutes, Henderson and Craig Bellamy combining to set up Maxi Rodriguez.

Martin Kelly headed in a Bellamy free-kick from close range after 63 minutes to double Liverpool's advantage and, though Fernando Torres drew a fine save from Pepe Reina, Chelsea never looked like getting back into the game.

Romanian goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon kept Manchester City in the game at Arsenal before Sergio Aguero found an 83rd-minute winner.

The City keeper made a stunning reaction save to deny Park Chu-Young as he met Francis Coquelin's low cross at the back post.

The giant Romanian then made a stunning one-handed save to palm away a curling effort from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain that seemed destined for the top corner.

City had been disappointing but broke rapidly seven minutes from time, Edin Dzeko's long low pass finding Adam Johnson, who swivelled and flicked the ball on for Aguero to fire home.

The pressure mounted further on Blackburn Rovers manager Steve Kean as his side were eliminated 2-0 by Cardiff City.

Kenny Miller put Cardiff ahead after 19 minutes from Aron Gunnarsson's pass, and Anthony Gerrard added a second from Ben Turner's header five minutes into the second half.

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