Chelsea huffed and puffed here last night but, apart from a lively ending to the first period and a frenetic opening to the second when Arjen Robben passed up one of the few legitimate chances they created, the Premiership champions rarely looked like blowing the visitors apart. Not that the locals should have been surprised. Piercing Liverpool has become an increasingly daunting proposition. Benítez's side have now suffocated nine teams in succession, their remarkable run of clean sheets honing in on the club record of 10 achieved back in 1987-88.
Chelsea managed 25 clean sheets from 38 games en route to their first title in 50 years back in May and, though those back on the Kop would be loth to admit it, such is their antipathy for all things Jose Mourinho, Benítez's quest for stinginess could have been inspired by the manner in which the Londoners strangled opponents last year. The manager takes pride in his side's immaculate back-line, though it seems only privately. Mourinho was more forthcoming. "They defend very well, defend with everybody behind the ball, they press the ball well and reduce spaces," said the Portuguese. "If you have two chances to score in a game and you don't score either, it's always going to remain zero-zero."
Liverpool arguably created the better of the opportunities that were chiselled from the match, John Arne Riise and Steven Gerrard forcing Petr Cech into excellent stops as the visitors were the more threatening side in the opening half-hour. The on-pitch PA announcer had introduced the Czech as "the finest goalkeeper in Europe" prior to kick-off, though José Reina could eventually challenge that reputation. The Spaniard had twice been booked for time-wasting in this competition and might have been rested, yet the visitors were glad to have him beating away Frank Lampard's shot from the edge of the area seven minutes in, even if the chance owed much to Reina's own shanked clearance.
Liverpool could ill afford to hand their hosts an early advantage. Chelsea boast the ability to annihilate most sides in England when they are in the mood and they alone have bulldozed Liverpool this term. The 4-1 drubbing handed to the European champions in October constituted their worst hiding at Anfield in 36 years. Sami Hyypia had suffered more than most on that occasion, the rampaging Didier Drogba leaving the Finn a hapless, hunched figure by the end, though the veteran's renaissance after that has done much to shore Liverpool up.
The 32-year-old was under the weather at Anfield that day, though everything about him is well now. He was outstanding here, wrestling with Drogba early to register a psychological blow, then belting the African's awkward cross from his six-yard box as half-time approached. This was an appropriate display to see Hyypia break Chris Lawler's club record for consecutive outfield appearances in European competition, starting his 56th continental contest in a row, with Jamie Carragher typically assured at his side, dwarfing even Drogba in the air.
Djimi Traoré and Steve Finnan were rugged and effective at full-back. It was the Frenchman who blocked Eidur Gudjohnsen's belted attempt as the home side grew frustrated, even if Traoré was guilty of Liverpool's only defensive error of the night - a mistimed header which almost presented Chelsea with a last chance. As it was, the home side grumbled their way to a fourth consecutive European blank against these opponents.
"I don't see many teams playing like them," added Mourinho. "I don't see a team in the Champions League who can come to Stamford Bridge and play like they did." Liverpool can take that as a compliment.