Chelsea ended Liverpool's 11-game winning streak this afternoon to reignite their Premier League title hopes going into the final two games of the season.
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Opting to rest some key players ahead of Wednesday's Champions League semi-final second-leg clash against Atletico Madrid, manager Jose Mourinho had seemingly told his players to employ sly time-wasting tactics from the outset, but Liverpool created a couple of openings soon after 10 minutes.
Luis Suarez set up both, first floating a diagonal ball to the back post where Coutinho side-footed a volley into the side-netting before volleying powerfully across the area to Mamadou Sakho, who failed to control his shot and skied over the bar.
Eight minutes before the break Chelsea felt that they should have had a penalty when Mohamed Salah's shot clearly struck Jon Flanagan's arm, but referee Martin Atkinson didn't feel that it was enough to warrant a spot kick.
The Blues then sneaked in front in first-half stoppage time when Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard slipped in the middle of the field, allowing Demba Ba to race through on goal and slot under Simon Mignolet.
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Not long into the second half Liverpool appealed for a penalty of their own when Tomas Kalas, making his Premier League debut at centre-back, eased out Raheem Sterling in the area. Again, Atkinson kept his hands by his side.
Joe Allen was the first man to really test stand-in Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer on the hour mark when his crisply-hit first-time volley was tipped wide by the 41-year-old Australian.
Moments later Mignolet kept out Andre Schurrle with a similar save down the other end, with Chelsea looking to counter-attack when given the opportunity.
Although Liverpool continued to have plenty of the ball in Chelsea's half, Mourinho's men scored the second in stoppage time on the counter-attack through Willian.
Victory for the Blues sees them end Liverpool's 16-game unbeaten streak in 2014 - the Reds' last league defeat was at Stamford Bridge in the reverse fixture in December.
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Liverpool remain top despite defeat but are now just two clear of Chelsea, with Manchester City six points back but with two games in hand and a better goal difference.
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