Liverpool 2-1

Independent:

Liverpool 1 - 2 Chelsea

Grief for Steven Gerrard as Diego Costa slips in to keep Blues unbeaten record intact
Tim Rich

Although the title had been lost in the final furlong last season, Liverpool had re-established themselves among the Premier League’s elite. There would be the Champions’ League money, another round of squad strengthening and then who knew where they might go?
Seven months later, there would have been two sources of frustration racing through Gerrard’s mind; the two shots  handled by Gary Cahill in the Chelsea area that were both obvious penalties and the knowledge that Liverpool, 15 points behind Chelsea, were out of the title race by November.
The fear is that Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool might be like Kenny Dalglish’s Blackburn or the Newcastle of Kevin Keegan; clubs that had one shot at the championship before fading. The deal the Liverpool manager did this week, essentially sacrificing the Champions’ League fixture in Madrid for this game, was an admission that Liverpool lack the resources to fight on two fronts.
Liverpool actually played better against Real than they did in the match they had targeted at Anfield. As they watched Dejan Lovren flounder at the heart of the defence and Mario Balotelli playing another minor role in a major game, Kolo Touré and Fabio Borini, both of whom had been hugely impressive in Madrid, must have wondered about the wisdom of it all. 
Keeping Emre Can was a decision that was vindicated by a fine display and the opening goal, although the decision to bring him off was jeered by the home crowd, the first moment of dissent Rodgers has experienced since succeeding Dalglish.
Can had the confidence to shoot early and often. His first had struck John Terry’s arm and deflected wide. The second hit Cahill and left Thibaut Courtois utterly helpless. Had Liverpool scored this early against Chelsea in April, they would probably have won the title.
For Chelsea’s manager there was never any sense that this goal would be decisive. “I am not afraid to go behind,” Jose Mourinho reflected. “This team is very stable and when they scored it was not a drama for me or for my team. 
“The way they performed in the second half was an expression of ambition and self-belief. I do not believe we will go through the season unbeaten but, if we do lose a game, it will not have an impact.” Chelsea deserved to be level but there was a lingering irony about the manner in which they equalised. Mourinho has never quite forgotten Luis Garcia’s ‘ghost goal’ that denied Chelsea a place in the European Cup final nine years ago. Here, at the same goal beneath the Kop, Simon Mignolet appeared to have brilliantly saved Cahill’s header but the sensors detected it had crossed the line.
Liverpool’s composure appeared to dissolve. For a quarter of an hour in the first half, they appeared not to know how to clear their own lines. The ball kept coming back towards Mignolet and Mourinho would have been angered that Chelsea had not made more of their superiority, wonderfully co-ordinated by Nemanja Matic.
Cesar Azpilicueta drove down the Chelsea left flank and delivered a cross that Mignolet could only push out into Diego Costa’s path. Given his form, there was only one possible outcome and Chelsea’s control was complete until, in the final moments, Gerrard’s shot struck Cahill’s arm. The Chelsea fans were not the only ones mocking Liverpool’s captain. A horse called Gerrard’s Slip was running in the 12.40 at Doncaster. It finished 11th.

Liverpool (4-3-3): Mignolet; Johnson, Skrtel, Lovren, Moreno; Can (Allen, 70), Gerrard, Henderson; Sterling, Balotelli (Lambert, 79), Coutinho (Borini, 70).

Chelsea (4-3-2-1): Courtois; Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, Azpilicueta; Matic, Fabregas, Ramires (Willian, 54); Oscar, Hazard (Filipe Luis, 90); Costa (Drogba, 90)

Referee: Anthony Taylor.
Man of the match: Matic (Chelsea)
Match rating: 7/10

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Guardian:
Chelsea’s Diego Costa completes handy comeback win over Liverpool
Liverpool 1 - 2 Chelsea

Daniel Taylor at Anfield

This time there was no need for José Mourinho to worry unduly about Chelsea’s opponents. There was no strategic time-wasting and none of the ultra-defensive tactics that led to Brendan Rodgers accusing him of “parking two buses” in front of goal when the sides met last season. Liverpool, to put it bluntly, do not inspire that kind of trepidation any more and Chelsea could dismantle them without any complaints about their methods.
They did it with the look of champions-in-waiting whereas it was difficult at times to remember that Rodgers had actually rested seven of these players when Liverpool lost to Real Madrid in midweek. Mario Balotelli’s half-hearted efforts are becoming the norm at Anfield but it was rare to see Steven Gerrard play with such diminished qualities. Chelsea’s fans relentlessly reminded Gerrard of his infamous mistake from this fixture last season and there was another dose of schadenfreude in the form of a horse by the name of Gerrard’s Slip running in the 12.40 at Doncaster. Nothing, however, could have hurt the Liverpool captain more than his own performance and the way his team were overwhelmed.
It left Liverpool 15 points off their opponents at the top of the league and, for the first time, there was open dissent from the crowd towards Rodgers, angrily objecting to his decision to take off Philippe Coutinho and Emre Can for Fabio Borini and Joe Allen shortly after Diego Costa had scored Chelsea’s second goal. Can had opened the scoring with a deflected shot in the ninth minute but he and Coutinho, in fairness to Rodgers, had faded badly. The bigger mystery was how Balotelli lasted so long. When he was substituted later on, the away end serenaded him with “Fernando Torres, he’s better than you” – and it’s not as if Chelsea’s fans ever properly rated Torres.
Chelsea did have to withstand some late pressure and Liverpool have legitimate grievances about that moment, after 87 minutes, when Gary Cahill blocked a Gerrard shot with his hand. The referee, Anthony Taylor, was guilty of missing a clear penalty but Rodgers was stretching the truth when he tried to argue a draw would have been an accurate assessment of how the contest went. The truth is that Chelsea were the more rounded side for at least three-quarters of the game. They played with control and know-how, with Nemanja Matic outstanding in midfield and Cesc Fàbregas only marginally subdued by Jordan Henderson’s man-marking. Fàbregas, Mourinho revealed afterwards, had played despite a hamstring injury and may now miss a couple of matches. The same applies to Ramires, with a groin problem. “They were really in trouble but they put themselves there for the team,” Mourinho said. It typified the spirit of his side.
Chelsea had to show all their competitive courage, too, bearing in mind the way the game started, with Can’s 25-yard shot taking a deflection off Cahill to wrong-foot Thibaut Courtois for the early breakthrough. Unfortunately for Liverpool, their vulnerability from set pieces will always encourage opponents and once again it was a significant factor in everything unravelling. The equaliser came five minutes later from a corner, swung over by Fàbregas and initially headed on by Costa. John Terry had the first attempt at goal and Simon Mignolet’s reflex save fell to Cahill via a slight touch off Matic. This time the goalline technology showed Cahill’s shot had squeezed past Liverpool’s goalkeeper. What an indictment for the home side that, in a matter of seconds, four Chelsea players had touched the ball in the six-yard area without a defender getting near.
For the rest of the first half it was startling to see so many unforced errors from Liverpool’s players and so much panic in the face of Chelsea pressure. Chelsea out-passed and outplayed them and, even though there were no more goals, it was rare to see a Liverpool side look so hassled on their own pitch. Gerrard could be seen misplacing passes, kicking the ball against Henderson at one point, but it was his lack of mobility that was shocking and the frequency with which opponents turned past him.
Balotelli was ineffectual and frustratingly lazy whereas Rodgers surely made a mistake selecting Dejan Lovren when Kolo Touré had excelled in the Bernabéu. Lovren did little to alter the view his £20m acquisition has been dismal business on Liverpool’s part. He was signed to bring some leadership to the Liverpool defence but there was absolutely none and his day could probably be summed up by the moment Oscar treated him to a nutmeg. Eden Hazard later did the same on Henderson.
Hazard had the beating of Glen Johnson while Branislav Ivanovic, a right-back, apparently, had long spells operating as an extra forward and Costa, this battering-ram of a striker, did everything he could to unsettle Liverpool’s defence. Costa gives the impression sometimes that he cannot see a belt without punching below it. He seemed determined to embroil Martin Skrtel in a running feud and, by half-time, they were having to be held apart.
More importantly, the Spain international is a lethal finisher. Midway through the second half, César Azpilicueta ran down the left, kept the ball in play and turned brilliantly inside Coutinho. Mignolet turned his effort away but the loose ball flicked off Alberto Moreno into Costa’s path. His finish was drilled in and when the game finished in a moment of tragicomedy – Mignolet kicking a simple backpass behind his goal – Liverpool were left to reflect how far they fallen since the last occasion Chelsea were in town.

