The Reds slipped down to fifth in the Premier League after losing away to Chelsea. In a game of very few chances, a strike from Anelka on the hour mark and a goal in stoppage-time form Malouda, were enough to hand the home side all three points. Fernando Torres, who played the full 90 minutes, failed to get on the scoresheet against a resilient Chelsea. The forward however still tops the Premier League score charts with eight goals in eight appearances.

Liverpool made two changes from the side that lost to Fiorentina in the Champions League. Rafa Benitez brought in Albert Riera and Mascherano for Yossi Benayoun and Fabio Aurelio.

Chelsea were forced to make a change in goal, as Hilario replaced the suspended Petr Cech who saw red in last weekend’s defeat at Wigan.

Both defences were on top early on at Stamford Bridge. The first effort on target did not arrive until the 25th minute as Didier Drogba’s header was easily saved by Reina. The Spaniard was forced to dive to his left a couple of minutes later, this time to save from Anelka.

Fernando Torres turned Carvalho out on the left, but his run into the box was blocked by both Terry and Cole. Three Chelsea defenders were required to stop the Spanish striker’s dangerous run.

The home side were posing a threat from set-pieces as Ballack headed over when completely unmarked in the Liverpool six-yard box. Next it was the turn of Essien, whose right-footed shot was saved by Pepe Reina at the second attempt.

At the other end a cross from Dirk Kuyt was met by Torres, but the forward, who was under pressure from Carvalho, headed straight at Hilario.

The Portuguese keeper pulled off an excellent save in first-half stoppage time to deny Albert Riera. The Spaniard’s free-kick look destined for the bottom left-hand corner, until Hilario at full-stretch pushed the ball around the post for a corner.

Chelsea broke the deadlock fifteen minutes after the restart. Anelka got on the end of a Drogba cross to beat Reina from five yards out. There was nothing the keeper could do.

Johnson fired over from the edge of the area and Torres almost linked-up well Gerrard in the Chelsea box, as the visitors pushed everyone forward in search of an equaliser.

The Reds were dominating possession, but the Rafa Benitez’s side were failing to turn possession into chances. The Blues were content just to sit back, as they looked to hit Liverpool on the break.

Benayoun, Babel and Aurelio all came on during the final 25 minutes, but it was Chelsea who were to grab a second. Deep into stoppage-time Malouda poked Drogba’s pull-back over the line to make it 2-0 to the Blues.

Benayoun and Gerrard both came close to reducing arrears at the death, but it was Chelsea who claimed all three points and top spot in the Premier League.


- Match Stats: Chelsea 2–0 Liverpool

Chelsea: Hilario, Ivanovic, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Ballack, Essien, Lampard, Anelka, Deco (Malouda, 76), Drogba

Booked: Essien

Goals: Anelka 60, Malouda 90+2

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Insua (Aurelio, 83), Kuyt, Mascherano, Lucas (Babel, 76), Riera (Benayoun, 66), Gerrard, Torres

Booked: Gerrard