Chelsea took the upper hand against Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League semi-final as Joe Cole's first-half finish won the day at Stamford Bridge.

In a match which lacked the excitement and pizzazz of the previous evening's semi-final, Cole's first goal since his return from injury was enough to defeat a disjointed Liverpool, who had never before conceded against their opponents in the Champions League.

Steven Gerrard came closest to snatching an away goal for the 2005 winners, who will now look to replicate their 2-0 Premiership triumph at Anfield next week.

Slipping players and sloppy passes littered the opening exchanges, with Liverpool the most guilty of the two combatants.

A stray pass from Javier Mascherano was seized upon by Didier Drogba, but the Ivorian's blinkered run down the centre of the pitch foundered on a swarm of red shirts.

Drogba was then involved in the game's first chance, nodding back Ashley Cole's diagonal ball and, as Andrei Shevchenko swivelled to shoot, Frank Lampard arrived on the scene to smash a low shot which was superbly kept out by Jose Reina.

While Liverpool were not afraid to go forward, there was a lack of bite about their attacking play and an error from John Arne Riise almost gifted Chelsea another opportunity.

Drogba was quick to latch on to Riise's poor pass, but Chelsea's top scorer was similarly awry in his attempt to feed the unmarked Joe Cole.

Shevchenko flashed a shot across goal after Drogba won a header on the edge of the box before the African, and Reina, ducked the chance to meet Joe Cole's cross from the right.

All Liverpool had to show for their attacking endeavours was a deflected Dirk Kuyt header, while Lampard's fizzing low free-kick deflected just wide prior to Chelsea taking the lead on 29 minutes.

Ricardo Carvalho, with hair that seems reminiscent of Franz Beckenbauer, strolled out of defence in true Kaiser style before playing a clever ball down the right-hand channel.

The ever-willing Drogba out-muscled Daniel Agger before cutting into the box and laying the ball off to Joe Cole who, despite a nudge from Alvaro Arbeloa, retained his balance long enough to steer his shot past Reina.

Liverpool enjoyed a spell of possession before half-time, but the only sight of goal came from Gerrard, who headed over under pressure from Ashley Cole.

The second half started with Lampard hollering for a penalty after the ball inadvertently struck Arbeloa's arm, but the midfielder's pleas fell on deaf hears, and the incident took place outside the box in any case.

Rafa Benitez was quick to introduce Peter Crouch for the ineffective Craig Bellamy in the second half and the giant striker's sheer presence immediately unsettled the Chelsea defence.

A weak clearance from Riise's long throw dropped invitingly for Gerrard and his thumping left-foot volley was arcing towards the bottom corner until Petr Cech thrust out a hand to pull off a wonderful save. 

The promise of the first 45 minutes was quick to evaporate in the second 45 as Drogba was left increasingly isolated in attack, while Liverpool were unable to muster a head of steam.

Drogba's power continued to unsettle the Liverpool defence, but it was a touch of finesse which opened up the visitors 10 minutes from time as his flick teed up Lampard, whose vicious volley was pushed away by Reina at full stretch.

Chelsea seemed happy to settle for a niggly second half to maintain the one-goal cushion which, given previous Champions League meetings between these sides, could prove crucial.

Teams

Chelsea  Cech, A. Cole, Ferreira, Carvalho, Terry, J. Cole (Wright-Phillips 85), Lampard, Makelele, Mikel, Drogba, Shevchenko (Kalou 76)
Subs Not Used  Cudicini, Boulahrouz, Bridge, Diarra, Geremi
Booked 
Goals  J. Cole 29

Liverpool Reina, Agger, Arbeloa, Carragher, Riise, Alonso (Pennant 83), Gerrard, Mascherano, Zenden, Bellamy (Crouch 52), Kuyt
Subs Not Used Dudek, Gonzalez, Hyypia, Paletta, Sissoko
Booked  Mascherano
Goals  

Attendance  39,483

Referee  Markus Merk (Germany)