Liverpool seized victory in the 84th minute, and that outcome had often looked likely before the right-back Glen Johnson took a Charlie Adam pass, drove into the area, went past Ashley Cole and shot into the far corner of the net. The hosts had never been secure and, now a dozen points behind the leaders, Manchester City, the Chelsea manager, André Villas-Boas, is under severe pressure.
After all the years of defensive stringency, it is incongruous to witness a Stamford Bridge side that looks so brittle. Mikel John Obi was, for a defensive midfielder, guilty of a crass error in letting himself be dispossessed deep in his own half by Adam. Craig Bellamy and Luis Suárez then combined, before Maxi Rodríguez completed the attack with a composed finish in the 33rd minute.
Kenny Dalglish's lineup had far more poise and threat. Chelsea scarcely looked as if they could afford to have Fernando Torres on the bench, even if there was some logic to the decision, since he had been called upon as a substitute for Spain during the long trip that took him to Costa Rica last Tuesday.
The forward was not introduced until seven minutes from the end. Chelsea had come close to taking the lead when a Didier Drogba free-kick went into the side netting, but there was scant fluency or control from the side in open play.
Nonetheless, they were level after 55 minutes when Florent Malouda hit the ball towards the far post and the substitute Daniel Sturridge capitalised. Liverpool's menace receded for a brief period, but the main impression was of the trouble each side had in producing an incisive attack.
The exertions did not compensate for the shortage of expertise, but the great joy Liverpool took from this victory overwhelmed grumbles of that sort.
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