Liverpool topple fortress Stamford Bridge
Xabi Alonso's goal sees Chelsea suffer their first defeat at home since losing 2-1 to Arsenal in February 2004
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Captain Steven Gerrard has been passed fit for Liverpool's top-of-the-table clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. |  |
Sunday, 26, Oct 2008 09:10
Liverpool have ended Chelsea's four-year unbeaten home record with a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge.
A deflected strike from Xabi Alonso in the first half sees the Reds go top of the Premier League, three points ahead of the Blues.
It is the first time Rafael Benitez has managed an away win against the 'big four' since taking charge in 2004 and hands Blues boss Luiz Felipe Scolari his first defeat since taking charge in the summer.
More importantly, it is the club's first home defeat since a 2-1 loss to Arsenal in February 2004.
With the slippery conditions the first half was a predictably scrappy affair, but the Reds sprang a surprise by taking the lead on ten minutes when Alonso's strike from the edge of the box struck Jose Bosingwa and wrong-footed keeper Petr Cech.
The goal sparked the game into life with Salomon Kalou failing to test Jose Reina with a weak effort from the edge of the box, while Cech tipped over Steven Gerrard's 30-yard piledriver.
Chelsea had skipper John Terry to thank for keeping them in the game after the defender made a last-ditch clearance before the ball could fall to Robbie Keane.
The second half was a pulsating affair as the Blues looked to preserve their four-year unbeaten home record. Scolari's men thought they had been awarded a penalty when Reina clattered into Florent Malouda but the linesman flagged for offside.
Liverpool came agonisingly close to sealing victory when Alonso's curling free-kick rattled the post past a motionless Cech on the hour mark.
The home side continued to carve out half chances with Ashley Cole flashing a volley wide from substitute Franco di Santo's knockdown while Jamie Carragher denied Deco with a last-ditch tackle.
Despite the absence of the injured Fernando Torres, the Reds continued to dominate with substitute Ryan Babel firing a shot wide after another sweeping move.
After three minutes of stoppage time, the Blues were unable to force Reina into a save as Liverpool fired a warning to their title rivals with a vital victory.