Chelsea and Jose Mourinho delivered a huge twist in the Premier League title race by beating Liverpool 2-0 at Anfield.
A Steven Gerrard slip just before half-time gifted Demba Ba with a free run on goal, which the Senegalese duly capitalised on.
And as the Reds poured forward late on, Chelsea took full advantage as Fernando Torres presented Willian the simple task of making it two.
Brendan Rodgers’ side still top the table by two points but Manchester City are six behind – with two games in hand – ahead of their trip to Crystal Palace later today.
Visiting boss Jose Mourinho hinted at a ‘weakened’ team and although his XI included debutant Tomas Kalas; Frank Lampard, Branislav Ivanovic and John Obi Mikel all started.
The Reds dominated possession for large periods of the first-half, without really threatening Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.
Arguably their best chance fell to defender Mamadou Sakho who fired over from a Luis Suarez pull-back, before Philippe Coutinho volleyed into the side-netting.
But disaster struck for the home side when skipper Gerrard slipped after taking a heavy touch that put the ball into Ba’s path, leaving the Chelsea striker with a free run on goal.
And he made no mistake, slotting past Simon Mignolet in the Liverpool goal in first-half stoppage time.
Ironically, the Blues had been pulled up by referee Martin Atkinson for wasting time throughout the opening period but they remarkably went in infront at the break.
The hosts continued to control the game in the second-half period but struggled to break down the Chelsea back-line.
Schwarzer comfortably dealt with Gerrard’s long-range effort before the Reds’ captain headed straight at the veteran Australian.
Daniel Sturridge – who has been out with injury – was thrown on alongside fellow striker Iago Aspas, as Liverpool went for broke.
But their desperate attempts were to no avail, as Chelsea delivered a late knockout blow through substitute Willian.