The Jury: Liverpool FC fans on the Champions League defeat to Chelsea

Benitez was utterly to blame for last night's shambles. After starting to slip back into his defensive preferences against Fulham, he should have seen after 15 minutes there was no fight for Liverpool and addressed our failings.

Lucas and Riera off, Gerrard moved back, and Kuyt told to stay in the box. It's not rocket-science, but it is the end of a European fantasy.

PAUL ANDERSON, Orrell Park

LAST night was a big disappointment as it looks as though the European Cup has slipped out of our grasp.

But unlike in years gone by at this stage all our eggs have not been placed in one basket.

Losing in the Champions League had previously meant season over.

However on Saturday we have yet another massive game and the players, staff and fans alike must pick themselves up for the Premiership run in.

Once again questions will be asked about zonal marking, and it was shocking to concede two goals from corners, all coming after we made what was the perfect start.

Of course it is only half time, and with Liverpool nothing is ever over.

I feel this time at Chelsea it may be one bridge too far.

So now we have seven league games to focus on, and should we manage to play to the ability we have over the past couple of weeks and not let last night eat away at us we could still be named Premiership champions.

PAUL O'LEARY, Allerton

IT was quite simply the worst collective performance since New Year's Day 2003 when we lost to Newcastle as St James Park. Too many players put in the worst performance of the season in the same game and barring Arbeloa and Kuyt who had decent games no one else can feel remotely happy with their performance.

We had talked the talk all week in the papers, which is always a potential banana skin but looked like frightened schoolboys on the pitch. Carragher had his worst game in a long time; he could not deal with Drogba. It was evident Hiddink had told him to keep away from Skrtel who has got the better of him in recent duals. Essien did a job on Gerrard, and Torres was not as dynamic and explosive as he has been in the past month.

The only positive is that Terry will miss the away leg, but in all honesty I fear the damage is already done.

ROBERT GILLIES, Aigburth

NO complaints, it was a fair result. Despite taking the early lead Chelsea were able to go up a gear in response.

They looked stronger but only because they were all at the top of their game. Drogba should have scored twice in the first half.

With the exception of Arbeloa and Reina the rest of the Reds looked tired and off the pace.

The midfield did not look strong enough in its defensive duties, particularly Alonso.

The usual red herring of zonal marking at corners will be raised. Statistics support the manager, done properly teams concede less with this system.

However when it does not work it is very obvious.

These occasions happen, ask Bayern Munich, and need to be kept in the perspective of an otherwise excellent season.

The plan for Saturday is to re-instate Mascherano and aim for three points and banish any discussion of what to do in the return leg until that has been achieved.