CARDIFF : Liverpool proved Chelsea's new-look team of superstars are beatable a week before the English Premier League season starts.

That doesn't bother Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who blames international commitments for the lack of sharpness that contributed to its 2-1 loss in the Community Shield on Sunday.

Peter Crouch headed in a late winner in the 80th minute.

Liverpool had scored its first goal in the ninth minute on a counter attack, with John Arne Riise making a solo run down most of the field and shooting past Cudicini.

Andriy Shevchenko scored his first goal for Chelsea in the 43rd minute, taking Frank Lampard's cross from the halfway line and chesting it down to sidefoot past Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina. Mourinho has complained for weeks that Chelsea's bid to win its third consecutive title has been affected by players' late return from the World Cup, and Wednesday's international break.

Liverpool has a similar problem, but manager Rafa Benitez's second-choice team had the energy and pace to wear down Chelsea at Millennium Stadium — with John Arne Riise allowed to run most of the pitch to score a solo goal and Peter Crouch left unmarked by new England captain John Terry to head in the winner.

Not in condition

"I was feeling that difference of condition, not many of my players were in condition to play for 90 minutes," Mourinho said. "For sure, we had the greater possession ... but sometimes in football, that means not a lot, especially when the difference of pace, of intensity, of rhythm, of sharpness, is big.

Both sides made multiple changes, with Liverpool giving new signings Mark Gonzalez and Jermaine Pennant starting berths, along with young defender Daniel Agger, who's played only a handful of games since joining in January. Steven Gerrard came off the bench, along with newcomers Fabio Aurelio and Craig Bellamy.

"It was difficult for us as it was for them," Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez said. "We are at the beginning of the season but the team is not fit 100 per cent. It was important to see all the squad.

Good for the confidence

"Always it is important to win against the top sides. It's good for the confidence. It will be different during the season, in other competitions, but at least if you start winning with a lot of different players, the team has a lot of confidence for the next games."

Liverpool has already played a Champions League qualifier, and next week faces the return leg against Israeli club Maccabi Haifa at a venue yet to be determined. But its strikers have been on target, a problem for Liverpool last season. Crouch didn't find the net for the first four months of last season.

Chelsea has also bolstered its strike-force, with Andriy Shevchenko scoring for the Blues with a deft chip. Mourinho praised the work of Shevchenko and his other major signing, Michael Ballack, who lasted only 26 minutes before being taken off with what appeared to be a left hip injury.

Back to a old system

Mourinho played Shevchenko up front with Didier Drogba, a return to using two centre forwards rather than the winger system he employed last season. He said that system would take time to gel.

"We want to play a different way and to work that way, we need to work tactically and you need to have the sharpness that we don't have at this moment," he said. "We need time. I want to win the same matches, but playing a different style of football. When you have strikers of Drogba, (Salomon) Kalou, Shevchenko, you have to use these people and this quality." — AP

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