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Chelsea celebrate a goal - Source: Reuters -
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Chelsea returned to form with a powerful 2-0 win over Liverpool
at Stamford Bridge on Monday which lifted them two points clear at
the top of the Premier League.
Goals from French duo Nicolas Anelka and substitute Florent Malouda
after the break settled an absorbing contest high on commitment but
lacking in clearcut chances.
Chelsea, who suffered their first defeat of the season at Wigan
last weekend before scrambling an unconvincing Champions League
victory over Cypriots APOEL Nicosia, moved to 21 points, two ahead
of champions Manchester United who were held to a draw by
Sunderland on Sunday.
Arsenal stormed into the top four at the expense of Liverpool
thanks to a scintillating 6-2 home victory over Blackburn
Rovers.
West Ham United needed a late equaliser to earn a 2-2 draw at home
to 10-man Fulham but they remained in the relegation zone while
Everton drew 1-1 at home with Stoke City.
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancellotti had harsh words for his players
after their last two performances and the Italian would have been
concerned when Liverpool dominated the opening 10 minutes with
crisp passing.
Liverpool, also needing a quick response after a shabby midweek
Champions League defeat by Fiorentina, failed to test Chelsea's
second-choice keeper Hilario until six minutes from halftime when
Fernando Torres headed straight at the Portuguese.
Chelsea had taken a grip on proceedings by then with Michael
Essien stamping his authority in midfield.
Anelka had Chelsea's first chance but could not direct a header
past Jose Reina from an Essien cross and Michael Ballack headed
wastefully over from a pinpoint Deco delivery.
Chelsea's opener after 60 minutes came from an unlikely source.
The usually miserly Javier Mascherano squandered possession to
Frank Lampard in the centre circle and the ball was moved quickly
to Deco and on to Didier Drogba who crossed for Anelka to stab his
third league goal of the season.
Best chance
Liverpool searched for an equaliser and Torres scuffed their best
chance wide before Chelsea sealed victory late on when Drogba
squared for Malouda to finish from close range and confirm the
visitors' third league defeat of the season.
While Chelsea, apart from one blip, have been chugging along
smoothly, Arsenal have provided the fireworks.
Six different players were on target for the Gunners on Monday as
they took their tally to 24 goals in seven league games with a
display of attacking verve watched by the club's record goal scorer
Thierry Henry.
The former darling of the Arsenal fans, who scored 226 goals for
the club, would have been proud of any of the strikes from Thomas
Vermaelen, Robin van Persie, Andrei Arshavin, Cesc Fabregas, Theo
Walcott and Nicklas Bendtner.
Blackburn had twice led in the first half with goals from Steven
N'Zonzi and David Dunn but were blown apart as Arsenal, inspired by
the magnificent Fabregas, turned on the style.
"When we are confident we have a flow that looks like the goals
can come at any moment and from anywhere. Today we scored six and
their keeper (Paul Robinson) had a good game," Arsenal manager
Arsene Wenger told reporters.
Arsenal, who have 15 points, one behind third-placed Tottenham
Hotspur, could slip out of the top four on Tuesday when Manchester
City travel to Aston Villa targeting the victory would take the big
spenders into third spot.
