Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0:  Champions Chelsea hung on for victory over Liverpool today despite the second-half sending off of Germany captain Michael Ballack.

The close season signing was given his marching orders for stamping in a tense encounter at Stamford Bridge after Chelsea had gone ahead just before the break to a fine goal from Didier Drogba.

It was a highly charged game between rivals who have crossed swords 12 times since their managers Jose Mourinho and Rafael Benitez took over in 2004 and it produced end-to-end football.

Chelsea's goal came in the 41st minute. Frank Lampard crossed precisely from the right and Ivory Coast striker Drogba turned and shot in one movement, leaving Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina standing helpless.

Until then Liverpool, apparently showing no ill-effects from their 3-0 Merseyside drubbing by Everton last weekend, nor their 0-0 Champions league trip to PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday, had easily held their own, moving with verve and purpose.

New Dutch signing Dirk Kuyt was unlucky not to score in the 16th minute when his fearsome strike from just inside the area rattled the crossbar.

Chelsea, coming off domestic and European wins, looked solid until the final third where they were still having trouble integrating close season purchase Andriy Shevchenko.

Mourinho substituted the Ukraine striker with Arjen Robben in the second half and the winger, back in action following injury, proved more penetrative despite playing in a 10-man formation.

It was six minutes into the second half that the tension, evident from three first half yellow cards and the flailing arms of both coaches on the touchline, erupted.

Momo Sissoko stole the ball from Ballack and the German captain tumbled on the turf. Frustrated he returned to challenge Sissoko, stamping heavily on the Mali international midfielder's leg.

Referee Mike Riley showed an immediate red card which will earn Ballack a suspension of at least three games.

Liverpool had free rein to come forward and it was goalkeeper Petr Cech who kept them at bay, saving a point-blank shot by captain Steven Gerrard in the 68th minute.

Jermaine Pennant, Kuyt and Craig Bellamy also tested the Czech goalkeeper continually through the second half.   Reuters