SOCCER/Liverpool 1; Chelsea 2: This result left the leading managers as grouchy as a Liverpool supporter. In the face of Chelsea's riches, rivals had consoled themselves that there must be a time lag before results reflect the calibre of a group that is yet to gel.

There was to be no delay at all at Anfield as they immediately outperformed every previous line-up that the club has brought to this ground in Premiership history.

This was their first away league win against Liverpool since 1992 and only their second in 68 years. Even so, the new Chelsea, to their benefit, have avoided disowning all of the past. Even that confirmed meddler Claudio Ranieri does not dare tamper with that defensive triangle of Carlo Cudicini, Marcel Desailly and John Terry.

Terry had some claim to being the most important figure on the field as Chelsea withstood vigorous attacks from Liverpool.

It was not the fixation with the soap opera of football, though, that fastened the observer's gaze on Juan Sebastian Veron. He was the epitome of the superior refinement that tipped the balance of the match.

With Chelsea, he can have the focal role he never enjoyed during two blurred years with Manchester United. Even in Ranieri's gallery of well-known faces there is still an invitation for Veron to be the kingpin.

Despite a lack of complete understanding in the ranks, Chelsea already move like thoroughbreds and Veron's passing helps them glide. With the game tied at 1-1 after 87 minutes the Argentinian was alert in finding the influential Frank Lampard and his dinked pass was well controlled by the substitute Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. The forward evaded Jamie Carragher and sent a drive zipping low past Jerzy Dudek for the winner.

"I never said Jimmy was out," Ranieri protested, with reference to reports that the 31-year-old Surinam-born striker will be off-loaded. The coach's real plan is to have a squad large enough to make each member spend his life trying to prove himself over and over again.

Adrian Mutu's international clearance was not through in time for this game, but he too will be jostling with Hasselbaink and others for selection. So, too, may Alexei Smertin. Ranieri declined to comment on the possibility the Russian midfielder will soon be bought from Bordeaux for £5 million.

"The situation should unblock itself either this weekend or at the beginning of next week," the French club's president Jean-Louis Triaud told L'Equipe.

Something must happen in the transfer market because the area in front of the Chelsea defence is not yet being policed adequately.

Immediately after his team took the lead, in the 25th minute, Ranieri used the celebrations as cover to speak to his captain Desailly about the manner in which Geremi was being left isolated against Danny Murphy, Bruno Cheyrou and Harry Kewell.

Even so, Chelsea have the capacity to muddle through stylishly. The opener began with a throw-in deep in their own half and continued until Lampard released Jesper Gronkjaer. His accurate cut-back from the right became all the more destructive as Stephane Henchoz slipped and Veron smashed a swerving finish past Dudek.

The contest might have been ended if Eidur Gudjohnsen had extended the advantage in the 33rd minute. With touch and timing, Veron's pass shattered the offside trap but the forward's uncertain shot deflected wide from Dudek's right arm.

Liverpool, however, had strenuous attacks of their own. Murphy, set up by Heskey in the second minute, forced a splendid save from Cudicini, and the Italian later blocked Michael Owen twice in the same incident.

"We had at least half-a-dozen chances and didn't score," said Gerard Houllier after losing the opening Premiership fixture for the first time since becoming Liverpool manager. To his disquiet, though, the side was not markedly different from the line-up that was so castigated for its predictability.

Harry Kewell, playing behind the attack, was too often marginalised as team-mates anxiously battered the ball long. There was pressure, however, and an edgy Wayne Bridge could have been penalised for handling a cross from El Hadji Diouf.

Eventually, they were to get their spot kick when Bridge hauled down the wriggling Diouf in the 79th minute. Owen put the penalty wide, but a linesman pedantically signalled for a retake because of a small forward movement by Cudicini just as the ball was struck. Given a reprieve, the Liverpool forward smashed home his second attempt.

It merely paved the way for Chelsea delight as they scored a late decider at a venue where they had been overcome by last-minute goals in each of the last two seasons. Although the past means nothing to Roman Abramovich, he did report that he was "very happy". Club owners usually come in for criticism but the Russian was signing autographs yesterday and it may be a long time before any Chelsea fan takes his name in vain.