Reds have last laugh with win at Chelsea

Kenny Dalglish masterminded a 1-0 victory over Chelsea on Torres' debut for the club (Pics © Trinity Mirror)

A second-half goal from Raul Meireles ensured Liverpool had the last laugh over Fernando Torres, securing a 1-0 win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on the Spaniard’s debut.

All the hype before the game surrounded the striker following his record £50m move to Chelsea on deadline day. Liverpool fans taunted the former Kop idol and brandished banners displaying their anger at the manner of his departure.

But much to the delight of the travelling supporters, he was substituted after just 65 minutes as the Reds’ three-man defence - led by the returning Jamie Carragher - nullified Chelsea’s formidable attacking line.

And less than five minutes after Torres departed, the fans’ joy was complete as Meireles steered home a volley to score his fourth goal in five games and win the game for Kenny Dalglish’s side.

Dalglish was keen to concentrate on his team rather than talk of his former No9, and it showed, as the rejuvenated Reds were deserved winners and recorded their fourth straight victory and clean sheet.

While Chelsea had no hesitation giving Torres his
debut, Dalglish decided to keep £22m signing Luis
Suarez on the bench and set up his side to frustrate
Chelsea.

However Maxi Rodriguez appeared to forget about
Torres’ switch as he played a pass straight to his
former team-mate, and was lucky that the opportunity
was wasted.

Maxi should have given Liverpool the lead just after the
half-hour mark when Steven Gerrard’s cross found him
four yards out but he contrived to hit the crossbar with
the goalkeeper stranded.

With the hosts struggling to penetrate Liverpool’s
resolute defence, Ancelotti decided to call time on
Torres’ debut, and just three minutes later the visitors
were ahead.

Petr Cech and Branislav Ivanovic had already suffered one breakdown in communication that led to heated words between the players and on 69 minutes there was another, this time much more costly.

Dirk Kuyt's presence in the box following Gerrard's cross created uncertainty and Meireles arrived to score and continue his rich vein of form.

The style with which they secured this latest victory has furthered claims for Dalglish to be given the job beyond the end of the season.

Liverpool move up to sixth place and are now just six points adrift of the top four and a UEFA Champions League spot, which seemed so unlikely at the turn of the year.

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