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Telegraph:

Liverpool 1 Chelsea 2: Diego Costa scores winner as league leaders beat hosts' 'first-team'
Jason Burt

Jose Mourinho had gleefully regaled that the last time Chelsea arrived in Liverpool they did so determined not be the “clowns” in an Anfield circus that appeared set to roll up, roll up and deliver Brendan Rodgers’ side as champions.
Chelsea custard-pied that celebration but they are now, despite their protestations, in something of a carnival procession of their own.Mourinho is the circus master and the martinet conducting an increasingly pyrotechnic approach to this title contest.
Can anyone stop Chelsea? It does not appear likely. Last time Chelsea came and spoiled and, as Rodgers said, “parked two buses” with time wasting and fortune in their favour as Steven Gerrard slipped – and the rest became history. As the Chelsea fans reminded everyone.
This time there was no need for that. Chelsea were simply too good, too strong with that powerful spine of Thibaut Courtois, John Terry, Nemanja Matic and, above all, the charismatically threatening Diego Costa – despite his woollen gloves – creating such an environment of power and belief that they may simply be unstoppable.
The new Invincibles? It is possible even as Mourinho understandably continues to tut ‘no’ and insist the bad times will come – although he also expects them not to last too long. One match, maybe. But, rationally, Chelsea might well go through this league season unbeaten.
Remember they have now been to both Manchester clubs and both Liverpool clubs and never looked like losing in any of those matches.
If Mourinho is the master then Costa is his spiky apprentice. The Spaniard relishes the battle and he deliberately provoked Martin Sktrel into a running skirmish that had the inevitable consequence. Costa became the match winner – striking his 10th goal overall in his first season in this league. At one point the back of his shirt was shredded – but it was Liverpool’s hopes that were ripped up.
Rodgers’ team now flounder 15 points behind Chelsea. Any pretence of a title challenge has gone. It is now about desperately trying to re-emerge into that top four and Rodgers is coming under increasing scrutiny. “For us the focus is getting into the top four and that was always the aim for us giving the changes we have had, he said. “It’s a difficult moment.”
It has been a difficult week. Defeat to Newcastle United followed by the controversy over fielding a weakened team – and it was weakened despite his continuing argument that it was not – in the defeat by Real Madrid and now this loss to Chelsea. He did not get the vindication.
Rodgers is taking it on the chin, and he has to, but he also has to try and eke better performances out of some of his players who are badly letting him and Liverpool down at the moment.
Chief among those remains Mario Balotelli. Daniel Sturridge talked optimistically about returning from injury after the international break and although Rodgers sounded more cautious he cannot return soon enough.
Then there is Dejan Lovren who was such a bag of nerves in defence that it affected his team-mates including goalkeeper Simon Mignolet. The list goes on. Few of the new signings have convinced.
Liverpool will understandably, rightly dwell on a penalty that was not given – and should have been – after referee Anthony Taylor ignored the pleas when Gary Cahill clearly handled Gerrard’s shot (why always him?) but even if they had scored who is to say that Chelsea would not, again, have stepped up a gear to claim the points? No one would have bet against that.
“It is bitterly disappointing for us it is a big decision in a big game that we did not get,” Rodgers said. “It was not even a doubt. It was a clear, clear handball.” It was.
This was that touch of champions-elect from Mourinho’s team and the manager has the assured look of a man who expects. He talked of an “expression of ambition” of his team never wanting to simply “accept a point at Anfield” as others would have done.
Mourinho expects success and even when Chelsea fell behind, through Emre Can’s first goal for Liverpool, as the midfielder strode forward to strike from distance, taking a heavy deflection of Cahill to beat Courtois, there was no sense of panic. Instead that panic belonged to Liverpool.
“When they scored it was not a drama for me, not a drama for the team,” Mourinho said. Pre-match he had talked about the “ABC” of football and there was a simple explanation to this result. His team defended and attacked better than their opponents and had that core belief that adversity was simply a fleeting challenge rather than a fatal blow.
Even so Mourinho will have afforded himself a smile at the manner in which Chelsea drew level – with the award being made through goal-line technology. It came, of course, at the Kop end where Luis García had so famously scored that so-called ‘ghost goal’ in the epic Champions League semi-final between these two clubs a decade ago.
This time the impressive Oscar – how he can pick a pass and harry opponents – met a corner and headed goalwards for Terry to direct another header that was superbly beaten out by Mignolet. The ball deflected off Matic to Cahill who stabbed it towards the net.
Mignolet again saved but his momentum took him back and the ball, just, crossed the line. Even so why were so many Chelsea players queuing up unchallenged to beat the goalkeeper?
Liverpool lost a bit more belief even if there were improved performances from Gerrard, Raheem Sterling and Philippe Coutinho, who almost beat Courtois after an exhilarating run and a powerful low shot.
But it would be Chelsea who scored with Cesar Azpilicueta scampering down the left and, again only just, keeping the ball in to whip in a cross that Mignolet deflected out. Unfortunately it was collected by Costa who with that instant, predatory instinct fired the ball across and into the net.
“He is back,” a satisfied Mourinho, who later claimed that another Spaniard Cesc Fabregas is unfit for international duty, said simply.
Costa, his manager and Chelsea look ominous. There is no clowning around.

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Times:

Defeat to Chelsea hastens Liverpool’s downward trajectory
Liverpool 1 Chelsea 2

Tony Barrett

Victory for Chelsea at Anfield did not destroy Liverpool’s dreams this time, it merely underlined how they have progressed since their last meeting six months earlier and how their opponents have regressed. In April, the title had been Liverpool’s to lose, which they managed to do, and although it is only early November it is Chelsea who occupy the role of champions elect.
Unlike last time, there was nothing unfortunate about Liverpool’s defeat. There had been no slips and the bus had not been parked. After going behind to Emre Can’s first Liverpool goal, Chelsea were simply the better side, with their overall superiority rewarded through goals from Gary Cahill and Diego Costa. Liverpool had a claim for a late penalty turned down when Cahill appeared to block Steven Gerrard’s shot with his hand but they had no other cause for complaint.
After he fielded a weakened team against Real Madrid on Tuesday, Rodgers opted for a more familiar starting line-up with Gerrard, Raheem Sterling, Glen Johnson, Dejan Lovren, Philippe Coutinho and Mario Balotelli all restored to the Liverpool side. The changes worked initially, with Liverpool finding space between Chelsea’s midfield and defence, a trend that was established as early as the first minute when Can’s shot looped wide following a deflection off John Terry.
Surprisingly, given the presence of Nemanja Matic and Jose Mourinho’s renowned ability to deny opponents space, Chelsea continued to allow Liverpool room to play. Can, operating in an advanced midfield role, recognised the weakness and turned it to his advantage by occupying the edge of Chelsea’s penalty area, a tactic which allowed Liverpool to take the lead after nine minutes.
Once again Can’s shot from 25 yards was deflected, this time off Cahill, but the ricochet left Thibaut Courtois wrong-footed as the ball sped into the net. Chelsea had been undone by their own early failings but equally Liverpool had benefitted from their own ambition: the move that led up to the goal featured 24 passes involving ten players. Having breached Chelsea’s defence, the question was how long, if at all, Liverpool would be able to hold on to their lead.
In the event, it lasted only five minutes as Chelsea took advantage of Liverpool’s inability to deal with set pieces. Allowing Costa a free header from Cesc Fabregas’s corner exposed the weakness and it was further highlighted by John Terry’s ensuing header, again unchallenged, which Simon Mignolet clawed out only to carry the ball over his goal line after Cahill fired the rebound goalwards.
Balotelli then had a goal correctly disallowed from off-side and Sterling had a claim for a penalty turned down by Anthony Taylor, the referee, after Cahill appeared to block the winger’s shot with his arm. At the opposite end, Eden Hazard was a constant threat, cutting in from the left flank and getting on the end of chances without taking advantage of them. In the main, though, the first half was characterised by the physicality of both sides, emphasised by the running battle between Costa and Martin Skrtel, which occupied Taylor throughout.
Liverpool needed the interval most, having lost their way towards the end of the half. The raggedness of their play allowed Chelsea to dominate territorially without having to hit top gear as their opponents seemed to run out of energy and ideas. Although Courtois saved well from Sterling after 53 minutes the course of the match had long since turned in Chelsea’s favour and the league leaders emphasied their growing authority by taking the lead through Costa’s tenth goal of the season.
The forward took all of the plaudits after sweeping past Mignolet at the far post but he owed much to Cesar Azpilicueta whose adventure and never-say-die attitude created the opportunity. First, the full back’s endeavour allowed him to keep the ball in play before slaloming past Coutinho and crossing for Costa to score with customary ease. There were 23 minutes remaining but Liverpool rarely threatened an equaliser.
The only moment of real controversy came when Cahill seemed to block Gerrard’s left-footed shot with his arm. Taylor waved play on, to Gerrard’s obvious frustration, and the visitors held on without any further fuss. As he left the pitch, Gerrard berated the referee, telling him to watch a replay of the incident. At least this time, the Liverpool captain felt able to hold someone else responsible for defeat to Chelsea.

