Glen Johnson’s brilliant 87th-minute goal secured Liverpool a 2-1 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in London on Sunday and increased the pressure on Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas.
The defeat was Chelsea’s second successive home loss and it came after it looked as if they had secured a point when Daniel Sturridge canceled out Maxi Rodriguez’s first-half opener 10 minutes after the restart, but Johnson’s late strike ensured his former club suffered a third defeat in four Premier League games. It moved Liverpool up to sixth, level on points with the Blues.
Chelsea are now 12 points behind Manchester City and Villas-Boas said: “It’s a bad blow for us in the Premiership. It’s a big blow.”
Photo: AFP
“We have a home game with Wolves next, before Newcastle and then the leaders and we have to try and win those games, as difficult as they are,” he said. “There are lots of points on offer in November and December. The calendar gets tight and maybe we can get some extra points, but this is one step closer to an even more difficult situation.”
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish was delighted by his side’s endurance.
“To their credit, they kept going and at that stage to have your right fullback up there is of great credit to the players,” Dalglish said.
Villas-Boas sprang a surprise before kickoff, omitting Fernando Torres from his starting lineup, denying the striker the chance to face the club he left for £50 million (US$79 million) in January.
Dalglish mirrored the move by leaving Andy Carroll, Torres’ £35 million replacement, on the bench.
However, it was Dalglish who had more cause to be satisfied during a first half when the defensive lapses that had marred Chelsea’s last home outing, a 5-3 defeat by Arsenal, resurfaced.
Liverpool were impressive from the start, but while they chased and harried, Chelsea were surprisingly lethargic and repeatedly conceded possession in dangerous areas.
A 22nd-minute Didier Drogba free-kick almost gave the hosts the lead, but it was Liverpool who were in the ascendancy, with striker Luis Suarez apparently unaffected by facing an FA charge following allegations he racially abused Manchester United’s Patrice Evra.
Both Suarez and Chelsea’s John Terry, accused of racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand, wore “Kick it Out” T-shirts during the warm-up, with the match being dedicated in support of the anti-racism campaign.
Suarez and Craig Bellamy’s pace caused Chelsea’s ponderous defense repeated problems and it was no surprise that Liverpool’s 33rd-minute opening goal came from a mistake.
John Obi Mikel was caught in possession by Charlie Adam as he collected a ball from goalkeeper Petr Cech and Bellamy took up the baton, exchanging passes with Suarez, before picking out Rodriguez, who finished with his right foot.
The pressure was on Villas-Boas to act and he withdrew Mikel at halftime, introducing Sturridge.
Chelsea did not have to wait long for the equalizer, with Florent Malouda carving out the opening in the 55th minute with a powerful run and cross from the left that Sturridge turned home from close range at the far post.
Moments later, Chelsea almost took the lead when Branislav Ivanovic’s header was superbly saved by Pepe Reina.
Torres and Raul Meireles, another former Liverpool player, were introduced in the 84th minute, but the decisive late act came from Johnson, who collected Adam’s cross-field pass with an excellent first touch, cut into the box from the right and slotted the ball home.
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