Liverpool have exerted a degree of revenge for Saturday's FA Cup final defeat to Chelsea by blitzing their way to a three-goal half-time lead at Anfield this evening.
After a limp opening 10 minutes, Luis Suarez had the game's first real chance, exchanging passes with Andy Carroll but dragging his effort wide of the post.
Visiting Chelsea hit the woodwork soon after when Branislav Ivanovic was left unmarked at a corner. The Serbian should have found the back of Pepe Reina's net but headed against the upright.
The hosts then took advantage of Ivanovic's wasted opportunity by going ahead moments later. Suarez broke clear down the right and advanced into the area, holding off the challenge of Oriol Romeu before his pullback was bundled into his own net by Michael Essien.
The Reds doubled their advantage six minutes later when John Terry should have cut out a through ball down the middle. However, the England centre-back slipped, allowing Jordan Henderson to go through one-on-one with Ross Turnbull and pass into the far corner.
It went from bad to worse for the Blues when Carroll was left unmarked at the back post from a corner. The big forward headed into the turf for centre-back Daniel Agger to then loop a header over three Chelsea men on the line.
Terry's nightmarish evening continued when he allowed Carroll to run free on goal, the target man was this time denied by Turnbull, however.
Former Red Fernando Torres came within inches of pulling one back before the interval but his bullet effort from a tight angle cannoned back off the underside off the crossbar.
There was still time for Liverpool to go for a fourth and Stewart Downing, without a goal this season, smacked Turnbull's crossbar late on in the half.
They had the perfect chance to make it four in added-on time in the half when Carroll was adjudged to have been brought down by Ivanovic. Downing was handed the chance from 12 yards to convert but he hit the foot of the post and the lead remained at three.
Three points for Liverpool will see them close within a point of Merseyside rivals Everton ahead of Sunday's final day of the season.
Pascal Lemesre