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Mail:

Liverpool 1-2 Chelsea: Diego Costa lashes home winner for visitors as Jose Mourinho has the last laugh at Anfield again

By Rob Draper

No longer the circus clowns, Chelsea returned to Anfield as the ringmaster running the show.
Jose Mourinho famously refused to accept the bit-part role here back in April, when Chelsea’s 2-0 win at Anfield derailed Liverpool’s title ambitions.
Then, the Chelsea manager said he had the suspicion his team were being disregarded as something akin to a peripheral comic turn in Liverpool’s prospective title celebration. He duly sent out an under-strength side to defend assiduously, won the game and hauled down Anfield’s Big Top.
But seven months on Chelsea are a different proposition. They are now the Premier League’s dominant force - 15 points clear of Liverpool now - while it is Brendan Rodgers who suddenly appears a little exposed.
When last week he gambled by leaving seven players out at the Bernabeu – all seven returned – he appeared to have escaped ignominy with an honourable 1-0 defeat. But on Saturday, when he removed Philippe Coutinho and Emre Can on 70 minutes, boos resounded around Anfield.
Rodgers has built up enough goodwill here to survive a brief outburst of frustration but perhaps a slither of belief has been eroded.
But Mourinho was able to assume the role to which he is suited: that of dominant alpha male. ‘It was fantastic performance and an expression of ambition,’ he said. ‘In the second half, against Liverpool, at Anfield, every team accepts a point as a good result.
'My team didn’t accept that, so the way they performed in the second half was an expression of that ambition and self-belief they have at the moment. Sometimes you get points and you don’t deserve but this is the case where the best team won.’
Gary Cahill did almost threw away their good work, leaning into a Steven Gerrard shot on 87 minutes with his arm when, when, for the second time in the afternoon, he somehow managed to avoid conceding a penalty.
Referee Anthony Taylor did not have one of his finest afternoons. In reality though, by that stage it was rare moment of un-ease for Chelsea even if it understandably irked Rodgers.
‘It’s bitterly disappointing for us,’ he said. ‘It’s a big decision in a big game which we didn’t get and it wasn’t even in doubt, it was a clear, clear handball and the referee had a clear look. My players gave everything today and if they weren’t going to get it from open play they certainly deserved it from the penalty spot. It is a difficult moment for us as we’re not getting the results and it’s been a tough week.’
Yet even when Chelsea fell behind here - and how Anfield roared when they did, hoping that the spirit of 2013-14 could be revived - you never felt that they had lost control of this game. Liverpool were a side seemingly always on the verge of a defensive breakdown, while their visitors appeared to be simply to biding their time to seize victory.
That said, it took time to achieve and that is to Liverpool’s credit. They were better than they have been, especially in those opening exchanges, when they energy of their game did hark back to last season and temporarily disrupted Chelsea’s progress.
They started in a frenzy. Emre Can’s first-minute shot was deflected wide by John Terry but when he tried again on nine minutes, Gary Cahill got in the way and diverted it past his keeper and Anfield once again roared with kind of belief that so energised the team last season.
This being Chelsea though, they were not swept away by the whirlwind. Cesc Fabregas, who like Ramires was playing with an injury which Mourinho said may cost them games later in the month, took the corner on 14 minutes which was met by Diego Costa who flicked on for John Terry to head from close range.
Simon Mignolet produced a superb reaction save and seemed to have done the same from Cahill’s scuffed shot from the rebound. But the goal-line technology showed the ball over the line. Of course, it all occurred in front of the Kop, scene of Luis Garcia’s ghost goal of folklore. This time, however, there was no debate. ‘Everyone knows this is truth and that is fantastic for us as professional and for the crowd, as they know it’s true, and for the referees,’ said Mourinho.
The same could not be said for the contentious decisions that followed. Raheem Sterling's mis-hit was stopped by the arm of a diving Cahill on 26 minutes but referee Taylor missed that and Alberto Moreno’s block with his arm on 36 minutes, another clear penalty of the three he should have awarded in the game.
Moreno’s misdemeanour came within an extraordinary spell of Chelsea pressure in which Liverpool simply could not get out of their half. Frustration reached a climax when Gerrard attempted to clear only to collide with Jordan Henderson and Anfield howled with indignation for, at the moment, it felt respite would never come.
Blocks from Glen Johnson- at least three – and Dejan Lovren were responsible for holding Chelsea at bay. All the while, Diego Costa and Martin Skrtel were conducting a battle that appeared to be a cross between heavyweight boxing and hand-to-hand wrestling.
If ever a team needed half time, it was Liverpool. But they did emerge for the second half somewhat calmer. True they needed a Lovren header to prevent Eden Hazard’s lovely chipped pass reaching Costa. But equally, when Sterling cut inside Ivanovic on 54 minutes, he forced a sharp save from Courtois.
The breakthrough came on 66 minutes when Cesar Azpilicueta admirably refused to give up on a lost cause and – just – kept the ball in when chasing down the left wing. He then brushed Philippe Coutinho aside on his way to goal. Mignolet deflected his cross but only into the path of Costa who, inside the penalty area, finished as expected.

MATCH FACTS
Liverpool: Mignolet 6, Johnson 6.5, Skrtel 7, Lovren 6, Moreno 6; Gerrard 7; Can 7 (Allen 70, 6), Henderson 6.5; Coutinho 6 (Borini 70, 6), Sterling 6.5, Balotelli 6 (Lambert 79). Subs: Jones, Toure, Lallana, Lucas.
Goals: Can 9.
Booked: Sterling, Balotelli.

Chelsea: Courtois 7.5; Ivanovic 7.5, Cahill 7.5, Terry 8, Azpilicueta 8; Matic 8.5, Fabregas 5.5, Ramires 6 (Willian 54, 6.5), Oscar 7, Hazard 8 (Luis 90), Costa 8 (Drogba 90). Subs: Cech, Zouma, Mikel, Remy.
Goals: Cahill 14, Costa 67.
Booked: Courtois, Ivanovic, Costa, Oscar, Matic.

Man of the match: Nemanja Matic.
Attendance: 44,698
Referee: Anthony Taylor.

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Mirror:

Liverpool 1-2 Chelsea: Blues come from behind at Anfield to extend Premier League lead

Prior to the first Premier League match of the weekend, Brendan Rodgers spoke about how his sidehad learned from their last encounter with Chelsea at Anfield - a game that put the final nail in the coffin of their title bid.
This season, Liverpool have been a long way off the pace as far as the race for top spot goes, sitting 12 points behind the season's runaway leaders before kick-off.
Jose Mourinho's side have already shown that they know how to manage the big occasions, picking up draws on the road at both Manchester clubs and winning comfortably against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.
After putting six past Everton at Goodison Park earlier in the season, the Blues went into today's fixture hoping to complete a six-point Merseyside double that would extend their unbeaten run this year to 11 games and open up a seven point lead over Southampton, who play later today.
As is so often the case when these teams meet, there was a zip to the proceedings as both sides attacked with great intent.
But with a point to prove after last year's defeat and back-to-back games in which they've failed to score against Newcastle and Real Madrid, it was the home side who started brighter - the much-maligned Mario Balotelli looking lively in the opening encounters.
After nine minutes, another of Rodgers' new signings broke the deadlock. Emre Can found acres of space in the heart of the opposition half to shoot from distance, his effort deflecting off Gary Cahill to curve over the wrong-footed Thibaut Courtois.
If there was an element of fortune about the goal, it must also be said that Chelsea had failed to learn their lesson after a similar effort just moments earlier when they also allowed the 20-year-old far too much time on the ball in a dangerous shooting area.
Chelsea proved why they've been so irresistible so far this year just five minutes later, using their immense height from a set piece to level the score.
After a great save by Simon Mignolet to deny John Terry's header, Cahill made up for his role in Liverpool's opener by striking home.
The Liverpool defence scrambled to clear as the game carried on momentarily, but the goal-line technology system alerted the referee that the ball had in fact crossed the line and the goal was awarded.
As the pace of the game refused to drop, Balotelli found himself free of the Blues backline and had the ball in the Chelsea goal five minutes later, but he had just strayed into an offside position and was denied a first Premier League goal for Liverpool.
The home side continued to find space to exploit in front of Chelsea's back four, with Raheem Sterling and Coutinho both fashioning decent chances.
But while Liverpool looked potent in open play, Chelsea continued to threaten from set pieces, which have proven to be a weakness for Rodgers' side all season.

As Hazard grew into the game, Chelsea began to wrestle territorial advantage and while the Reds remained solid at the back, they found themselves pegged back for large periods, with the weight of their counter attacking play falling on Sterling's shoulders.
In the final 15 minutes of the first half, the visitors were in the ascendancy and made chance after chance as they repeatedly robbed the ball from Liverpool in dangerous areas and penned them into their own penalty area, with Hazard having several sighters at Mignolet's goal.
Diego Costa has been so impressive this season and looked bright again today, but his performance in the first 45 minutes was marred by a continuation of the feud with Martin Skrtel that started when Spain played Serbia, and a heated exchange appeared to carry on as the players went down the tunnel.
However, the Spain striker, who had nine goals in eight Premier League appearances for Chelsea before today, nearly added to his tally with some improvised aerial acrobatics five minutes after the restart.
At the other end, Sterling cut in from the left to test Courtois, who was forced to make a great save, before Chelsea broke down the other end with Hazard - a passage of play that portrayed the end-to-end nature of so much of the game.
As the game wore on, Chelsea again began to dominate the proceedings without making any clear-cut chances.
In the 66th minute, Cesar Azpilicueta broke down the left-ahand side after a great pick out by Willian and beat Coutinho far too easily to drive into the box.
His shot was blocked by Mignolet, but the Belgian keeper could only parry it into the path of Costa, who showed how ruthless he can be in the opposition penalty area with his tenth goal of the season, despite having few clear-cut chances.
With the impetus on Liverpool in the final 15 minutes, Chelsea remained relatively comfortable, although Henderson went close with a fiercely struck volley that was deflected by Matic, who knew very little about it.
Another goalless afternoon for Mario Balotelli came to an end ten minutes from time after he was withdrawn for Rickie Lambert.

