Glen Johnson scored a sensational late winner to
earn Liverpool three vital Premier League points at
his old club Chelsea.
Former Blues full-back Johnson netted a brilliant solo
effort to inflict his old club's third defeat in four
league matches and leave both teams 12 points behind
Manchester City.
Each side committed bad defensive errors to concede
earlier goals, with Maxi Rodriguez giving Liverpool
a half-time lead on his first league start of the season
and substitute Daniel Sturridge equalising shortly after
the break.
A draw was arguably a fair result but that had also
been the case in Chelsea's games against Manchester
United and Arsenal this season when they also ended
up on the losing side.
Today's loss cast further doubt on manager Andre Villas-Boas'
Stamford Bridge revolution, with the Blues now looking
set to drop out of the top four, something billionaire
owner Roman Abramovich is unlikely to tolerate for long.
The Russian watched his prize asset left on the bench
this afternoon as Fernando Torres and Liverpool's Andy
Carroll both failed to start.
The game did bring together the two players accused
of racially abusing an opponent in recent weeks.
Both John Terry and Luis Suarez, who strenuously deny
the allegations made against them, were both spared
the kind of hostile reception from rival fans they might
expect against other opponents.
Liverpool made the more impressive start, almost exploiting
Chelsea's now notoriously high defensive line by twice
Rodriguez getting beyond Suarez and Bellamy.
It took 10 minutes for the home side to seriously threaten,
Juan Mata drilling Florent Malouda's cross dangerously
back across goal.
At the other end, Branislav Ivanovic got a vital touch
on Bellamy's cross before Johnson wasted a great opportunity
to tee up a team-mate after a barnstorming run.
Liverpool, wearing black armbands in memory of the
son of goalkeeper Brad Jones, who died of leukaemia
on Friday, were looking more than comfortable, although
Drogba hit the stanchion with a free-kick some supporters
thought had gone in.
Terry, whose error cost Chelsea dearly against Arsenal
in their last home game, made another gaffe in the 28th
minute when he was robbed by Kuyt but David Luiz snuffed
out the Liverpool attack.
Lucas was booked for clattering into the defender but
the visitors' pressure was beginning to tell and they
took the lead five minutes later after more horrendous
defending.
John Obi Mikel dwelt on Petr Cech's pass and Charlie
Adam robbed him, fed Craig Bellamy, who played a one-two
with Suarez before feeding Rodriguez to clip over the
goalkeeper.
An angry exchange between Terry and Bellamy, who have
had more than one run in down the years, was calmed
by referee Lee Probert.
With Chelsea's title bid threatening to unravel entirely,
Villas-Boas hauled off Mikel for Daniel Sturridge at
half-time.
It almost paid off four minutes in when Frank Lampard
and Mata combined to find Drogba, who curled over from
a good position.
The home side still looked uncertain whenever Liverpool
broke but their pressure told in the 55th minute thanks
to some rotten defending from the visitors.
Malouda was allowed to advance into the box and his
cross-cum-shot was tapped home by Sturridge.
A wonder-save from Jose Reina stopped Ivanovic glancing
home Drogba's free-kick two minutes later as Chelsea
continued to dominate.
Ramires was booked for a late tackle on Martin Skrtel,
with Kuyt following suit after hauling back Malouda.
Liverpool threw on Jordan Henderson for Bellamy in
a bid to stem the tide, although Malouda went close
with an audacious overhead kick.
The winger then sent a half-volley from Ivanovic's
cross back across the face of goal and over the heads
of waiting team-mates as Torres and Carroll both warmed
up on the touchline.
They were made to wait even longer as the next change
saw Stewart Downing replace Rodriguez before Ivanovic
was cautioned for a nasty tackle on Suarez.
With just six minutes remaining, Torres finally arrived
- along with fellow Liverpool old boy Raul Meireles
- with Drogba and Ramires making way.
The visitors missed a great chance when Kuyt dragged
wide after great work down the right from Henderson
before Johnson produced one of the goals of the season
to win it three minutes from time.
The full-back brought down Adam's pinpoint crossfield
ball superbly, nutmegged Ashley Cole, and drove goalward
before slotting into the corner.
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