ALONSO FIRES REDS CLEAR AT THE TOP
Liverpool have moved three points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League after Xabi Alonso's first-half strike gave them a 1-0 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
The Spaniard's first goal of the season was enough to maintain the Reds' unbeaten start to the season and brings an end to the Blues' proud home run that had stretched to 86 matches undefeated.
It means Liverpool have now notched up a landmark 600th top-flight victory on the road and halts a Chelsea hoodoo that had seen them win only once at the Bridge - in January 2004 - since the inauguration of the Premier League.
Both sides had gone into the match level on points at the summit of English football and with Chelsea protecting their incredible Bridge record, few observers would have been surprised to see them create the first opening of this heavyweight bout on three minutes.
A slip from Alonso allowed Nicolas Anelka to seize possession and race towards the Liverpool goal. The Frenchman jinked past the first defender before seeing the ball break menacingly towards Deco, but just when it seemed the Portuguese playmaker would open the scoring, Jamie Carragher intervened with one of his trademark blocks to deflect the ball to safety.
If the home support thought it was a sign of things to come then they would be very mistaken, and Alonso's next contribution would result in the opening goal of the game on 10 minutes.
A long throw on the right was flicked on by Dirk Kuyt and as Robbie Keane battled for it, the ball fell invitingly to Alonso who did not waste his chance, firing an awkward left-foot shot that deflected past Petr Cech and into the net.
It was a dream start for a Rafa and co and they would go on to boss the remainder of the first-half, restricting Chelsea to wayward shots from distance, whilst carving out one or two good opportunities of their own.
Indeed, it could have got even better for the visitors on 16 minutes when the impressive Albert Riera danced his way beyond the attentions of Jose Bosingwa and fizzed a shot just wide of the near post.
With Steven Gerrard operating just behind lone striker Robbie Keane, the Reds continued to cause problems, and the skipper nearly added to his eclectic mix of great goals with a stunning 25 yarder that Petr Cech somehow managed to touch over the crossbar.
For their part, Chelsea continued to probe for openings but the away side were well worth their interval lead and Deco's 34th minute piledriver was the closest they came to troubling Pepe Reina.
The home side upped their tempo in the second period but it was the away side who continued to enjoy the best attacking moments with Dirk Kuyt firing just wide from 20 yards.
If the Dutchman's strike was close, then Alonso's exquisite free-kick was even closer, with only a lick of paint on the post preventing the midfielder from doubling his tally.
At times Liverpool were playing some breathtaking counter-attacking football and substitute Ryan Babel was only inches away from collecting a pass to send him clear on goal while Javier Mascherano over-hit his cross when he may have been better placed to shoot.
Babel then showed a cameo of what he is all about with a great first touch to turn his man before sending a sizzling effort wide of the left-hand post.
With so many opportunities going begging, there was always the nagging doubt that Luiz Felipe Scolari's men would snatch a draw, but with Jamie Carragher once again immense at the back, the Reds saw it out to secure Rafael Benitez's first victory away to one of the top-flight's so-called big four.
TEAMS
Liverpool: Reina, Aurelio, Carragher, Agger, Arbeloa, Riera, Alonso, Mascherano, Kuyt, Gerrard (captain), Keane. Subs - Hyypia, Babel, Leiva, Dossena, Cavalieri, Pennant, Benayoun
Chelsea: Cech, Cole, Terry (captain), Carvalho, Bosingwa, Malouda, Lampard, Obi Mikel, , Kalou, Anelka. Subs - Cudicini, Ferreira, Belletti, Di Santo, Sinclair, Ivanovic,
Referee: Howard Webb
Conditions: wet
Attendance: Unknown
Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Jamie Carragher
BREAKDOWN
13:34 GMT : Match Starts
1 min : Chelsea get the game underway at the Bridge
2 mins : Bosingwa is caught in possession but Gerrard can't get in behind the Chelsea defence and Cech gathers
3 mins : Alonso loses his footing and Deco has a shot at goal which is deflected behind for a corner
7 mins : Kalou is flagged offside down the right as Chelsea look for an opening. Home side have had more of the ball so far
10 mins : GOAL! Xabi Alonso: Alonso's left footed strike is deflected past Cech to give us the dream start
14 mins : Lampard slips the ball into Kalou who should do better but shoot tamely at Reina
17 mins : Riera goes past Bosingwa down the left and fires disappointingly wide. We're well on top at the moment
21 mins : First Booking: Albert Riera: Foul on Bosingwa
22 mins : Bosingwa sends in a cross from the right which Kalou heads well over Reina's goal
25 mins : Stunning dipping volley from Gerrard is met with an equally brilliant save from Cech who tips the ball over for a corner
29 mins : Carragher helps the ball back to Reina under pressure from a couple of Chelsea players
33 mins : Lampard shoots from distance and Carragher blocks at the expense of a corner
36 mins : Deco regains the ball for Chelsea and charges forward into space before striking wide of target from 20 yards
38 mins : First Booking: Steven Gerrard:
40 mins : Deco sends another shot goalwards which is deflected over for another corner
14:20 GMT : Half Time Reached
14:37 GMT : Second Half Begins
46 mins : Liverpool get the second half underway. Can we hold on and move three points clear at the top?
47 mins : Chance rightaway for Keane but he can't take advantage and the home side clear
49 mins : Bosingwa clatters into Aurelio and wins a free kick on the right hand side
52 mins : Malouda has space on the left but his cross is well defended by Carragher
53 mins : First Booking: Florent Malouda:
55 mins : Kalou is taken out by Reina in the area but the flag is already up for offside
56 mins : First Booking: Ashley Cole:
57 mins : Kuyt goes for goal and isn't too far away from the far post
57 mins : Substitution: Franco Di Santo for Salomon Kalou:
57 mins : Substitution: Juliano Belletti for Florent Malouda:
60 mins : Substitution: Ryan Babel for Robbie Keane:
61 mins : Alonso's free kick comes crashing back off the base of the post - what a great effort
65 mins : First Booking: Javier Mascherano:
66 mins : Mascherano has space down the right but can't find a teammate with a cross into the danger area
73 mins : Best chance Chelsea have had for a while as the ball falls to Ashley Cole but he fires his volley well wide
76 mins : Great defending from Carragher to deny Deco as he prepares to pull the trigger inside the area
77 mins : Babel turns outside the area and fires a low shot just wide across Cech's goal
79 mins : First Booking: Deco :
85 mins : Substitution: Scott Sinclair for Jose Bosingwa:
85 mins : Kuyt has space on the right but his low cross is defended by Terry
88 mins : Substitution: Lucas Leiva for Dirk Kuyt:
15:25 GMT : Match Over
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