Chelsea accomplished what Barcelona and PSV in the two previous rounds, and that's win at home in the first leg of its UEFA Champions League semifinal series with Liverpool.

A first-half goal from Joe Cole gave Chelsea a 1-0 win over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday. The goal was only the second of the season for Cole, who has endured an injury-plagued season that began with his being injured in the Blues' game last summer against the MLS all-stars.

Liverpool, who left top scorer Peter Crouch on the bench until early in the second half, only threatened sporadically. Steven Gerrard had the Reds' best chance, hitting a dipping left-foot volley that was saved by Petr Cech eight minutes into the second half.

The next game will be played on Tuesday at Anfield, where Liverpool lost to Barcelona, 1-0, after winning, 2-1, on the road and it beat PSV, 1-0, after winning, 3-0, in Eindhoven before that.