Despite being spurred on by the crowd as the clock counted down, the Reds struggled to do much damage once Chelsea settled in to protect their lead, with Courtois having little to do in the final minutes of the match.
However, there was a scare late on when Steven Gerrard's strike from distance struck Cahill's arm inside the box. A penalty could easily have been given, but the referee waved it away and Brendan Rodgers will be left to wonder 'what if'.
In the end, it was all a little too predictable. Liverpool looked vulnerable for the period before and after half time, and never really addressed it, offering Chelsea an advantage they were never likely to relinquish.
Chelsea deserved their victory, but Liverpool can point to the late penalty claim, when Gary Cahill clearly handled Steven Gerrard's shot and referee Anthony Taylor was standing barely yards away, but saw nothing.
On those moments are games turned, but really, despite that shout, the home side can have few complaints. Oh, how desperately they need Daniel Sturridge back, and the good news, he said before the game, he should return against Crystal Palace at the end of the month.

Teams
•Liverpool: Mignolet, Johnson, Skrtel, Lovren, Moreno, Henderson, Gerrard, Can, Sterling, Coutinho, Balotelli
•Chelsea: Courtois, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Matic, Fabregas, Ramires, Oscar, Hazard, Diego Costa

Next five fixtures
•Liverpool: Crystal Palace (A), Ludogorets (CL, A), Stoke (H), Leicester (A), Sunderland (H)
•Chelsea: West Brom (H), Schalke (CL, A), Sunderland (A), Spurs (H), Newcastle (A)

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Express:

Liverpool 1 - Chelsea 2: Deigo Costa secures Blues win at Anfield

SHIRT ripped, blue gloves by his side like a hungry boxer, Diego Costa was primed for war.
By: John Richardson 

There might be qualms about his nationality - born in Brazil and plays for Spain - but there are no doubts about his desire for Chelsea's cause.
When manager Jose Mourinho handed Atletico Madrid £32million in the summer, he was effectively opening up the safe which contains the Premier League title trophy.
When the going gets tough, the tough get going and they don't come much tougher than this 26-year-old street fighter.
It was a continual battle against Liverpool central defender Martin Skrtel, who isn't exactly slow in coming forward when there's a skirmish on the cards.
But it was Costa who had the final say with his 67th-minute winning goal. Cesar Azpilicueta just managed to keep the ball in before cutting into the box and when Simon Mignolet could only palm out the Spaniard's shot, Costa followed up for his 10th Premier League goal in nine starts.
Now he can put his feet up and rest those troublesome hamstrings, courtesy of Spain's agreement to leave the forward out of their latest European Championship qualifiers.
"He now has 15 days to be at the top of his game. Spain has made a fantastic decision," said Mourinho.
This was a throwback to the days of tribal footballing warfare - two clubs with a distinct dislike of one another and their respective cultures.
There has been plenty of modern history to stir the pot. Yesterday, the whole gripping scenario was played out in a highly charged atmosphere.
The Kop bellowed out for revenge for that fateful April day when a first title since 1990 was wrenched from their grip by a Mourinho side determined to be party poopers.
It meant that no Liverpool goal this season has been celebrated with such fervour as Emre Can's ninth-minute opener - his first for the club.
The German Under-21 midfielder, who survived manager Brendan Rodgers' seven-player turnaround from the midweek Champions League game against Real Madrid, was given licence to move forward by a strangely back-pedalling Chelsea.
With less than a minute on the clock, he exposed Chelsea's unwillingness to close down with a strike which deflected just wide.
Lessons hadn't been learned when Can once again accelerated towards Chelsea's goal unopposed - this time a ricochet off Gary Cahill looped past the stranded Thibaut Courtois.
The Anfield joy and glow lasted just five minutes as new technology ensured justice this time for Mourinho in front of The Kop.
The Portuguese has never forgotten or forgiven the Luis Garcia 'ghost goal' which nailed Chelsea's ambitions of reaching the 2005 Champions League final. He swears to this day that Liverpool's miracle of Istanbul should never have happened as Garcia's winner in the semi-final between the two sides didn't cross the line.
Fast forward 10 years and the much-lauded goal decision system did the job for a relieved Cahill.
Simon Mignolet performed heroics to claw out a John Terry header but Cahill's follow-up was deemed to have been carried over the line by the Belgian - referee Anthony Taylor in doubt until his piece of gadgetry sparked into life.
But Cahill was extremely fortunate to escape a strong penalty appeal two minutes from time when he leaned into a fierce drive from Steven Gerrard - and in front of the Kop.
"It was a clear handball." Rodgers stated. "But that's where we are at the moment. Nothing is going for us."
It most certainly isn't as the 15-point gap - more a chasm, really - has opened up between Chelsea and his side, who finished above them last season.
This was Liverpool's third defeat in a week - the frustration of the fans boiling over when Rodgers strangely substituted his best player, Philiipe Coutinho.
With just two wins in Liverpool's last eight league games, Rodgers must feel the world is closing in on him - a far cry from the bon homie which was around last season when Liverpool, fired by the goals of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge, were the most exciting show in town.
Once again Mario Balotelli sleep-walked through the game, his quickest move reserved for the moment when he was predictably substituted.
What a contrast to Costa, who left the field to a standing ovation from the Chelsea fans and respect from those of a Liverpool persuasion.

================

Star:

Liverpool 1 - Chelsea 2: Diego Costa strike keeps Blues in box seat
Paul Hetherington

The Liverpool boss made seven changes to his controversial midweek line-up against Real Madrid in the Champions League.
But Diego Costa's tenth goal of the season gave Chelsea a deserved victory and they are now 15 points clear of Liverpool.
The Premier League leaders also preserved their unbeaten record on another frustrating day for the Reds.
But it was Liverpool who struck first in the ninth minute with Emre Can being rewarded for his enterprise.
The midfielder produced the first shot of the match after only 33 seconds and that effort was deflected just wide.
And when Can tried again from 25 yards, another deflection gave Liverpool the lead.
The ball struck Gary Cahill and left Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois with no chance of making a save.
But five minutes later, Chelsea were level, with Cahill this time getting the ball into the net at the right end.
John Terry's header from a Cesc Fabregas corner was beaten out by Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet - but only as far as Cahill.
The England defender's shot appeared to have been saved by Mignolet but the keeper actually carried it over the line as he fell backwards.
Cahill's eventful start continued when he dived forward as Raheem Sterling shot and the ball hit him on the arm.
Liverpool's penalty appeals were ignored and when they stormed forward again, Philippe Coutinho's drive after an exciting run brought a fine save from Courtois.
But Chelsea gradually gained the upper hand, with Glen Johnson making a vital block against his former club to deny Eden Hazard.
Costa then sent an acrobatic, overhead effort over the bar in a full-blooded battle loaded with pace.
Courtois had to save well from Sterling, though, before Costa put Chelsea ahead in the 67th minute.
Cesar Azpilicueta was ruled to have kept the ball in play as he burst down the left and his cross was pushed out by Mignolet.
But unfortunately for Liverpool, it fell to master marksman Costa, who lashed the ball home.
Chelsea's lead was preserved by a vital block by man of the match Nemanja Matic from Jordan Henderson's drive.
And Liverpool were understandably annoyed when a Steven Gerrard drive two minutes from time hit Cahill on the arm with no penalty award.

Maribor 1-1

Independent:

Slovenians hold on for famous point as Eden Hazard misses late penalty

Maribor 1 Chelsea 1

GLENN MOORE


With Sporting Lisbon beating Schalke 04 victory would have booked Chelsea’s place in the knock-out stages but instead they were grateful not to suffer an embarrassing defeat against a team which has never won a home Champions League tie.

Maribor stunned Chelsea with a 47th-minute goal and could easily have doubled their lead before Nemanja Matic levelled. Chelsea, working much harder than they wanted to with Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off at Anfield looming, should then have won the match but a Diego Costa goal was wrongly chalked off, then Eden Hazard missed a late penalty. Chelsea now go to Schalke, to face former manager Robbie Di Matteo, still needing at least one more point, possibly more.

While Brendan Rodgers sent out his Capital One Cup side at the Bernabeu against Real Madrid on Tuesday Jose Mourinho fielded a strong XI. Prior to the match he said he felt teams like Chelsea should play a recognisable team as they had a responsibility to supporters in countries such as Slovenia which rarely host Champions League ties. Indeed, this is the first time a Slovenian club has made the group stages since Maribor in 1999. He was as good as his word selecting stars such as Eden Hazard, John Terry, Cesc Fabregas and Didier Drogba.

The latter was one of two changes from the team which defeated Maribor 6-0 at Stamford Bridge last month. The Ivorian replaced the injured Loic Remy, as he did on the night, Andre Schurrle came in for Oscar.

Maribor made three changes from that drubbing with the most interesting inclusion being Luka Zahovic, 18-year-old is the son of Zlatko, Slovenia’s greatest player post-independence, and now Maribor’s general manager. Luka is top scorer in Slovenia’s PrvaLiga but did did not have much opportunity to shine in the early stages as Chelsea took swift control. Kurt Zouma headed over after seven minutes, Drogba brought a good save from Jasmin Handanovic after ten, and it seemed just a matter of time.

But then Tavares burst past Matic and John Terry to bear down on goal. Zouma came across and although he failed to gain possession his tackle forced Tavares to slightly over-hit his pass to Zahovic who should have been handed a tap-in. Instead the youngster had to pull the ball back to Sintayehu Sallalich whose weak but goalbound shot was cleared by Zouma.

