On 14 April 2009, Chelsea and Liverpool played one of the most memorable Champions League matches of all time.
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With the Blues winning the first stage at Anfield 3-1, the Reds had everything to do in the return match if they wanted to make the semifinals. They gave it a good step in justice, and went 2-0 forward in the first half before Didier Drogba’s skilful goal and the rocket from Alex leveled things at night. Frank Lampard then made it 3-2 before Liverpool gathered.
Lucas Leiva and Dirk Kuyt scored in a hectic two minutes that left the Reds a goal away for progression with less than 10 minutes left to play. In the end, however, a second Lampard strike ended Merseysider’s hopes.
Have you ever wondered what the players are putting up this great football show now? Of course you have it. Well, wonder no more.
Alex made a superb free kick in a difficult position | Ryan Pierse / Getty Images
Petr Cech (GK) – Cech left Chelsea for Arsenal in 2015 after a glittering career. He retired in 2019 before trying his hand at ice hockey with Guildford Phoenix. These days he is a technical adviser at Stamford Bridge and even logged in as an emergency target during the 2020/2021 season.
Branislav Ivanovic (RB) – Ivanovic signed for Zenit Saint Petersburg 2017. Most recently, he has seen his age for West Brom, which he joined ahead of the 2020/2021 Premier League campaign.
Alex (CB) – The man with a cannon in his right boot bagged one of his marks that thundered a free kick against Liverpool. Spells at Paris-Saint Germain and Milan followed before retirement in 2016. Since then, he has not left any social media. He’s probably just crushing 30 yards screaming at a goal in his yard.
Ricardo Carvalho (CB) – Chelsea missed Carvalho when he joined Real Madrid in 2013. After a three-year period in Spain, he earned pay days in Monaco and Shanghai SIPG. While in China, he developed a relationship with Andre Villas-Boas, he appointed him assistant manager at Marseille in 2019. He left when AVB did two years later and is currently unemployed.
Ashley Cole (LB) – Cole was considered one of England’s greatest defenders ever and had spells in Roma, LA Galaxy and Derby County before joining punditry in 2019. He has also done some academy coaching at Chelsea.
Lampard scored two goals against Liverpool | ADRIAN DENNIS / Getty Images
Michael Ballack (CM) – Ballack enjoyed another season at Stamford before ending his career at the club he made his name at, Bayer Leverkusen. Since then, he has done some television work.
Michael Essien (CM) – Essien had a tortuous career after leaving west London. A loan at Real Madrid was followed by moves to Milan, Panathinaikos, Indonesian Persib Bandung and the Azerbaijani team Sabail. He currently trains at FC Nordsjaelland, which has a partnership with the academy Right to Dream based in Essien’s home country Ghana.
Frank Lampard (CM) – Lampard’s great Chelsea career ended in 2014, when he switched London to New York City – with a controversial loan move to Manchester City thrown in. Leadership moments in Derby County and Chelsea have followed since, the latter did not end well.
Drogba also scored in the first stage | Clive Rose / Getty Images
Salomon Kalou (RW) – Since Kalou left in 2012, Jet jet has settled around the world and takes spells in Lille, Hertha Berlin and most recently Botafogo. He has not formally announced his retirement but admitted in 2021 that he was thinking about his football future.
Didier Drogba (ST) – Drogba stopped terrorizing the Premier League defense in 2012 and continued to play in China, Turkey and MLS, and returned to Chelsea on loan. Since retiring, he has been heavily involved in politics and charity work in his native Ivory Coast.
Florent Malouda (LW) – Malouda’s six years at Chelsea ended in 2013. The spells in Trabzonspor and Metz were followed by more bizarre stints in India, Egypt and Luxembourg. He had a short training coaching at FC Zurich and also did some punditry work at the 2018 World Cup.
Unhappy Facials Jamie McDonald / Getty Images
Pepe Reina (GK) – Reina still plays for Lazio at the mature age of 38, but has also had spells in Napoli, Bayern Munich, Milan and Aston Villa recently.
Alvaro Arbeloa (RB) – Arbeloa sealed a £ 5million price to Real Madrid at the end of the season and won numerous major awards for Los Blancos. He ended his career at West Ham before being reunited with Real as club ambassador.
Jamie Carragher (CB) – Carragher retired in 2013 and is now part of the best comedy duo in the UK.
Martin Skrtel (CB) – When he left Liverpool in 2016, Skrtel immediately grew his hair on arrival at Fenerbahce. The spells in Atalanta and Istanbul Basaksehir have followed, although he is not currently connected and is recovering from an Achilles injury.
Fabio Aurelio (LB) – The Brazilian managed to stay at Anfield until 2012, somehow. A season-long time at Gremio followed before he was forced out of the board. He has kept a low profile ever since, but broke his silence to lavish praise for Andy Robertson 2020.
Alonso made his penalty | Jamie McDonald / Getty Images
Lucas Leiva (CM) – The ever-reliable midfielder is still picking up the mile in Lazio’s midfield, the club he left in 2017 after 10 years at Anfield.
Javier Mascherano (CM) – By this time, Javier Mascherano had not become one of the best defenders in the world by Pep Guardiola. After leaving Barcelona in 2018, he played in China and his home country Argentina. Recently, he has been a guest of honor at several football events.
Xabi Alonso (CM) – Alonso is a name to watch out for on the management scene. Currently in charge of Real Sociedad B, he was recently linked with the Borussia Monchengladbach job. It will not be long before a top European club takes the chance on him.
Kuyt sacked in the game | ANDREW YATES / Getty Images
Dirk Kuyt (RW) – Kuyt had a fun career after leaving Anfield. He first enjoyed a three-year stint at Fenerbahce before returning to Feyenoord where he struck a hat-trick on the final day to secure them the 2017 Eredivisie title. He retired a few days later but quickly broke his football by playing a handful of games for amateur site Quick Boys. He also managed Feyenoords for 19 years between 2018 and 2020.
Fernando Torres (ST) – Torres would break Liverpool’s hearts by moving to Chelsea a few years after the quarter-finals. After an overwhelming time in London, he moved on to Milan and Atletico Madrid before taking the step in Japan with Sagan Tosu. Since retiring, he has become completely HENCH.
Yossi Benayoun (LW) – Benayoun, like Torres, moved to Stamford Bridge in 2010. While finishing where commuting loans move to Arsenal and West Ham before joining the Harry Redknapp revolution at QPR. He ended his career with a series of stints in his native Israel.
