A terrific Liverpool performance saw them coast to a 2-0 win
over a very poor Chelsea at Anfield.
From the off the home side looked far hungrier and their attacking
approach was rewarded with a fourth minute lead as Dirk Kuyt
struck.
Before 20 minutes had gone, Liverpool's domination told again as
Jermaine Pennant's struck his first goal for the club and that
proved enough for Rafa Benitez - as he claimed his first league
victory over Jose Mourinho.
It was a rampant first half display from Liverpool that saw them
set up victory as they totally over-ran a Chelsea side which looked
completely disorganised without talismanic skipper John Terry in
defence.
The main talking point before the game was Petr Cech's return and
he was happy to claim a Steven Gerrard header after three minutes
to get his first touch of a ball for over three months.
However, within a minute Cech's next task was to pick the ball out
of the back of the net as Liverpool swept into the lead. A long
ball flicked on by Peter Crouch fell for Kuyt, he knocked the ball
past hapless make-shift centre-half Paulo Ferreira, before coolly
side-footing a half-volley into the corner.
Chelsea just could not come to terms with Liverpool's attacking
play and the home side should have been two-up just moments later.
Xabi Alonso's excellent ball into the box freed John Arne Riise -
but Cech was down wonderfully well to make the save.
Chelsea's first meaningful chance came for Didier Drogba from a
corner but he headed wide - and within minutes they found
themselves further behind.
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