Reds Top Group After Draw  (Sky Sports)

Chelsea 0 Liverpool 0

Liverpool held Chelsea to a 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge to ensure that they went through from Group G as winners.

Both sides had already qualified for the last 16 of the competition before Tuesday's clash, but the game was far from meaningless as topping the group could mean a much easier draw in the knockout phase.

The game was an edgy affair with a number of niggles throughout the match, with Michael Essien lucky to get away with his over-the-top challenge on Dietmar Hamann that could have easily seen him sent off.

Rafa Benitez's side had not conceded in their last eight games and Jose Mourinho's charges could not find a way through in a game with few chances for either side.

A cagey opening saw both sides taking a good look at each other, but a sloppy clearance from Jose Reina led to Frank Lampard having the first chance on seven minutes, but the Spanish keeper palmed his drive round the post.

Steven Gerrard responded for the visitors when latching on to Peter Crouch's knock down, but the Liverpool skipper dragged his shot wide.

The heat was turned up following a shocking tackle from Michael Essien as he ploughed into Dietmar Hamann's shin with his studs showing in a challenge that could have easily broken the German's leg.

Benitez and the Liverpool bench were incensed by the tackle, and by referee Herbet Fandel's decision to ignore the incident - even awarding Chelsea the free kick.

John Arne Riise nearly fired the perfect repost for The Reds when Gerrard slipped him in on the half hour, but his low drive was well saved by Petr Cech's foot.

More niggle crept into the game before half time, with Momo Sissoko catching Eidur Gudjohnsen's ankle, before the Icelandic playmaker flew in late on Steve Finnan.

Chelsea started quicker after the interval, with Arjen Robben's firing into the side netting after Didier Drogba had been allowed to bring the ball down at the far post.

The hosts enjoyed the majority of the possession but were not making Reina work in the Liverpool goal, with Lampard's shot on 66 minutes flying miles over the bar after Damien Duff's lay-off.

Chelsea could not find any way to trouble a well drilled Liverpool backline, with the introduction of Shaun Wright-Phillips adding pep to the attack but it was still not enough to trouble Reina.

Liverpool substitute Florent Sinama-Pongolle could have given The Reds a late lead with his first touch but his brave header going straight at Cech.

Benitez's side held out comfortably in the end to make sure the defending champions emerge from Group G as winners, in so avoiding some of the big guns in the draw.

Chelsea	Team Statistics	Liverpool
0	Goals	0
0	1st Half Goals	0
4	Shots on Target	2
5	Shots off Target	4
1	Blocked Shots	2
3	Corners	1
18	Fouls	17
8	Offsides	0
2	Yellow Cards	1
0	Red Cards	0
78.7	Passing Success	65.4
19	Tackles	22
84.2	Tackles Success	90.9
63.4	Possession	36.6
43.3	Territorial Advantage	56.7