Chelsea return to form against Liverpool

Chelsea 2 Liverpool 0. Chelsea seem to have put their blip in form behind them, coming back from a rare Premier League defeat at Wigan last weekend and a subdued performance in Europe in midweek to imperiously sweep past a limited Liverpool. The Merseysiders could soon be considered title also-rans after suffering their third loss of the campaign in just eight games, one more than they experienced during the whole of last season.

Carlo Ancelotti's fury at his Chelsea side last Wednesday night, after they had limped past the Cypriot champions in the Champions League, had the immediate effect on his Stamford Bridge charges. They bore little resemblance to the jittery side that could only put one goal past genuine European minnows Apoel Nicosia, and then looked terrified as they tried to hold on to that lead.

The first half was a cagey affair, notable more for defensive stability than any great attacking flourish, as was happening across town at the Emirates. John Terry and the Chelsea defence effectively put the shackles on Fernando Torres, denying him a sniff of goal until a header directly at stand-in keeper Hilario. Albert Riera also tested the Portuguese sticksman with a free kick late in the half but Petr Cech's replacement was up to the effort.

The second half saw both sides emerge with more intent, and the hosts went ahead on the hour mark. Lampard won the ball, then fed Essien, who played Deco down the left hand side of the pitch. The midfielder passed to Didier Drogba, who sent through a low cross that Nicolas Anelka was perfectly place to bury at the far post for his fifth goal in all competitions this season. The excellent Drogba was tireless throughout the game and fashioned the deciding second goal in injury time, bursting down the right and setting up Florent Malouda.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez tried to remain optimistic at the end of the game, as the Big Four manager most likely to lose his job this season should he fail to make a good challenge for honours on every front. "We must stay calm," he told the Times. "We will see what happens in March and April. I think you will see all the top sides losing more points against the other teams. It's good for the Premier League, good for the competition, and it just means we have to try to win more games."

Ancelotti was happy with his side's return to form, but cautioned about getting too carried away, not least by the failings of rivals. "The end of the championship is a big distance away," he said. "Manchester United's result [the 2-2 draw with Sunderland on Saturday] was a surprise, but we want to stay concentrated on our season, not on the season of other teams." ·