Half-time: Liverpool 0 Chelsea 1

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Demba Ba netted just before half-time to put Chelsea ahead in the crucial game at Anfield.

Premier League leaders Liverpool looked to make their now trademark fast start but failed to score a first-half goal for the first time in 26 matches – and then fell behind following a mistake by Steven Gerrard

Reds skipper Gerrard slipped and Ba raced through to score a potentially pivotal goal in the title race.

Chelsea had spent much of the half under pressure but had the best chances and might have had a penalty before they went ahead.

The home fans were quickly complaining about time-wasting tactics by the injury-hit visitors, who got men behind the ball and then had the first effort on goal.

Ashley Cole, who has never scored under Jose Mourinho, brought a good save from keeper Simon Mignolet with a stinging 25-yard shot.

Liverpool responded strongly and Philippe Coutinho missed a decent chance for them, side-footing a volley into the side netting after being found by Luis Suarez.

And when Cole had to clear off the line following a corner, Suarez thumped the ball back into the danger zone and centre-back Mamadou Sakho blazed over.

At the other end, Chelsea felt they should have been awarded a spot-kick when Mohamed Salah’s shot struck the hand of left-back John Flanagan.

Suarez then went close, firing just over after Cole had given the ball away.

Chelsea boss Mourinho, without the injured Petr Cech, John Terry, Eden Hazard and Samuel Eto’o, as well as the suspended Ramires, named Gary Cahill among his substitutes and gave Czech defender Tomas Kalas, 20, a full debut.

Kalas made an impressive start and had a great chance just before the goal, glancing a header wide when found by Frank Lampard’s corner.

But Ba, Chelsea’s match-winner in vital games against Swansea and Paris St-Germain, made no mistake, calmly slotting home his fifth goal in eight matches.

Chelsea: Schwarzer; Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Kalas, Cole; Lampard, Mikel, Matic; Salah, Ba, Schurrle
Subs: Hilario, Ake, Cahill, Van Ginkel, Baker, Willian, Torres.

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