CHELSEA 2, LIVERPOOL 0

NICOLAS ANELKA and Florent Malouda scored the goals as Chelsea defeated Liverpool 2-0 to regain top spot in the Premier League.

Didier Drogba was the provider for both strikes as Rafa Benitez's side followed up their midweek loss to Fiorentina with a result that leaves their own title bid very much in the balance.

The game took a long time to really get into its stride with the two superpowers sparring in the early exchanges but failing to provide any real noteworthy action.

Deco supplied some neat moments of skill but the defences looked in command with main goal threats Anelka, Drogba and Fernando Torres all being kept quiet.

The first real chance took 28 minutes to arrive but Anelka's header from a cross by the excellent Michael Essien was snaffled by Pepe Reina.

Albert Riera had a penalty appeal rejected when his strike cannoned off Ricardo Carvalho's elbow and the Spanish winger came closest to scoring in the first half when his 45th-minute free kick skipped off the turf and headed goalwards. Hilario, in for the suspended Petr Cech, appeared to take an age before finally plunging to his right to parry it to safety.

The only sniff Torres had of goal came when he was unable to connect properly with a header from Dirk Kuyt's right-wing cross while Liverpool's bench felt Drogba's shove on Martin Skrtel inside the box was worthy of a penalty.

Chelsea had enjoyed plenty of the ball but Reina was not unduly concerned.

The Reds keeper did field a Branislav Ivanovic shot that bounced awkwardly but he had no chance with the opener.

Frank Lampard sparked the goal with a well-executed tackle on Javier Mascherano. The ball was quickly fed forwards, via Essien and Deco, to Drogba on the left wing.

Racing past Skrtel, the Ivorian displayed great vision to centre invitingly and Anelka applied the finishing touch with a controlled side-foot effort, even if the opportunity was not as easy as it looked.

Chelsea celebrated a strike that set them on their way to going back to the top of the table ahead of the international break and provide another massive blow to Liverpool's own title aspirations.

Drogba sent a free kick wide but the Blues were unable to relax with Benitez urging his side forwards.

The one real opening ahead of the killer second came when John Terry blocked Steven Gerrard's shot and the rebound fell to Torres, who screwed a disappointing left-foot shot off target from a promising position.

The likes of Terry and Ashley Cole defended manfully for the hosts, largely protecting Hilario, even if he did do well, and Liverpool will be left feeling they did not do enough to get back into the game.

Instead, in stoppage time, Drogba wriggled his way into the area on the right-hand side and kept his composure, hesitating before feeding substitute Malouda for a simple finish from close range.

There was still time for Yossi Benayoun to drag an easy chance wide to just about sum up Liverpool's day with Gerrard also warming Hilario's hands in the dying seconds.

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