Liverpool 2, Chelsea 1

Posted Monday, November 21, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

LONDON (AP)—Glen Johnson grabbed a late winner with a superb solo effort as Liverpool beat title hopeful Chelsea 2-1 at Stamford Bridge on Sunday to boost its chances of finishing in the Champions League places.

The England right back galloped onto Charlie Adam’s raking pass, cut inside international teammate Ashley Cole and strode into the area to slot a neat left-footed finish into the bottom corner three minutes from time.

Maxi Rodriguez had given Liverpool a deserved lead in the 33rd minute on his first league start of the season, before Daniel Sturridge equalized 10 minutes from close range after coming on as a halftime substitute.

Chelsea’s third defeat in four league games leaves the London team 12 points adrift of league leader Manchester City. Liverpool moved up to sixth, level on points with fourth-place Chelsea, Tottenham and seventh-place Arsenal.

It’s the first time since 2002 that Chelsea has lost two straight games at home and this latest defeat will do nothing to stop the first murmurings of discontent at the club, with manager Andre Villas-Boas beginning to come under pressure after slipping so far off a fierce pace set by unbeaten City.

Villas-Boas’ decision not to start with Fernando Torres against the club that sold him for a British record fee of 50 million pounds ($81 million) in January will also be questioned.

The Spain striker came on in the 84th minute for the largely ineffective Didier Drogba but provided no late threat. The statistic remains that Torres has scored more goals for Liverpool (four) than Chelsea (three) in 2011 since his big-money move.

With Torres and Liverpool’s Andy Carroll named as substitutes, 85 million pounds ($135 million) worth of attacking talent was sat on the bench for a crucial match between teams challenging for the Champions League positions.

Of the strikers on show, Drogba—back after a three-match suspension— struggled for service and was well marshaled by Liverpool center backs Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel.

Much of the danger early on lay at the other end, with Uruguay forward Luis Suarez causing all sorts of problems for the Chelsea defense with his ceaseless work rate and foraging runs.

Inevitably, Suarez was involved in Rodriguez’s goal but it was Charlie Adam who played the key role in dispossessing John Obi Mikel after the midfielder was sent a poor pass by Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech. Suarez and Craig Bellamy combined to send in Rodriguez, who slotted home a crisp finish from 15 yards (meters).

Rodriguez has seldom been used by manager Kenny Dalglish this season, even though he scored seven goals—including two hat tricks—in three matches at the end of last season in Liverpool’s late run to sixth place.

However, he excelled here in his first start of the campaign with his elusive running and neat link-up play with the irrepressible Suarez.

The nearest Chelsea came to scoring in a tight first half full of committed tackling, particularly from Liverpool’s midfield, came when Drogba curled a 30-yard free-kick over the wall but inches the wrong side of the post.

The Ivory Coast international should have done better three minutes after the break, dribbling his way to a shooting position before firing over from the edge of the area.

Chelsea increased the pressure and Sturridge, who made his England debut in midweek, made it pay by stabbing home Florent Malouda’s cross-shot from close range.

Malouda wasted a decent chance in the 75th minute before Johnson popped up with the winner.