Chelsea 2 Liverpool 1

Last updated : 29 December 2013 By Paul Lagan

Samuel Eto'o scored the winner that keeps the Blues on the heels of leaders Arsenal as his first half sttrike put the Blues into the lead, after Eden Hazard equalised Daniel Agger's third minute opener.

Chelsea played particularly well in the first half, but the visitors took control of large swathes of the second period, going in search of the equaliser, but Petr Cech was in fine form and stood tall whenever he was called upon.

Quite how Samuel Eto'o failed to get a yellow card at least on his boot down the shin of Jordan Henderson after just two minutes was a mystery. But referee Howard Webb deemed a free-kick was all that was required.

But Liverpool got just reward from the resultant free-kick from Philippe Coutinho, when the ball was zipped into the penalty area, from wide on the left.

Luis Suarez got a glancing header to it on the six-yard box. The ball bounced off Branislav Ivanovic and fell invitingly to Martin Skrtel, who had the easiest of task to tap the ball home.

A minute later, Glen Johnson hacked the ball off the line after an Oscar shot looked goal-bound as the Blues attempted to level quickly. Gary Cahill almost did on right minutes, but his powerful header went wide of Simon Mignolet's goal.

Webb dismissed claims for a Chelsea penalty when Eden Hazard fell to the ground under a clumsy challenge in the area from Lucas three minutes later.

A Frank Lampard piledriver was incredibly saved by Mignolet, who tipped the rasping right-footer from 25 yards over his crossbar for a corner.

Parity was restored and rightfully so, given Chelsea's dominance on 17 minutes, when goalscorer Hazard started a move on the right. Following a good pass to Willian and a tad lucky deflection off Liverpool's Mamadou Sakho, ball slid into the path of Hazard who buried the ball past Mignolet with a wonderful curling right-footer from 25-yards out that sailed high and wide of the desperate and futile dive from the goalkeeper.

Gary Cahill produced a fine, last-ditch challenge to deny in-running Joe Allen a goal scoring chance on 25 minutes as Liverpool made a rare foray into the home side's penalty area.

It was excellent creative play by Liverpool.
Ashley Cole replaced Ivanovic on 30 minutes aster the Serbia Player of the Year twisted his ankle after a fair but robust challenge challenge by Daniel Agger.

Cole resumed his natural left-back berth while Cesar Azpilicueta moved across pitch to take Ivanovic's slot.

The Blues's title credentials took a giant leap forward and they took the lead with 10 minutes of the half to go.

David Luiz started the move on the right, feeding Azpilicueta. The Spain defender cut the ball across the byline to Oscar, who, in turn forced the ball across the six-yard box. Eto'o was on hand to poke the ball goal-bound, and Mignolet was certainly at fault as he failed to get a clear hand onto the ball and it crept into the net.

Liverpool forced a fine save from Petr Cech when a quick break on the right, saw Allen once again free just inside the Chelsea area, The Wales midfielder's first-time shot was spectacularly parried away from goal by Cech.

Jose Mourinho replaced Lampard for Mikel at half-time. A thigh jury seemed to be the
reason for Lampard's failure to appear for the second period.

The first action of the half saw Webb brandish a yellow car to Terry for an arm across Alien's face.
That was quickly followed by Luiz for a tug on Allen.

Liverpool should have equalised on 5o minutes when a simple unchallenged cross by Allen into the Chelsea penalty area saw Sakho take a free header which crashed off the angle of Cech's left upright and crossbar.

Two minutes later and the pulsating match saw an offside Eto'o race clear and thump a shot on goal which Mignolet did well to tip around the post for a corner.

Up at the other end on 57 minutes and it was the turn of Suarez to try the spectacular. Thankfully

For the Blues, Cech was equal to the Uruguay striker's volley from the edge of the Chelsea penalty area.

Australian, but born English left back Brad Smith replaced injured Allen on 60 minutes. It was the 19-year-old's Liverpool debut.

Liverpool claimed a penalty three minutes later when a Coutinho free-kick zipped into the Chelsea area. Suarez fell to the ground under the weight of a challenge from Terry. But Webb saw nothing to concern him and play continued.

Ex-Chelsea full back Glen Johnson was next to test Cech as Liverpool started to turn the screw on Chelsea. The Chelsea stopper dived low to his left to thwart the England full back's left foot drive with 16 minutes remaining.

Cahill was next to feel the wrath of Webb on 78 minutes as he scythed down Suarez. The centre back can count himself lucky to stay on the pitch. As it was, Webb only issued a yellow card.

Another dive from Suarez in the Chelsea area saw Mourinho race from his dug out in disgust at the antic of the striker.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers got on with the game, and replaced Johnson for Iago Aspas as he went in search of an equaliser.

When he regained his composure, Mourinho got back to the game and decided that with five minutes to go to replace Eto'o with ex-Liverpool hit man Fernando Torres.

Torres almost made his £50m price tag worthwhile, when with his first touch of the ball on the right, he cut in towards goal and passed two players before letting fly with a smart left-footer. Mignolet did well to get down to his left to smother the effort.

The final minute saw Sakho limp off injured to be replaced by Kolo Toure.

Some fisticuffs between Lucas and Oscar only endured the tension for a few extra minutes, but it was enough for the Blues fans, who were delighted and relived to hear the final whistle.
Chelsea move to within two points of Arsenal and remain in third place.
Not bad for a team in transition.

Teams: Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Lampard, Oscar, Hazard, Willian, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicutea, Eto'o
Subs, Schwarzer, Cole, Essien, Torres, Mata, Mikel, Schurrle

Liverpool, Mignolet, Johnson, Agger, Suarez, Coutinho, Henderson, Sakho, Lucas, Allen, Sterling, Skrtel
Subs, ,Jones, Toure's, Alberto, Aspas, Cissokho, Smith, Rossiter


Referee, Howard Webb