SOCCER / Chelsea 0 Liverpool 1: Liverpool have suffered greatly at the hands of Chelsea, but in one night they might have had a full revenge.
Claudio Ranieri's side are now seven points behind Manchester United and the manager will now have to wait to discover the ramifications of failure in their quest for the title.
Gerard Houllier's team, with a marvellously judged and organised effort, departed with renewed optimism. They even endured after the unfortunate 87th-minute dismissal of El Hadji Diouf after he and Adrian Mutu accidentally tripped over each other. The Senegalese international was adjudged to have kicked out at the Romanian.
If the job security of both managers has weakened, it was Houllier who must have felt more at ease during the first half. He had come up with an unexpected scheme that had Liverpool fans growling when the line-ups were announced.
The often disappointing Bruno Cheyrou was starting his first match of the season since the 2-1 defeat to Chelsea on opening day. At least the midfielder had arrived in a different guise, working a few paces behind Emile Heskey in attack.
People were taking a shine to him in this role even before his 33rd-minute goal. There was a keen rapport with Heskey, who nodded a long ball down to Cheyrou and then sprinted away on the right as the Frenchman released him.
Heskey put a cross tearing into the penalty area and, with John Terry unable to intercept, Cheyrou fired home. It was no random opening since the scorer had earlier failed only marginally to connect with a similar piece of service from Heskey.
Despite the multitude of players on the books, Ranieri must have had misgivings here as the return of Hernan Crespo after illness ended when injury removed him in the 12th minute. There was little incisiveness in the first half from a team that waits anxiously for Damien Duff to be fit again.
They were brisk, but the one true opening came to Eidur Gudjohnsen, Crespo's replacement, in the 29th minute. Passes by Geremi and Claude Makelele were followed by a lob from Joe Cole that the Icelander volleyed wide. Frank Lampard bashed a drive over seven minutes later, but Liverpool's swelling confidence was palpable.
However, a moment's recklessness by the excited visitors might have tipped the balance back towards Chelsea.
After an hour, Heskey continued his ardent crusade by kicking William Gallas, with the ball an irrelevance, as they both chased for possession. The referee Steve Dunn confined himself to booking the striker.
There were further worries for Liverpool when goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek went off with a groin strain. With Chris Kirkland unavailable due to a broken finger, Houllier was forced to bring on Patrice Luzi for his debut 12 minutes from time.
Yet Chelsea should have been appalled to realise that they were reduced to hoping for a failure of nerve by an untried substitute.
With 10 minutes remaining, Mutu did head a Geremi corner against the crossbar and, moments later, found Luzi snatching the ball from his feet, but Chelsea had become desperate as hopes of winning the championship faded.
Guardian Service
CHELSEA: Cudicini, Johnson, Gallas, Terry, Bridge, Makelele, Lampard, Cole (Gronkjaer 62), Geremi, Crespo (Gudjohnsen 12), Mutu. Subs Not Used: Sullivan, Babayaro, Desailly.
LIVERPOOL: Dudek (Luzi Bernardi 77), Henchoz, Hyypia, Traore, Biscan, Diouf, Murphy, Hamann, Cheyrou (Riise 77), Heskey, Kewell. Subs Not Used: Smicer, Owen, Le Tallec. Sent Off: Diouf (87). Booked: Heskey, Diouf. Goals: Cheyrou 33.
Referee: S Dunn.
