Drogba delivers reliable service

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Chelsea 2 Liverpool 0:PREDICTABILITY WAS a delight for Chelsea. The side must reduce their opponents to fatalism when they have this durability and efficiency about them. Liverpool, eager as they were in the hunt for revival in the Premier League, were well contained.

Hilario, deputising for a suspended Petr Cech, did not have an outstanding save to make until dealing with a late Steven Gerrard effort.

It must be a pleasure to the manager, Carlo Ancelotti, that there is searing reliability to Didier Drogba these days. He set up both goals. Liverpool’s effort was great and they may therefore be all the more despondent that they have been defeated for the third time in the league. Rafael Benitez’s side stand fifth in the table, but Manchester City will overtake them and Arsenal if they are not beaten at Villa Park this evening.

This was precisely the type of victory Chelsea have counted on ever since Jose Mourinho’s time. Ancelotti cannot mind following in such footsteps since this win puts the club two points clear at the top of the Premier League.

There seems to have been too little money at his disposal for the Italian to put his imprint on the team. Then again, even stagnation could have been a delight so long as it meant Drogba was still on the payroll. The histrionics when he goes down, as he did here, and looks terribly wounded will annoy neutrals, but Chelsea fans can never have the slightest problem in ignoring that trait.

Liverpool were undone by the sheer fluency with which Chelsea broke for their opener after an hour. Once Frank Lampard had won the ball there was speed and intent on the break. Passes from Michael Essien and Deco took play down the left and Drogba’s perfect low cross was converted by Nicolas Anelka at the far post.

The Ivorian was just as unsparing in stoppage time. His determination and finesse allowed him to roll the ball in from the right for the substitute Florent Malouda to snuff out any flickering hope in the visitors. This campaign, which includes last week’s defeat away to Fiorentina in the Champions League, is turning into a trial for Liverpool.

Followers of the team will go on mourning the loss of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid, but the irony is this defeat offered encouragement. Centre back Jamie Carragher was much better than he has been of late. Liverpool’s midfield also had a degree of enterprise.

Chelsea, indeed, might be most gratified of all by their steeliness. Onlookers nearly forgot what a terror Fernando Torres has been recently. The striker had been irrepressible in piling up eight league goals before he got to this ground. At Stamford Bridge, though, he was to be subdued by a defence in which John Terry dominated.

The Spain attacker did get an opportunity after 40 minutes but he headed a Dirk Kuyt cross well within the reach of Hilario. At that stage, Chelsea were similarly lenient. Anelka permitted Pepe Reina a much too simple save from his header after being picked out by Essien.

Ancelotti’s side were seldom in jeopardy. In the last few moments of the first half, Albert Riera sought to score with a free-kick from 40 yards. The element of surprise may have been the only advantage he enjoyed, but Hilario was alert enough to tip that effort round the post.

Neither team could be considered outstanding. Ancelotti did not have to denounce his side as he had in the wake of defeat to Wigan and a tight victory over Apoel Nicosia, but he will still be wondering how he can sustain the slickness that was displayed only spasmodically by his squad here.

Benitez, too, has had it in mind to develop Liverpool. Perhaps he supposed he could take the final step that would give Anfield the championship for the first time since 1990, but the project is evidently at an early stage. The preference for attacking full backs is laudable, yet the immediate requirement is for more solidity.

Ancelotti has been luckier. A side in decline under Luiz Felipe Scolari underwent remedial work during the caretaker management of Guus Hiddink. There were no crises for Ancelotti to face, and his main regret must presumably be that he could add just one proven player, Yuri Zhirkov, to the squad.

That is not such a handicap given the means he inherited. A year or two from now, the need for rebuilding will be far more obvious, but this Chelsea team seems to have the means to press on with a potent bid for the title this season.

• Guardian Service