The near-miss gave Maribor confidence and also seemed to knock Chelsea out of their stride. Cech had to save long-range shots from Sallalich and Zeljko Filipovic as the game became more even. Willian, playing in the attacking central position usually filled by Oscar, was busy but, as usual, it was Hazard who looked most likely to break the deadlock. Drogba tested Handanovic from a free-kick won by the Belgian, then he brought a scrambling save from the ‘keeper himself. Otherwise, however, Chelsea were too narrow with even the full-backs coming inside, their passing was also uncommonly poor, notably Fabregas and Drogba.  Nemanja Matic celebrates his equaliser

With the game meandering the travelling support - reacting to Mourinho’s criticism of the Stamford Bridge volume levels - chanted ‘sing up Mourinho’ followed by ‘Jose, Jose, give us a song.’ Minutes later the half-time whistle blew and Mourinho stalked across the pitch towards the dressing room. He looked as if he was about to raise his voice to his players, but not in song.

When Chelsea re-emerged Diego Costa and Oscar were stripped for action. Schurrle, who had been especially poor, came off, along with Willian as Mourinho went to 4-4-2.

However, it was the hosts who transformed the game. Zouma headed away a cross, it fell to Agim Ibraimi, who took his time - aided by no sign of Hazard or Felipe Luis marking him - and curled a shot inside the far post. The ultras behind the goal at the river end went wild.

Mourinho responded by bringing on Ramires to play on the right flank, switching Branislav Ivanovic to the left, and effectively playing without a right-back. That nearly led to a second on 55 minutes as Mitja Viler galloped into the empty space and delivered a cross that Zahovic somehow failed to turn in at the far post.

Costa, set up by Hazard, had already shot over, and a Drogba header then flashed wide, but Chelsea were otherwise struggling to create clear chances. Then they won a corner and before they could take it Maribor coach Ante Simndza made a substitution. Maybe that broke his team’s concentration as John Terry was able to head the corner goalwards with Matic stabbing the ball over the line.  Eden Hazard sees his late penalty saved

The game was now high-tempo as Chelsea pressed for a winner and Maribor looked to counter-attack. Hazard at one end, and Tavares at the other, both missed good chances to put their team ahead. In between Handanovic made a fine save from Costa’s volley and Costa had what seemed a good goal disallowed.

The officials were already out of favour with Chelsea having turned down a penalty appeal when Oscar appeared to be tripped, but the Italian referee finally awarded a spot-kick when Viler brought down Hazard with five minutes left. The Belgian tried his usual delay technique, but Handanovic outfoxed him and saved.

Urged on by their disbelieving supporters Maribor held on for what will be recalled in these parts as a famous night, but one which will want to be quickly forgotten by Chelsea.


Maribor: Handanovic, Vler, Arghus, Rajcevic, Stojanovic, Sallaich, Filipovic, Mertelj, Ibraimi, Zahovic, Tavares

Substitutions: Mendy (Zahovic, 73), Bohar (Ibraimi, 90), N’Diaye (Sallalich, 90);

Chelsea:  Cech, Ivanovic, Zouma, Terry, Filipe Luis, Fabregas, Matic, Schurrle, Willian, Hazard, Drogba.

Substitutions: Oscar (Willian, 45), Costa (Schurrle, 45), Ramires (Luis, 56);

Booked: Maribor Stojanovic, Filipovic, Viler Chelsea Luis

Man of match Tavares

Match rating 8/10.

Possession: Maribor 36% Chelsea 64%.

Referee D Orsato (Italy)

Attendance 12,500.


================

Guardian:

Eden Hazard misses late penalty to deny Chelsea victory over Maribor

Dominic Fifield at the Stadion Ljudski


Chelsea remain unbeaten but what once was an irrepressible rhythm has been checked. There were long periods of this display which were desperately unimpressive against a team put to the sword a fortnight ago and the memories with which the Premier League leaders left Slovenia were more of a rare Eden Hazard penalty miss, an undeniably sloppy performance and even a show of dissatisfaction by the travelling support which clearly went unappreciated by those in the visitors’ dug-out. The mood music is not quite as positive.

José Mourinho’s post-match demeanour suggested as much. The chants bellowed by the 640 away fans just before the interval ‚ “José, give us a song” and “Sing up Mourinho” harked back to the manager’s criticisms of the atmosphere at Stamford Bridge during the derby against Queens Park Rangers on Saturday and, even if the chorus was tongue in cheek, the point had been made. The issue was apparently not up for discussion afterwards. “Forget it,” said Mourinho dismissively. More troubling for him was the complacency he had sensed in his players throughout the first period, an attitude he could not eradicate at source.

He suggested this was a managerial failing, though his squad will surely have been left feeling culpable. “We played very slowly, no intensity, no creativity, in the first half,” said Mourinho. “It was easy for Maribor to control the game and reach what they wanted to reach, a 0-0. In the second we played very well but they scored. Players are players. Many, many times surprises happen when people are not … I would not say ‘committed’ but not ‘fully focused’. When they believe the game can’t be a difficult one. Only when Maribor scored did the players realise the game was in danger. After that there was a fantastic reaction. We deserved to win, clearly. But football is football. People who give everything, like Maribor, deserve a bit of luck. They fought. They had a fantastic goalkeeper. And the referee’s team … didn’t have a good night.”

That was a reference to the Italian officials’ decision to rule out a Diego Costa goal for offside in the frenetic period after Nemanja Matic had restored parity, lumbering into the six-yard box to convert John Terry’s header from a corner from virtually on the goalline. Mourinho had been banned for a game and fined £13,500 back in 2009 for protesting a decision made by Daniele Orsato when he was manager of Internazionale, the second of two occasions when he had been sent to the stands by this official. Regardless, the offside flag was an oversight amid the visitors’ late pressure, with Costa having been flung on at the interval along with Oscar, to be joined by another Brazilian-born player in Ramires before the hour. The changes reflected desperation. Chelsea may still top the group but, given the nature of that 6-0 win over these opponents last month, this was an opportunity missed.

Not that the home side deserved anything less than the point they celebrated with gusto at the final whistle. Where they had initially felt vulnerable, scarred by those experiences in south-west London two weeks ago, they grew into the contest with Chelsea increasingly flummoxed by an inability to score early. From blanket possession the visitors’ concentration wavered.

Sintayehu Sallalich’s bursts offered the home side hope and Kurt Zouma had to clear a first-half shot from the goalline. Pepped by their increasingly impressive display, Maribor eventually chiselled out a lead when Mitja Viler’s deep cross found Agim Ibraimi unmarked in the corner of the penalty area. He curled a delightful shot over Petr Cech and into the corner and Chelsea were behind for the first time since 13 September.

Aleksander Rajcevic and, more critically, Luka Zahovic should even have extended that lead but the teenage striker skied over the bar from inside the six-yard box and the visitors were spared their humiliation. Matic prodded them level, Jasmin Handanovic did wonderfully well to deny Hazard and Costa before the Belgian was tripped by Viler’s planted leg. The penalty offered an opportunity to claim the tie, though Hazard’s attempt was weak and easily blocked by the goalkeeper.

Given the accusations of complacency, Chelsea probably did not merit morethan a stalemate. “I was conscious of it a bit before the game, but I was not successful in passing over that message,” added Mourinho. “If I cannot convincethe players that the game is difficult and you have to play from minute one, obviously it’s my responsibility.” That is a concern before a trip to an underperforming Liverpool side on Saturday lunchtime. As for the Champions League, qualification for the knockout stages will have to wait.


=============


Telegraph:

Maribor 1 Chelsea 1

Eden Hazard spot-kick miss costs Jose Mourinho's side in Slovenia

By Matt Law

Jose Mourinho did not feel much like singing after Chelsea narrowly avoided losing their unbeaten record to Champions League minnows Maribor.
The 600-odd Chelsea fans who travelled to Slovenia poked fun at manager Mourinho’s complaints that Stamford Bridge is too quiet with chants of 'Jose, Jose, give us a song'.
But this was not a night for laughing and joking, as Mourinho watched in anger and horror as his near full-strength Chelsea team failed to follow up their 6-0 home thrashing of Maribor with an away win that would have moved them to the brink of qualification to the knock-out stages.
Ibraimi stunned Chelsea with a superb opener for Maribor, before Nemanja Matic looked to have spared some of the embarrassment for Mourinho’s off-form team – until Eden Hazard failed to score a late penalty that would have won the game.
Asked about the reaction of the Chelsea fans, Mourinho tutted and replied: “Forget it.” He was more forthcoming on the fact the Chelsea players did not heed his warning of complacency ahead of the game.

