Still top despite humble defeat at Anfield

Last updated : 08 November 2010 By Paul Lagan

Carlo Ancelotti was made to eat his words following a disasterous 0-2 defeat to Liverpool.
Speaking last month, the Italian said that he did not need to buy Fernando Torres as he already had enough quality strikers in Kalou and Sturridge to supplement Doogba and Anelka.
But it was Torres who bagged both goals to humble the league leaders, who remain top of the pile by two points.
A sublime clipped right-footer after 11 minutes and a stupendous curling right footer on the stroke of half-time were enough to sink the Londoners.
A second-half battering of the home side failed to breach their defence and Ancelotti and Co left Anfield with their tails between their legs.
Ancelotti’s decision to leave top hitman Didier Drogba on the bench will inevitably lead to questions marks over Ancelotti’s tactics for this match.
Drogba was fit enough to play in the second half despite protestations he was still suffering the affects of a virus.
Did Ancelotti have one eye on Wednesday’s derby encounter with Fulham?
The near neighbours from the other end of the Fulham Road have not won at Stamford Bridge form 31 years.
If Ancelotti makes another error of judgement, it might prove costly to the Blues title ambitions.

Liverpool (4-4-1-1): Reina; Kelly, Carragher, Skrtel, Konchesky;Meireles (Spearing 90+1), Lucas, Gerrard (c), Rodriguez; Kuyt (Shelvey 83); Torres (Ngog 87).
Scorers Torres 10, 43

Chelsea(4-3-3):Cech; Ivanovic (Bosingwa 69), Alex, Terry (c), Cole; Ramires, Mikel, Zhirkov (Sturridge 75); Kalou (Drogba h-t), Anelka, Malouda.
Booked Zhirkov 19, Alex 90

Attendance 44,238
Referee Howard Webb