Half-time: Liverpool 0 Chelsea 1

By

Oscar’s header gave Chelsea a half-time lead at Anfield.

The Brazilian nodded home Juan Mata’s 26th-minute corner to register his 10th goal of the season and his second in the league.

Oscar had earlier sent an effort straight at keeper Pepe Reina, as did Ramires, while Glen Johnson fired wide at the other end.

Chelsea continued press after going ahead but it took Petr Cech’s fine save from Luis Suarez to maintain their lead.

Rafael Benitez was predictably given a warm reception from the home fans on his return to Liverpool, who won the Champions League during his six-year spell as their manager.

Fernando Torres, on the other hand, was booed on his return to face his ex-club.

Torres kept his place but Benitez made three changes from the midweek win at Fulham, with Oscar, Cesar Azpilicueta and John Mikel Obi replacing Frank Lampard, John Terry and Victor Moses.

Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge was replaced by Stewart Downing and missed out on the starting line-up against his former side.

A win for Chelsea would take them back above Arsenal into third place

Chelsea: Cech, Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Luiz, Bertrand, Ramires, Mikel, Mata, Oscar, Hazard, Torres.
Subs: Turnbull, Lampard, Moses, Ferreira, Terry, Ba, Benayoun.

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

 

Follow West London Sport on Twitter
Find us on Facebook