“I was conscious of it a bit before the game, but I was not successful in passing over that message,” said Mourinho. “If I cannot convince the players that the game is difficult and you have to play from minute one, obviously it’s my responsibility.”
Mourinho had questioned the decision of Brendan Rodgers to make eight changes to his team against Real Madrid on Tuesday night ahead of Liverpool’s clash against Chelsea and made only four of his own in Maribor.
But the Blues only just fared better than Rodgers’ team, despite the fact captain John Terry, Cesc Fabregas, Hazard, Matic and Willian all started, and were joined at half-time by Diego Costa and Oscar.
Substitute Costa was flagged offside after putting the ball in the net with the scores at 1-1 and Mourinho claimed referee Daniele Orsato and his assistants got it wrong.
“We scored two goals, two very good goals,” said Mourinho. “The second goal, the referee decided to disallow, but it’s a clear goal.
“Normally, we should win because we scored two goals. But we have to accept it and to praise a fantastic stadium with lots of enthusiasm, for the people a fantastic night, and Maribor gave everything. And the referee’s team didn’t have a good night.” Mourinho has previous with Orsato, having been banned from the touchline for one game and fined £13,500 while in charge of Inter Milan in 2009 after being accused of insulting the official.
To simply blame the referee for Chelsea’s failure to win would be harsh on Maribor, who could and should have had a two-goal lead before Mourinho’s men responded.
Following a terrible first-half performance in which only Kurt Zouma and Didier Drogba went close, Mourinho made a double change but saw Ibraimi give the home side a shock lead five minutes after the restart.
The winger curled a wonderful shot from the right corner of the penalty area past Chelsea’s helpless goalkeeper Petr Cech, who Mourinho had started ahead of Thibaut Courtois.
Mourinho responded by sending on Ramires in place of Filipe Luis and reverted to three at the back. Costa was presented with a chance to level the scores, but uncharacteristically fired over the bar from eight yards.

If Costa’s miss was bad, then Luka Zahovic’s was abysmal as the Maribor forward squandered a wonderful opportunity to give his side a two-goal cushion.
Mitja Viler produced a superb cross from the left that found Zahovic just three yards out, but somehow he contrived to loft his close-range effort over the bar and could only hold his head in his hands.
Zahovic is the 18-year-old son of Maribor’s director of football and Slovenia’s most famous player Zlatko, and had scored four of the club’s previous five goals ahead of meeting Chelsea.

Zahovic was taken off in the 73rd minute after Oscar had won a corner with a deflected shot and the badly-timed substitution corresponded with Chelsea’s equaliser.
Fabregas took the corner, Terry headed the ball down and Matic stabbed the ball into the net from the goal-line.
Oscar then teed up Costa for a volley that goalkeeper Jasmin Handanovic had to palm over his crossbar, as Chelsea pushed for a second, and the Spain international put the ball in the net, but was flagged for offside.
Chelsea’s night was summed up in the dying minutes, when Hazard won what looked to be a match-winning penalty but produced a terrible spot-kick that was saved by Handanovic.
Mourinho embraced Maribor coach Ante Simundza at the final whistle and the Chelsea players applauded the travelling supporters who had been given little to shout about.


===========


Times:

José Mourinho’s men hit wrong note

Rory Smith Maribor

Complacency appears to be contagious. José Mourinho decreed last night that it is time to “forget” his assertion that Chelsea’s fans are too sated by success, too accustomed to victory to make much of an impression.
That should be no surprise: he does, after all, seem to have a rather more immediate issue. To judge from their display in being held to a draw by unheralded, unfancied Maribor, the condition seems to have spread from the stands to the squad.
As half-time approached in Slovenia, the 640-strong travelling support offered Mourinho the chance to give them a ditty of his own, to show them how it is done. “José, give us a song,” they chorused. He declined. A good thing, too. By the end, the Portuguese would not have much to sing about.

The Barclays Premier League’s runaway leaders had been held by the champions of Slovenia; they had, in fact, been forced to come from behind to rescue even that. They still top their group, and they will still be confident of progress to the Champions League knockout rounds. In more ways than one, though, all of a sudden things are more complicated than they might be.
Mourinho did his best to lavish praise on his team for how “creative, fast, dynamic” they had been after Agim Ibraimi gave the home team, beaten 6-0 at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago, the lead at the raucous Ljudski Vrt.
Privately, by contrast, he must have been deeply troubled by what preceded the 40-minute frenzy in which Nemanja Matic grabbed an equaliser and Diego Costa and Eden Hazard might both have secured a winner. The first hour, after all, must comfortably have been Chelsea’s worst performance of the season.

Cesc Fàbregas, usually so composed, so clever in possession, struggled to find anyone wearing a high-visibility yellow shirt all night. André Schürrle and Willian contributed rather more in the second half than the first, having been substituted at the interval.
There was no precision to their play, no thrust and no guile. For the second time in four days, Mourinho felt moved to suggest that some of those connected to Chelsea had turned up expecting to win. “Many, many times, surprises happen when people are not fully — committed is not the right word — but when they are not fully focused,” he said. “When they believe the game cannot be a difficult one.
“I was conscious [of the risk of complacency] before the game, but I was not successful in passing over that message [to the players]. If I cannot convince, the game is difficult, and you have to play from minute one. Obviously that is my responsibility. Only when Maribor scored did the players realise the game was in danger. After that, we had a fantastic reaction and we deserved to win, clearly.”
Mourinho’s logic for that was simple. In those frantic final minutes, Chelsea had one effort from Costa ruled out for a narrow offside and a penalty appeal from Oscar turned down by Daniele Orsato, the Italian referee.

That Hazard, twisting past Mitja Viler, won and missed a spot-kick of his own did nothing to dim Mourinho’s displeasure with the officials, no doubt partly fanned by the fact that he was banned and fined, while coach of Inter Milan, for furiously confronting Orsato after a game with Cagliari. “The referee’s team did not have a good night,” he said. “We should have won, because we scored two goals.
”
To criticise the officials, though, is a mere smokescreen for what, in the past ten days, has become a pattern to alarm the Chelsea manager.
His side could be forgiven a below-par display at Old Trafford, but they were sluggish in victory away to Shrewsbury Town, too, and if the fans were subdued against Queens Park Rangers, they were only reflecting what they saw on the pitch. For a team who seemed to have settled into a groove in the season’s early exchanges, Chelsea suddenly seem very jumpy.
Maribor made the most of that. They rode the visiting team’s early storm, when both Kurt Zouma and Didier Drogba went close, then set about imposing themselves on the game; Mourinho had warned that they were better than their defeat at Stamford Bridge a fortnight past made them look. It will be scant solace that he was entirely correct.

Ante Simundza’s side had the best chance of the first half, Luka Zahovic teeing up the impressive Sintayehu Sallalich, whose shot was bundled away by the backtracking Zouma.
They deserved their lead, earned when Ibraimi artfully curled a shot beyond Petr Cech from the right-hand corner of the area, and they should have settled the game, too, Zahovic somehow missing from no more than three yards after Viler’s cross flicked off Zouma and into his path.
That would prove Chelsea’s reprieve. Matic equalised, tucking home John Terry’s goalbound header from Fàbregas’s corner. The goal transformed the visiting team.
Hazard missed a one-on-one; Jasmin Handanovic saved brilliantly from Costa. Then came the flurry of spurned opportunities. Costa’s effort ruled out, Oscar’s claims to have been tripped ignored, Hazard’s weak spot-kick saved by the goalkeeper. No, Mourinho would not have much to sing about at all.

Maribor (4-4-2): J Handanovic — P Stojanovic, A Rajcevic, Arghus, M Viler — A Ibraimi (sub: D Bohar, 90min), A Mertelj, Z Filipovic, S Sallalich (sub: W N’Diaye, 90) — L Zahovic (sub: J-P Mendy, 73), Tavares. Substitutes not used: A Cotman, M Suler, D Vrsic, D Trajkovski. Booked: Stojavonic, Filipovic, Viler.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): P Cech — B Ivanovic, K Zouma, J Terry, F Luís (sub: Ramires, 56) — C Fàbregas, N Matic — A Schürrle (sub: D Costa, 46), Willian (sub: Oscar, 46), E Hazard — D Drogba. Substitutes not used: T Courtois, M Salah, G Cahill, C Azpilicueta. Booked: F Luís.

Referee: D Orsato (Italy).


============


Mail:

Maribor 1-1 Chelsea: Eden Hazard has late penalty saved for the Blues as Nemanja Matic's goal cancels out Agim Ibraimi's opener

By MATT BARLOW

Well, the atmosphere was certainly better, although the performance took a while to warm-up. And this time Jose Mourinho took out his frustration on his players rather than the Chelsea supporters as he fumed on the touchline.
Mourinho criticised his players after hauling off Andre Schurrle and Willian at half-time and Filipe Luis once Maribor, a team thumped 6-0 at Stamford Bridge last month, had taken the lead with a brilliant goal.
Diego Costa, Oscar and Ramires - who he had hoped to keep fresh for Saturday's game at Liverpool - were scrambled as was an unusual three-at-the-back system in a bid to rescue pride.

They emerged with a point after an equaliser by Nemanja Matic and they would have taken all three had Eden Hazard not missed a penalty, five minutes from time.
Mourinho praised Maribor and grumbled about the Italian officials who ruled a late goal by Costa to be offside and only added two minutes of stoppage time at the end, when he clearly thought he should have been be more.
Generally, the he cut a disgruntled figure and his mood was not enhanced when the travelling fans, offended by his remarks that the Bridge had been like an 'empty stadium' during last Saturday's win against QPR, started to tease him.
'Cheer up Mourinho,' they sang, in the first half, and then: 'Jose Give us a Song'. They left him alone once it was clear the manager was not amused. When asked to comment on the songs, he shook his head and said: 'Forget it'.
At the end of the game, he congratulated Maribor boss Ante Sumundza and then stalked straight down the tunnel as John Terry led the players to salute the 600 Chelsea supporters who made the trip.

