Source: Daily_Mail
Chelsea 0 Liverpool 1: Raul Meireles steals Fernando Torres' thunder
Had Fernando Torres still been wearing red, there would have been plenty to celebrate. As it was, he endured the most miserable of afternoons. Not a hint of romance for the most expensive player in British football history. [LNB]Just humiliation and what amounted to a humbling defeat that probably marked the end of Chelsea's title challenge. [LNB] No hiding place: Despair is etched on Fernando Torres' face during a miserable Chelsea debut against his old club[LNB] In three second-half minutes, Torres must have wanted to be anywhere but here at Stamford Bridge. To be hauled off after 66 minutes of misery and frustration in front of the visiting Liverpool supporters would have been bad enough.[LNB] 'You should have stayed at a big club,' they cried as the Spaniard trudged off the pitch, looking every bit as unhappy as he had done at Anfield in the six months prior to moving south. [LNB]But then came the goal from Raul Meireles. Then came the opportunity for his former colleagues to celebrate a magnificent win; a victory that was all the sweeter because of the extraordinary events of transfer-deadline day. [LNB]Man of the moment: Meireles (centre) is mobbed by his Liverpool team-mates after his goal against Chelsea[LNB]It was no less than Liverpool deserved. A reward for their defiance and determination as well as the tactical mastery of a manager who is demonstrating exactly why Liverpool's new American owners are so keen to see him succeed in his second term at Anfield. [LNB]As Kenny Dalglish said, it was a fourth consecutive clean sheet as well as a fourth consecutive win that lifts Liverpool to sixth in the table and the formation he employed worked a treat. A formation that extends a remarkable record for the Scotsman against Chelsea. Played 21, won 15, lost one.[LNB]Dalglish said the Stoke game in midweek was not a dress rehearsal for this, but the use of three centre backs proved hugely effective when it came to combating the threat posed by Torres and Didier Drogba. Not to mention Nicolas Anelka in the hole behind the front two.[LNB]Keen to impress: Torres tries his luck with a shot early on with Liverpool defender Carragher keeping watch[LNB]With Jamie Carragher simply immense in his first start since the end of November, and Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger following his lead, they smothered every Chelsea attack. [LNB]When Torres was suddenly presented with an opportunity to strike, Carragher was there to make the block. Only when Maxi Rodriguez passed to his former colleague by mistake in the opening couple of minutes did Torres have another chance, and on that occasion he shot high and wide. [LNB]Sunday saw a second outing for a new Chelsea formation too, one that enables Carlo Ancelotti to keep Anelka in the side despite the use of two other strikers. But what worked well at Sunderland was nothing like as successful here, not least because it was so lacking in width. [LNB]Tussle: Drogba tries to get the better of Liverpool defender Johnson during a hard-fought first half[LNB]With Liverpool able to more than match them through the middle, the use of two wing backs in Martin Kelly and Glen Johnson meant the visitors could control the field there too. [LNB]Chelsea had nowhere to go and Pepe Reina had very little to do as a result, his only save coming when Florent Malouda provided Chelsea with a threat from out wide and forced Liverpool's goalkeeper to stand tall and parry the Frenchman's effort. [LNB]For Ancelotti, rather like Torres, it amounted to something of a nightmare. Not a good day at the office when the boss has just allowed you to spend ?75million of his money. [LNB]Warm welcome: Chelsea supporters greet their new No 9 ahead of his debut against Liverpool[LNB]Even if his side did deserve a late penalty for Johnson's foul on Branislav Ivanovic, Ancelotti will wince at the fact that the last time Chelsea lost seven games in the league was Claudio Ranieri's last season in charge. [LNB]It will, of course, get better. Ancelotti has bought one of the finest strikers in the world and David Luiz impressed when he came on as a second-half substitute. [LNB]But it was so much more positive for a Liverpool side who managed to complete a fine double over Chelsea this season without the two new signings they now have to fill the void left by Torres. [LNB]Money-making machine: The merchandise stalls at Stamford Bridge were fully stocked for Torres' bow[LNB]Even with Andy Carroll injured and Luis Suarez sitting on the bench, Liverpool could have won this by more. [LNB]More should have been made of some fine passing from the back from Carragher but when Steven Gerrard drove the ball across the face of Chelsea's goal in the 33rd minute, Rodriguez somehow sent his shot against the crossbar from three yards. [LNB]It amounted to a lucky escape for Chelsea, as did a moment when Petr Cech and Ivanovic collided in pursuit of a cross from Kelly. Incensed by a lack of communication, an angry exchange between them followed.[LNB]Blues brothers: Chelsea defender Ivanovic and his goalkeeper Cech have words after a mix-up at the back[LNB]It probably contributed to the goal that Meireles eventually scored in the 69th minute, his fourth in five games for Liverpool. [LNB]When Gerrard sent in a cross from theright, a moment's confusion between Cech and Ivanovic led to acollective failure by both of them to deal with the danger - althoughin fairness to the Serb, Cech was more at fault - and Meireles arrivedat the far post to strike with a super half-volley. [LNB]MATCH FACTS Chelsea (4-3-1-2): Cech 5; Bosingwa 6 (Luiz 73min, 7), Ivanovic 5, Terry 6, Cole 6; Lampard 6, Mikel 6 (Malouda 71, 6), Essien 6; Anelka 5; Torres 5 (Kalou 66, 6), Drogba 5. Subs not used: Turnbull, Ferreira, McEachran, Sala. Booked: Mikel.Liverpool (3-4-2-1): Reina 6; Carragher 9, Skrtel 7, Agger 7; Kelly 6, Lucas 7, Rodriguez 6 (Aurelio 75, 7), Johnson 7; Gerrard 7, Meireles 8 (Poulsen 83, 6); Kuyt 7. Subs not used: Gulacsi, Kyrgiakos, Suarez, Jovanovic, Ngog. Booked: Lucas.Star man: Jamie CarragherReferee: Andre Marriner 6. Attendance: 41,829. [LNB]After that there was a penalty claim, and a brief but physical confrontation between Carragher and John Terry as they both crowded the referee in response to the incident. [LNB]But Liverpool remained very much in control against a Chelsea side seemingly bereft of ideas. A Chelsea side that, while looking like they had emerged from their slump with victories over Bolton and Sunderland, again lacked the fluency and finesse they have shown in previous seasons. [LNB]Compared to Liverpool they also lacked desire on Sunday, Gerrard's reaction to the final whistle a measure of how much it meant to them. He threw his arms in the air and looked to the heavens; the highlight, clearly, of his season. [LNB]'We've had a great week,' said Dalglish, and given how it had started it had most certainly been that.[LNB] [LNB] [LNB] [LNB] Chelsea v Liverpool: How the drama unfolded at Stamford BridgeTorres: I knew my time at Anfield was over when Liverpool got rid of Alonso and MascheranoThe man who discovered Torres - I gave him 12 out of 10 in his trialI tried to convince Torres to stay at Anfield, reveals Kenny DalglishChelsea stars face ?12million tax bill for image right dealsAll the latest Chelsea news, features and opinionAll the latest Liverpool news, features and opinion [LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People: Fernando Torres, Jamie Carragher, Petr Cech, Glen Johnson, Maxi Rodriguez, Martin Skrtel, Didier Drogba, Daniel Agger, Steven Gerrard, Nicolas Anelka, Carlo Ancelotti, John Terry, Pepe Reina, Andy Carroll, Kenny Dalglish Places: Liverpool, Bolton
