You'll have plenty to celebrate when you subscribe to the Liverpool FC newsletter Sign me up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

At the final whistle all four sides of Anfield stood to show their appreciation.

The overwhelming emotion was one of immense pride. Liverpool FC had gone toe to toe with the Premier League leaders and given them a torrid night.

The bookies will tell you that Chelsea are the hot favourites to book a trip to Wembley on March 1 after they somehow escaped with a 1-1 draw from a one-sided Capital One Cup semi-final first leg.

But this tie is very much alive. Brendan Rodgers' men will head for Stamford Bridge next Tuesday night with a genuine belief that they can finish the job off in the capital.

If the Reds can replicate the same qualities they showcased on home turf then there is no reason why they can't march on to Wembley.

Rodgers was right when he had warned Jose Mourinho they would be facing a “different” Liverpool.

This was a world away from the timid, error-strewn display which Chelsea ruthlessly punished back in November.

On that afternoon there was a gulf between the teams. Not any more. Not when Liverpool perform like this.

The hosts grasped the opportunity to show just how far they have come as they extended their unbeaten run to nine matches. Chelsea were comprehensively outplayed.

The only frustration was that the scoreline didn't illustrate Liverpool's dominance.

Emre Can's clumsy challenge had enabled Eden Hazard to fire Mourinho's side into a flattering first-half lead.

But rather than wilt, the Reds dug deep to produce a remarkable second-half onslaught.

Raheem Sterling, fresh from his sunshine break in Jamaica, restored parity with a stunning individual effort and only the woodwork and the brilliance of Thibaut Courtois denied Liverpool the first leg lead they merited.

There were heroes in red in all departments. Martin Skrtel expertly shackled Chelsea's 17-goal top scorer Diego Costa, while Lucas Leiva ran himself into the ground – constantly winning back possession and keeping the Reds on the front foot.

Attacking wise, Philippe Coutinho was at his mesmerising best and a creative force throughout in the pockets of space behind Sterling.

If Liverpool retain these standards there is good reason to believe Steven Gerrard will get the Hollywood ending his glittering Liverpool career deserves.

The taunts from the away end directed at the Reds skipper, who returned from injury at the expense of Fabio Borini, were emphatically drowned out by the home fans as Liverpool took the initiative early on.

When Lazar Markovic won an early 50-50 tackle with Hazard the Kop roared its approval.

There were moments of real promise with Alberto Moreno's shot deflecting behind off Gary Cahill before the Chelsea defender got a vital touch to prevent Sterling from latching on to Coutinho's pass.

Gerrard then unleashed a thunderous dipping 35-yarder which Courtois did well to tip over the bar.

Belief was starting to surge through Rodgers' side but in the 18 minute they gifted Chelsea the breakthrough.

The Londoners, who had barely got out of their own half, could scarcely believe their good fortune as Can upended Hazard inside the box.

It was naïve from the young German, who has adapted so well to a defensive role in recent weeks, and his mistake was punished as Hazard sent Simon Mignolet the wrong way from the spot.

To their credit, the Reds responded well to that setback but they lacked composure in the final third.

When Moreno's cross was nodded away by John Terry it dropped kindly to Markovic but he scuffed his volley. Skrtel then nodded tamely wide after rising to meet Coutinho's corner unmarked 12 yards out.

Can was clearly desperate to make amends and he embarked on a surging run from halfway but was unable to pick out Sterling and the opening disappeared.

Chelsea were content to sit back and simply soak up the pressure. Courtois turned away Gerrard's free-kick, while Coutinho's long range strike deflected behind off John Obi Mikel.

Martin Atkinson didn't help Liverpool's search for a way back into the tie – harshly booking both Gerrard and Lucas and then on the stroke of half-time turning a blind eye when Costa handled in the box.

So much for that referees conspiracy against Chelsea that Mourinho has been bleating about.

Unperturbed, Liverpool battled on in the second half, desperately trying to find a way through the blue wall in front of them.

They were in desperate need of some inspiration and just before the hour mark Sterling provided it.

There appeared to be little danger when he latched on to Jordan Henderson's pass 40 yards out but he turned away from Nemanja Matic, left Cahill trailing and drilled clinically into the bottom corner.

Anfield erupted. It was the first time Chelsea had conceded in 341 minutes of football.

Having restored parity, Liverpool surged forward in search of greater reward.

Gerrard was inches away from providing it – slamming a left footer against the post with Courtois beaten after Coutinho had teed him up.

The captain made way for Adam Lallana as the relentless Reds continued to turn the screw.

Henderson's strike was beaten away by Courtois, who reacted smartly to deny Sterling from the rebound.

The Belgium international keeper, who was lucky to get away with handling just outside his box, continued to thwart the hosts – clawing away Lallana's rasping strike after the substitute had linked up with Sterling.

The winner didn't arrive but a showpiece Wembley final remains within Liverpool's grasp.

MATCH FACTS

Liverpool (3-4-2-1): Mignolet, Can, Skrtel, Sakho, Markovic, Lucas, Henderson, Moreno, Coutinho, Gerrard (Lallana 70), Sterling.

Not used: Ward, Enrique, Lambert, Manquillo, Borini, Rossiter.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1) : Courtois, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Filipe Luis, Mikel, Matic, Fabregas, Hazard, Willian (Azpilicueta 88), Costa.

Not used: Cech, Zouma, Ramires, Oscar, Drogba, Remy.

Referee: Martin Atkinson

Attendance: 44,573

Goals: Hazard 18, Sterling 59.

Bookings: Gerrard, Lucas, Filipe Luis, Mikel.

Man of the match : Raheem Sterling. A stunning individual goal from the gifted youngster, who caused Chelsea problems throughout.