At half-time, Mourinho had made the same purposeful march across the pitch and into the dressing rooms, staring at the floor with clipboard tucked under his arm like a man about to deliver a few home truths.
One of his backroom staff emerged moments later, sent to retrieve the electronic board used by the fourth officials to indicate substitutions.
'In the first half we were not good,' said Mourinho. 'Very slow; no intensity, no creativity. It was easy for Maribor to control the game and reach what they wanted to reach, a 0-0.
'I tried to improve my team. When you try to improve your team, sometimes it's for tactical reasons. Other times it's for individual performances. I think I was successful with the changes I did.
'In the second half the team were much better than in the first half. I thought we played magnificently: creative, fast, good dynamic, a lot of chances to score. Only when Maribor scored did the players realise the game was in danger. After that, a fantastic reaction.
'We deserved to win, clearly.We didn't reach the number of goals that we should have in the second half, but the team played well. And we scored a great second goal.'

No English side won a single group match this week, the first time that happened since November 5, 2008.
The 'second goal' was a reference to the disallowed goal prodded in by Costa moments before Hazard's 85th-minute penalty miss. It looked very tight, perhaps marginally onside, and he did not miss the chance to take a swipe at referee Daniele Orsato. They have history stretching back to Mourinho's time with Inter Milan.
'We scored two goals, two very good goals,' said the Chelsea boss. 'The second goal, the referee decided to disallow but it's a clear goal. Normally we should win because we scored two goals. But we have to accept it and to praise a fantastic stadium with lots of enthusiasm.
'For the people, it was a fantastic night, and Maribor gave everything. They fought. They had a fantastic goalkeeper. And the referee's team didn't have a good night.'

Perhaps it had all felt a little too comfortable because, after scoring six against the Slovenians in London. The Barclays Premier League leaders started well, creating chances and missing them until Kurt Zouma was forced to clear off the goal-line from Sintayehu Sallalich.
Confidence washed through the home team and they passed the ball with more assurance. Sallalich caused problems with his pace and trickery and Agim Ibraimi's goal was a delicious piece of skill, curled into the top corner with his left foot from wide on the Maribor right past Petr Cech.
It was the first time Chelsea had been behind since September 13 against Swansea. Mourinho made his third substitution and switched to a three-man defence, with Hazard at wing-back.
Maribor ought to have doubled the lead when Mitja Viler's cross from the left found Luka Zahovic at the far post. The teenager only had to tap it in, but somehow lifted it over the goal.
Here was an escape for Chelsea, and they took advantage by summoning a strong finish. The leveller came from Matic with 17 minutes left after Terry had headed a corner from Cesc Fabregas towards goal.
Hazard came to life but could not find a finish and Costa was denied, and that goal that never was. Oscar thought he might have won a penalty and yet Maribor could have won it when Tavares fired wide after a break by Sallalich.

Amid the chaotic closing spell, Hazard was tripped by Viler, climbed to his feet and saw his spot-kick saved by Jasmin Handanovic. It summed the night up. Maribor clung on and the home crowd could barely contain their joy, chanting, jumping, burning flares and waving their giant flags. At the end they did not want to leave. They have never seen anything like it.
For Chelsea, as the dust settled, it did not seem quite so bad. They remain top of Group G, in a good position to qualify and remain unbeaten in 16 games this season in all competitions.
Next in Europe, they meet Roberto di Matteo's Schalke, but first to Anfield where the atmosphere will surely be right up Mourinho's street.

Maribor (4-4-2): Handanovic 7; Stojanovic 5, Rajcevic 6, Arghus 6, Viler 7; Ibraimi 7 (Bohar 90), Mertelj 6.5, Filipovic 6, Sallalich 7.5 (Ndiaye 90+2); Zahovic 6 (Mendy 73), Tavares 6.
Subs not used: Cotman, Suler, Vrsic, Trajkovski.
Booked: Filipovic, Stojanovic, Viler
Goal: Ibraimi 50
Manager: Ante Simundza 7

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech 6; Ivanovic 6, Zouma 6.5, Terry 7, Luis 6 (Ramires 56, 6); Fabregas 6, Matic 7; Schurrle 5 (Oscar HT), Willian 5 (Costa HT), Hazard 7; Drogba 5.5.
Subs not used: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Salah.
Booked: Luis
Goal: Matic 73
Manager: Jose Mourinho 6.5

MOM: Sintayehu Sallalich
Referee: Daniele Orsato (ITA) 5


============

Mirror:

Maribor 1-1 Chelsea

Eden Hazard misses late penalty as Blues drop points

By Martin Lipton

The Belgian had a spot kick saved towards the end of the game as Jose Mourinho's men missed the chance to all but qualify for the next round

It took the fear of humiliation to get Chelsea going tonight.

In the end, even that was not enough, Eden Hazard’s late penalty miss ensuring two points squandered against a team they hit for six two weeks ago.

And as the home fans mocked in sheer joy, Jose Mourinho will have been preparing the mother and father of dressing room inquests.

A side that has serious pretensions about conquering the highest peak in Berlin in June should not be stumbling in the Slovenian mountains.

Nemanja Matic’s close-range strike, to cancel out Agim Ibraimi’s superb effort, rescued the draw that was surely not on Mourinho’s pre-match agenda, even if his side remain top of Group G.

And with the Chelsea fans having their say about Mourinho, making clear he should think about who he insults, this was one to forget.

This was The Blues at their worst, the bright start as Hazard tormenting rookie right-back Petar Stojanovic long lost amid the incessant noise from the home fans.

While Kurt Zouma’s header drifted wide and keeper Jasmin Handanovic saved Didier Drogba’s low shot,Mourinho’s men developed a sloppy streak.

Twice in a few seconds, Zouma was forced into desperate interventions, first after Brazilian striker Tavares skipped in behind John Terry and then from Sintayehu Sallalich’s goalbound shot.

With Andre Schurrle awful – his half-time replacement was inevitable – Chelsea’s swagger disappeared.

When, just before the break, the 600 or so travelling fans gave Mourinho an earful of their own – payback for those ‘’empty stadium’’ remarks – the Portuguese refused to acknowledge he had heard anything.

But his interval changes, Oscar and Costa on for Schurrle and Willian, were an unambiguous sign of his displeasure at everything that had gone before.

Instead of improving things, though, Mourinho watched in horror as his side went behind.

A deep cross from full-back Mitja Viler was allowed to travel all the way to Ibraimi and when Luis failed to reacted anything like quickly enough, the winger curled a beauty beyond Cech.

And, with the Blues fans now in silent disbelief, it should have been done and dusted soon afterwards.

Another Viler cross by-passed all the yellow shirts but, somehow, from no distance, teenage striker Luka Zahovic spooned over.

Just before that, Costa had failed to hit the target from 10 yards but Chelsea, finally, found their feet.

Oscar, tripped from behind, should have had a penalty and then saw his angled shot deflected wide.

But the resulting Cesc Fabregas corner was flicked goalwards by Terry and Matic, a foot or so out, made sure.

Surely, now, Chelsea would go on and win it?

Somehow, now. Hazard shot at the keeper when played in by Costa, whose own effort was brilliantly tipped over.

And then, when Viler downed Hazard, the Belgian got up and missed from the spot for the first time in a Chelsea shirt, a weak effort saved by Handanovic.

Mourinho, complaining at the limited injury time, stalked across the pitch at the final whistle. His fury was clear. Liverpool, at Anfield, await with more reason to be cheerful now.


Chelsea: Cech 6; Ivanovic 6, Zouma 6, Terry 7, Filipe Luis 6; Matic 5, Fabregas 6; Schurrle 4, Willian 6, Hazard 6; Drogba 5.

Subs: Ramires 6, Oscar 6, Diego Costa 6.

Maribor: Handanovic 7, Rajcevic 6, Viler 7, Arghus 6, Filipovic 6, Sallalich 8, Ibraimi 7, Stojanovic 5, Mertelj 7, Tavares 7, Zahovic 6.

Subs: Mendy


=================


Express:

Maribor 1 - Chelsea 1: Hazard penalty horror a jolt for Mourinho

JOSE MOURINHO'S mood remained sullen as Chelsea refused to walk through the open door marked 'early Champions League group stage qualification'.

By: Tony Banks


The fans sang for Mourinho to "sing up" after his jibes at them for being too quiet on Saturday, but his side produced by some margin their worst performance of the season so far and were lucky to come away from Slovenia with a draw.

Mourinho's men had hammered Maribor 6–0 at home two weeks earlier, but last night they had to scramble to avoid a defeat. They then managed to blow the chance of winning when Eden Hazard's tame penalty was saved five minutes from the end.

Qualification for the knockout stages is still likely and will be achieved if they draw at Schalke in three weeks time. But the worry is that the November jitters are setting in for Mourinho's team after unimpressive performances against Manchester United, Shrewsbury and QPR.

One thing is for certain, if they are to win this competition, Chelsea are going to have to improve big time. They had started well, but fell behind when Agim Ibraimi scored and only grabbed a leveller when Nemanja Matic forced the ball home.

So, still unbeaten in 16 games, but this will not have improved Mourinho's mood by any means.

