Liverpool started the better of the sides and raided Chelsea's penalty area with several crosses that came to nothing. The home side tried to carve out chances, but neither Michael Ballack nor Deco could find the pass to unlock Liverpool's rearguard.
The teams were cancelling each other out with both sides finding it difficult to create goal scoring opportunities. The best chance of the half came just before the half hour mark when Nicholas Anelka found space in the visitor's penalty area, but couldn't guide his header beyond Pepe Reina.
Chelsea Looked the Greater Threat
Chelsea looked the most likely to score and Ballack almost capitalised on Liverpool's vulnerability at set-pieces, but the German was unable to keep his header down. Michael Essien then brought a save out of Reina after a second bite at the cherry. At the other end Fernando Torres might have done better with a header, but the league's top scorer couldn't get enough of his head to the ball to trouble Henrique Hilario, deputising for the suspended Petr Cech in the Chelsea goal.
The Chelsea keeper was called into action a minute before the break when he reacted late to turn Albert Riera's thumping free-kick round the post. Liverpool felt they should have had a penalty from the resulting corner, but Drogba's lean on Martin Skertl went unnoticed by the match officials.
The second half began as the first with Liverpool applying most of the early pressure, but again it was Chelsea that came closest to opening the scoring. A rasping shot from Branislav Ivanisovic tested Reina, but the Liverpool keeper was equal to it and got down well to smother the ball.
Anelka Breaks the Deadlock
The home team did break the deadlock on the hour mark. Javier Mascherano conceded possession just inside the oppositions half and when the ball found its way to Drogba down the Liverpool left, he whipped an inviting cross over for Anelka to finish on the half-volley.
For the final half an hour Liverpool probed and prodded at Chelsea's rearguard, but the Blues solid back-four dealt comfortably with everything that was thrown at them and could not be penetrated. The closest the away side came was when Gerrard almost burst through, but a last ditch clearance from Ashley Cole thwarted the danger.
Liverpool might have equalised with ten minutes left. Gerrard again broke into the box and when John Terry's block fell to Torres the Spaniard was unable to steer his left foot shot on target.
Malouda Seals Win
Chelsea sealed the victory on the 90 minute mark. Drogba this time collected the ball on the right and turned Jamie Carragher to get to the bi-line and cut back for Florent Malouda to tap in an easy finish.
Yossi Benayoun might have pulled one back a minute later, but with only the keeper to beat screwed his shot beyond the far post. Hilario, voted man of the match, then saved brilliantly from Gerrard to ensure he kept a clean sheet.
Teams
Chelsea: Henrique Hilario, John Terry, Ricardo Carvalho, Ashley Cole, Branislav Ivanisovic Michael Ballack, Michael Essien, Deco (Malouda 75), Nicholas Anelka, Didier Drogba
Liverpool: Jose Reina, Glen Johnson, Jamie Carragher, Martin Skertl, Emiliano Insua (Fabio Aurelio 83), Javier Mascherano, Lucas Leiva (Ryan Babel 75), Dirk Kuyt Albert Riera (Yossi Benayoun 66), Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres
Goals: Anelka (60), Malouda (90)
Yellow Cards: Essien (44), Gerrard (76)
Referee: Mike Riley
Attendance: 41732
