Jose Mourinho's 'weakened' team drastically altered the Premier League title race[PA]As Jose Mourinho indulged in yet another of those touchline runs that have come to define the great victories in his managerial career, beating his hand on his heart and mouthing 'Chelsea, Chelsea' as he did so, it was hard to imagine him becoming any more unpopular in these parts.
The anti-christ playing anti-football? Not really. Evil genius? Perhaps. Whatever, this was a master-class from Mourinho in containment and counter-attacking, nothing that contravened the rules, but a blueprint which laid the foundations for a triumph that brings a fresh twist to this absorbing title race.
It was not aesthetically pleasing, but it was undoubtedly effective. Liverpool were set questions and, for once, could not find an answer to be left fretting that the damage to their hopes has been done.
The pain was obvious for none more so than Steven Gerrard, whose mistake and subsequent loss of footing allowed Demba Ba to secure an advantage the visitors never looked like relinquishing with Willian's last-gasp runaway goal compounding the misery.
Gerrard's career is intrinsically linked with football's highs and lows, more than he would want have come against Chelsea, and he is now left praying for Manchester City to slip up given the destiny of the title is back in their hands by virtue of a superior goal difference should they win their game in hand.
Steven Gerrard's wait for a Premier League title may continue after yesterday's defeat [PA]Liverpool will never have craved an Everton success more than when City head to Goodison Park next Saturday.
That the goals both came in added time carried an extra irony given the howls of protest from the home gallery at Chelsea's repeated attempts to waste time which had started within minutes of the kick-off.
Referee Martin Atkinson did his job by totting up the seconds Chelsea spurned in taking throw-ins and goal-kicks, and more than the three additional minutes signified by the fourth official at the end of the first half had been played, when Mamadou Sakho aimed a square ball at his captain. Gerrard took his eye off the pass, it rolled under his foot, and then he slipped in trying to retrieve the situation, watching in horror as Ba raced through and clinically dispatched the opportunity.
It was smash and grab, but Mourinho's plan had already been put in motion.
Chelsea set up as Brendan Rodgers would have expected. Men behind the ball, as many as six stretched out in a line when Liverpool were in possession, and waited for an aberration. This was not some cunning scheme never before seen, but Mourinho at his most pragmatic; doing what other teams had failed to do against the leaders for the past 11 Premier League matches and deny the hosts space. Liverpool had nowhere to run and so there was not the blitzkrieg start that has characterised their campaign and, crucially, no early goal.
A cross from Luis Suarez found Philippe Coutinho at the back post, on the angle of the six yard box, but his volley went into the crowd.
Moments later, Sakho found himself in a similar position and there was to be a similar outcome as he swung his right boot at a Suarez shot that had arrowed towards him.
Demba Ba capitalised on a Gerrard slip to put the Blues ahead [PA]Rodgers' team have been so devastating through the middle this season, but here they ran into a blue wall and appeared to forget in the process that a draw would have been good enough to keep them clear.
Too often Coutinho's threaded passes rattled against Chelsea legs, or Suarez jinked down a cul-de-sac rather than into open space.
Chelsea youngster Tomas Kalas, while being superbly protected by Nemanja Matic and John Obi Mikel, did not look like a debutant whose two previous substitute appearances had both come in the 89th minute. Gerrard tried to atone with numerous shots and a header which Mark Schwarzer saved, but too few of his team-mates stood up when they were needed. Joe Allen had a volley saved and Suarez saw a shot beaten away by the goalkeeper.
What Liverpool's performance revealed was not only are they missing the energy of the suspended Jordan Henderson, but just how little the manager can affect matches with his substitutions. A half-fit Daniel Sturridge came on followed by the hapless Iago Aspas.
That will be Rodgers' real frustration today, although the barbs he hurled at Chelsea's rearguard display afterwards merely highlight how his relationship with Mourinho will not - and cannot - survive the rivalry both clubs hope will endure.
Chelsea - their starting line-up costing £10m more than Liverpool despite the talk of a weakened team - introduced Willian, Gary Cahill and Fernando Torres.
And it was Torres who led the breakaway in the final seconds that saw him square to Willian and seal Mourinho's theatrics.
They are back in the race, Liverpool, in contrast, will hope theirs has not been run.
Willian ended a lightning-quick counter-attack to wrap up all three points [PA]LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Mignolet 6, Johnson 6, Skrtel 8, Sakho 7, Flanagan 6 (Aspas 81); Lucas 6 (Sturridge 58 5), Gerrard 5, Allen 7; Sterling 6, Suarez 6, Coutinho 6.
CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Schwarzer 7, Azpilicueta 7, Ivanovic 8, Kalas 8, Cole 8; Matic 8, Mikel 7; Salah 7 (Willian 60 7), Lampard 7, Schurrle 7 (Cahill 77 6); Ba 8 (Torres 84).
Booked: Salah, Lampard, Cole, Torres.
Goals: Ba (45), Willian (90)
Referee: Martin Atkinson (West Yorkshire)
Next Up: Liverpool - Mon, Crystal Palace (a) Premier League; Chelsea - Sun, Norwich (h) Premier League.
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