Liverpool's Raheem Sterling, right, fights for the ball against Chelsea's Mohammed Salah during their English Premier League soccer match at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England, Sunday April 27. (AP Photo)
LONDON, APRIL 27 (AGENCIES): Liverpool's relentless winning streak in the Barclays Premier League was brought to a halt on Sunday as Chelsea ground out a fortunate 2-0 victory over the leaders at Anfield. The result ended the Reds' unbeaten record in 2014 and tightened the race at the summit of the division, with two fixtures remaining to navigate in the campaign.
After an extremely congested first half which the Reds had dominated, it was Demba Ba who capitalised on dreadful luck for Liverpool to drive clear and plant a cool finish home and hand the visitors a lead to protect in the second period. That they did, stopping ceaseless attempts by the hosts to salvage an equaliser, and eventually the Blues grabbed a game-finishing second as Fernando Torres raced clear and squared for Willian to finish.
Pre-match team news revealed that Brendan Rodgers had selected an unchanged line-up, retaining faith with the same XI that overcame Norwich City last Sunday. Daniel Sturridge, meanwhile, was deemed fit to join the substitutes. A stop-start opening once the game kicked off prevented the home side from producing a typically speedy surge and the first real threat at goal occurred when Ashley Cole strode forward and clipped a low drive towards the Kop end which Simon Mignolet palmed away at his left on six minutes.
Glen Johnson's pinged strike, set up by a dinked short corner from Steven Gerrard, was deflected behind, and Philippe Coutinho sliced wide at the back post having been found by a delicate Luis Suarez cross from the opposite flank.
Chelsea full-back Cole was well-placed to clear off the line when an outswinging corner was bundled dangerously in the direction of Mark Schwarzer's net, and when Suarez volleyed the subsequent loose ball across the area, Mamadou Sakho awkwardly redirected over. With 30 minutes played, Rodgers' charges could boast more than 73 per cent possession and had attempted seven shots, but the Londoners were dropping deep and defending in great numbers to stifle the hosts in every attack. Another precise Suarez centre from the right wing was delivered into a dangerous corridor, as the Uruguayan aimed for Coutinho, but Schwarzer smothered at the second time of asking as Raheem Sterling rushed in for a rebound too.
