By Henry Vinter | 29 April 2056
Calin Dimario demanded a reaction, and at Anfield on Saturday, he got one. It wasn’t the champagne football of earlier in the season, but it was a victory forged in character—exactly the kind needed before the biggest game of the year.
Just days after “slamming” his team for their complacent draw with Middlesbrough, Dimario watched his side grind out a 2-1 victory over Liverpool, with unlikely hero Vanja Mačkić firing home the winner to silence the Kop.
The result extends Chelsea’s lead at the top of the table to astronomical levels (now 98 points), but more importantly, it restores the winning feeling just 72 hours before Real Madrid arrive in London for the Champions League Semi-Final decider.
Valera Strikes, Taylor Responds
With the title already won, this game was purely about momentum. Nacho Valera, who seems determined to win the European Golden Shoe, opened the scoring in the 21st minute. The Spanish striker unleashed a “skidding drive” that fizzed past the Liverpool keeper, settling any lingering nerves from the midweek dressing room dressing-down.
But Liverpool, fighting for pride, didn’t roll over. In the 65th minute, winger Mark Taylor equalized with a “good header from just inside the six-yard box,” punishing a momentary lapse in concentration. For ten minutes, it looked like Chelsea might stumble again.
The Center-Back’s Volley
Cometh the hour, cometh the… center-back?
In the 75th minute, with the game hanging in the balance, it was defender Vanja Mačkić who provided the moment of quality usually reserved for strikers. The Croatian international connected with a “well struck volley” that went in off the post.
Referee Steve Griffin was advised to check the monitor by VAR—a moment that surely stopped hearts in the away end—but the goal stood. It was a finish of rare technique for a defender, earning Mačkić the Player of the Match award with a 7.8 rating.
“A Proper Warm-Up”
The stats show a tight game—14 shots to 11 in Chelsea’s favor, with possession split 37% – 63%. Chelsea controlled the ball, but Liverpool carried a threat.
Ultimately, Chelsea did what champions do: they found a way to win.
Now, all eyes turn to Tuesday night. The Drogba Arena. Real Madrid. Paul Malcolm. A 3-2 deficit to overturn. The Premier League is a procession, but the Champions League is a war, and Chelsea look ready for the fight.