Jose Mourinho's side weathered an early storm from its visitors before killing off the game with goals in either half from William Gallas and Hernan Crespo.

Chelsea is now 15 points clear of its nearest challengers Manchester United and an astonishing 21 points ahead of Liverpool, whose title ambitions have now been extinguished.

Rafael Benitez's team performed creditably enough at Stamford Bridge but its lack of a cutting edge cost it dearly and its frustrations boiled over late on when goalkeeper Jose Reina was sent off for clashing with Arjen Robben.

It reveals much of Mourinho's exalted standards that Chelsea entered this game in a mini-crisis- two games without a win.

Liverpool needed that reassurance.

The Merseysiders may have the measure of Chelsea in Europe but domestically their record is as dismal as anyone's, having lost seven of the previous 11 meetings between the two clubs.

The match quickly settled into a furious pace, although it was Liverpool who adapted quicker.

Sami Hyypia and Jamie Carragher both should have done better with headers from corners whipped in by Steven Gerrard, although the best chance fell to Peter Crouch in the 20th minute when he headed over from Jean-Arne Riise's dinked cross.

Chelsea was unusually rattled, its frustrations epitomized by Crespo, whose forward runs were continually thwarted by offside flags. Enditem

(Source: Shenzhen Daily/Agencies)