Half-time: Chelsea 2 Liverpool 1
Eden Hazard and Samuel Eto’o produced two rather different finishes as Chelsea responded to going a goal down early on with some free-flowing football in a thrilling first half.
Blues fell behind in the third minute as a Phillipe Coutinho free-kick aimed in at Luis Suarez bounced off Branislav Ivanovic’s arm and into the path of Martin Skrtel to turn home.
Chelsea were almost level immediately as Hazard’s shot was pushed on to Skrtel by Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, but Glen Johnson cleared the danger.
Frank Lampard forced Mignolet into a tremendous save from distance and Hazard was denied a penalty as Jose Mourinho’s side began to dominate.
However they were deservedly level when Willian and Oscar combined before the latter released Hazard, who curled a composed finish into the top corner.
Cahill then produced an outstanding goal-saving challenge to keep the scores level as Joe Allen prepared to pull the trigger.
But with Chelsea playing some of their best football of the season, you sensed another goal was on the cards – and the predatory instincts of Eto’o put the Blues in front.
Oscar, twisting in the box, pulled the ball back for the Cameroon forward and his toepoked effort squirmed through Mignolet’s grasp.
Petr Cech was a bystander until Allen thumped a shot towards goal late in the first half, but the Chelsea ‘keeper was equal to it.
One downside for Mourinho was the early exit of Ivanovic, who limped off after half an hour, allowing Ashley Cole some action from the bench.
Blues captain John Terry, who has marshalled the defence well, is playing in his 600th Chelsea game – only Ron Harris, Peter Bonetti and team-mate Frank Lampard have previously reached that landmark.
Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic (Cole 30), Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Luiz, Lampard; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Eto’o.
Subs: Schwarzer, Essien, Mikel, Schurrle, Mata, Torres.
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29/12/2013 @ 6:08 pm
Brilliant Blues???
BORING BLUES!!! AGAIN!
Jose Borinho’s tactics = spoil with fouls, hoof it into the corners!
Travesty they are anywhere near the top 4, cheated points with Ramires penalty dive and Eto’o scoring by kicking ball out go goalies bounce, but that’s Chelsea. Drogba is their ultimate hero, a man who cheated his way throughout his career, and Hazard is their new dive king. And their captain? Says it all really!
29/12/2013 @ 5:07 pm
Christmas has buried LIverpool, as I knew it would. City will win the league, United second, Chelsea third, Arsenal fourth and Liverpool fifth at best. Usual suspects and LFC nowhere. They may get past the first stage of the cup but then they’ll get drawn against one of the big boys and that will mean the next meaningful match will be August. You simply can’t win matches against top sides with then likes of Joe Allen in your team! Wake up to it LFC fans – you’ve been over twenty years fooling yourselves.