SECOND half goals from Nicolas Anelka and Florent Malouda sent Liverpool crashing to their third Premier League defeat of the season at Stamford Bridge.
Anelka scored his fifth goal of the season when he finished off a cross from Didier Drogba on the hour, before substitute Malouda added the second in injury-time.
The Reds had started well, forcing Chelsea onto the back foot at the start of what promised to be an enthralling contest between two sides expected to contest the title this season.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side were desperate to get back to winning ways in the league after their 3-1 drubbing by Wigan last week.
But it was Liverpool who dominated the early skirmishes in midfield with Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres linking up well.
It took Chelsea until the 17th minute to put together a decent move but Drogba’s cross from the left eluded everyone in the penalty area.
Liverpool continued to dominate but a shot from Albert Riera was high and wide of the target in the 19th minute.
Michael Essien appeared to be late and high with a challenge on Javier Mascherano but referee Atkinson was perfectly positioned to see the incident and waved play-on. The Liverpool player soon rose to his feet without any damage to his right leg.
Both sides were full of attacking desire but neither goalkeeper had been tested at the midway stage of the opening half.
Liverpool’s Jose Reina finally collected a header from Drogba just beneath the crossbar in the 24th minute.
In the 27th minute Reina was called into action again when Essien’s cross was met by Nicolas Anelka.
The France international was unmarked but despite the luxury of a free header, he could not find a way past the Liverpool keeper.
Liverpool were handed a chance to opening the scoring in the 29th minute when Branislav Ivanovic was adjudged to have brought down Torres.
The free-kick was some 25 yards out but Gerrard’s effort sailed over the crossbar to the delight of the home fans.
Four minutes later Chelsea squandered a real chance of their own after Drogba had been brought down by Jamie Carragher near the corner flag.
Deco’s free-kick into the penalty area was well placed but Michael Ballack’s header was off target from six yards.
Lampard’s accuracy was lacking in the 36th minute when Drogba was brought down by Lucas. The England midfielder’s ambitious attempt from some 40 yards was well wide of Reina’s goal.
Chelsea were now enjoying their best spell of the game and when Lampard’s 38th-minute corner fell to Essien at the far post, the Ghanaian international forced Reina to make a save at the second attempt.
Liverpool responded with Dirk Kuyt crossing for Torres to head straight at Hilario from six yards.
Deco found himself in the book for a foul on Liverpool’s Kuyt in the 44th minute and Riera forced Hilario into a late save with a 40-yard low drive.
Liverpool began brightly at the start of the second half and Gerrard tried his luck from 20 yards - but it was too high to trouble Hilario.
Chelsea were quick to respond with Ivanovic trying an angled drive from 25 yards which bounced in front of Reina.
The home side were imposing themselves on the game now with Essien getting further forward to support Deco, Anelka and Drogba.
In the 57th minute Liverpool won a free-kick by the left corner flag when Riera was blocked by Ballack, but Gerrard’s free-kick was met by a confident punch from Hilario and Chelsea survived a difficult moment.
The Blues finally broke the deadlock on the hour when Mascherano lost possession to Lampard in the Chelsea half.
The Blues made swift work of going forward with Essien feeding Deco and the midfielder passing the ball out wide to Drogba on the left.
For once the Ivory Coast international got the better of Martin Skrtel and crossed low to the far post where Anelka pounced to put the home side in front.
It was France international’s fifth goal of the season and it gave Ancelotti’s side a precious lead.
In the 63rd minute, Drogba met a Lampard free-kick but his header was well held by Reina.
Liverpool, heading for a third defeat this season, replaced Riera with Yossi Benayoun in the 67th minute.
In the 77th minute Chelsea won a free-kick in a dangerous area when Lampard was brought down by Gerrard.
The challenge earned Gerrard a yellow ward and Chelsea almost went two in front but Drogba was just wide of the right-hand post with the resultant free-kick.
Torres then wasted a great chance to equalise 10 minutes from time but the Spaniard’s left foot shot was wide of the target.
But Chelsea wrapped a fine win when Drogba crossed for substitute Florent Malouda to add a second from close-range in injury-time.
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