The Chelsea manager had actually named a strong team, with Hazard, Cesc Fabregas and Branislav Ivanovic all included despite that Saturday lunchtime date with Liverpool.

Kurt Zouma nodded wide and Didier Drogba's shot took a deflection for goalkeeper Jasmin Handanovic to save, as things started brightly. But then Maribor began to conquer their nerves and it was as if Chelsea suddenly forgot how to control games. The assurance, the dominating efficiency which has been so evident this season so far, seemed to drain visibly away.

The moment that changed the game came when Marcos Tavares broke away and Chelsea only half cleared. Sintayehu Sallalich fired in a shot that Zouma had to dash back to clear off the line.

"Sing up Mourinho," and "Jose, Jose give us a song," sang the Chelsea fans in ironic reference to his criticism of them as being too quiet in the win over QPR last Saturday. The first hint of disquiet amongst the "Sing up Mourinho," and "Jose, Jose give us a song," sang the Chelsea fans in ironic reference to his criticism of them as being too quiet in the win over QPR last Saturday. The first hint of disquiet amongst the faithful?

Drogba – at 36 twice the age of Maribor whizzkid Luka Zahovic at the other end of the pitch – tested Handanovic with a fierce free–kick, Andre Schurrle shot wide and Hazard had an effort saved.

Handanovic with a fierce free–kick, Andre Schurrle shot wide and Hazard had an effort saved.

But Chelsea were far from convincing, their passing sloppy and careless. They were But Chelsea were far from convincing, their passing sloppy and careless. They were being given acres of space but made little use of it. As ever, Mourinho reacted, and on at half–time went Diego Costa and Oscar, with Willian and Schurrle feeling the full force of his wrath.

But Maribor had scented that their opponents might be vulnerable and they struck with venom. Another cross was only half cleared, and the ball dropped to Ibraimi, who curled a lovely shot past Petr Cech.

Mourinho changed it again, sending on Ramires to form a three at the back.

But then there was an even more astonishing escape, as Mitja Viler's cross was missed by everyone – and incredibly Zahovic shot over from eight yards with the goal gaping.

Drogba glanced a header wide as Maribor began to run out of legs. And then from another corner skipper John Terry, as ever, came to the rescue, powering in a header that Matic forced over the line.

A legitimate–looking penalty appeal was waved away as Oscar went down and Handanovic saved brilliantly from Costa's volley. Costa then had what looked like a good effort disallowed. Hazard made yet another wriggling run, only to be tripped by Viler. But the Belgian's tame penalty went straight at Handanovic.It summed up the night.



==============

Star:

Maribor 1 - Chelsea 1: Eden Hazard misses late penalty as Blues are held to a draw

JOSE MOURINHO had said he wanted his side to go for the jugular last night - but this time Maribor were a real pain in the neck.

By George Scott

Chelsea hammered the Slovenians 6-0 at Stamford Bridge just two weeks ago and Mourinho urged his side to do the same again to help secure top spot in the group.

But the Blues turned in a below-par performance, and looked set for their first defeat of the season until Nemanja Matic's 73rd minute goal.

Boss Mourinho was clearly far from happy with his team's display and was left fuming even more when Eden Hazard's woeful penalty six minutes from time prevented them from grabbing an undeserved win.

Chelsea went into the game looking to equal their best ever start to a season, of 16 games without defeat, set under Mourinho in 2005-06.

Mourinho's team hammered the Slovenians 6-0 at Stamford Bridge three weeks ago, and though this was their second ever Champions League campaign, Maribor had never won at home in the competition at the Ljudski vrt Stadium.

Chelsea though knew that a Bonfire Night victory in Slovenia couple with a failure of Schalke to beat Sporting Lisbon would mean qualification for the knockout stages.

But a fourth game in 11 days appeared to have taken its toll on Mourinho's side -

or perhaps they had one eye on the crunch Premier League clash against Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday lunchtime.

The Blues boss cannot be accused of the same thing, going with a strong starting line-up including Eden Hazard, Cesc Fabregas and Branislav Ivanovic.

Fabregas almost set up an early goal when he got to the byline and chipped into the box where young defender Kurt Zouma connected with a header but angled it just wide of the post.

Then Didier Drogba's shot took a deflection but goalkeeper Jasmin Handanovic saved.

Maribor came back strongly and gave Chelsea a mighty scare as the Blues were caught napping at the back.

Marcos Tavares broke away and when the ball fell to Sintayehu Sallalich it needed a last-gasp saving clearance from Zouma to prevent the opening goal.

Maribor had been annihilated in the first half at Stamford Bridge, going in 3-0 down at the interval, but the Slovenians looked far more resilient on their own turf.

Chelsea may have thought it was going to be another stroll in the park, but they struggled to find any rhythm - causing Mourinho to come out of his dug-out with a dark look on his face.

His mood wasn't improved much when Andre Schurrle missed an open goal from just six yards - with the German midfielder's blushes not really saved by the fact the linesman's flag went up.

Drogba tried his luck from long-range with a free-kick that stung the hands of Handanovic, but Chelsea's sloppy passing prevented them from crafting any decent chances from open play before the break.

It got worse for the Blues right at the start of the second-half as Agim Ibraimi produced a moment of individual brilliance.

He controlled the ball on the edge of the box, composed himself and then curled a stunning shot into the corner of the net.

Petr Cech had absolutely no chance as he was left grasping for air - while Mourinho's expression got even more severe.

He may have exploded with rage on the hour mark had Luka Zahovic converted with the goal at his mercy to make it 2-0.

The Chelsea defence was non-existent as the striker was left all alone just six yards out at the far post to tap in Mitja Viler's cross.

But he shanked his shot horribly to give the Premier League leaders a massive let-off.

Matic made him pay by grabbing an equaliser with 18 minutes remaining, ghosting in from Terry's downward header from a corner to score from a matter of inches.

It was a goal that Chelsea barely deserved, but they were then handed a golden chance to steal the win.

Hazard won a penalty with a mazy run that drew a foul by Viler, but then sidefooted his spot-kick straight down the middle to give Handanovic an easy save.

The only saving grace, perhaps, was that Schalke's defeat against Sporting Lisbon in the other group game means Chelsea remain firm favourites to secure top spot.

QPR 2-1

Independent:

Eden Hazard penalty spares Blues blushes against spirited local rivals at Stamford Bridge
Michael Calvin

Chelsea remain unbeaten, despite themselves, and the Premier League title is developing into an unequal contest. Yet invincibility is an illusion as this Indian summer stretches into November. The history books are safe for a while yet.
An insubstantial win over well-organised but limited opposition in a bloodless London derby is no real form guide. Infinitely tougher tests must be passed if Jose Mourinho’s latest team are to emulate Arsenal’s new model army of a decade ago, and go through a season without a League defeat.
They have been denied a 100 per cent record after 10 matches only by late goals from Manchester City and United. There’s a sense of smugness in the crowd at Stamford Bridge, more than a hint of empire, about to be reclaimed.
Chelsea are four points clear of Southampton, but more pertinently have a nine-point lead over City and Arsenal. They are 12 ahead of Liverpool and 13 better than United. Complacency would seem their natural enemy, since they have barely been required to break sweat.
Other members of the lavishly-funded, over-hyped elite have been prey to carelessness and unexpected calamity created by poorly managed change. It might have been only QPR’s second loss in six league matches against Chelsea, but Mourinho was revealingly reluctant to celebrate. He complained tartly about the timidity of the home supporters and bemoaned his side’s intermittent intensity. Ritual reassurance about the importance of scruffy wins, was given short shrift.
“My team did not play as well as I expected,” he stressed. “We had periods of good football but no consistency. It was fantastic work by Harry to organise his team defensively, but with our quality I would expect us to be stronger.”
Chelsea took a 32nd minute lead with a memorable fusion of timing and technique. Diego Costa won the ball, held it up for the umpteenth time, and slipped it into path of Cesc Fabregas. He fed Oscar, who struck a first time shot with the outside of his right foot, which curled into the far corner. Cue collective ecstasy which, strangely, was not shared by Mourinho, who spent a full minute chuntering to himself.  He didn’t get his hands out of his pockets and looked mortally offended. Takes all sorts, I suppose.
Oscar was once deemed lightweight. Now he marries an admirable work ethic with a sublime touch. He has scored three goals and set up two more in his last six matches. He is a symbol of the evolutionary cycle the Chelsea manager has set in train.
The movement is intelligent and the pressure on the ball is relentless. Nemanja Matic is the fulcrum, a source of clever interceptions and crisp tackling. And though Costa didn’t score and is hardly fully fit he is certainly firing. He is a nightmare to play against.
Mourinho judged him harshly, insisting: “He didn’t have a very good performance. With muscular injuries it is not just your body but your brain. You are afraid of a reaction.”
A truce with his international manager, Vicente Del Bosque, would help but is far from likely. He will be in next week’s Spain squad for the Euro 2016 qualifier against Belarus, and the high-profile friendly against world champions Germany.
Chelsea were punished for luxuriating in their superiority in the 62nd minute. Thibaut Courtois punched away an Eduardo Vargas cross, and though Leroy Fer scuffed his shot, it was diverted in by Charlie Austin’s instinctive backflick. He has 24 league goals for QPR since the start of last season, 18 more than anyone else. Eden Hazard slyly drew a decisive foul from Vargas with 15 minutesleft. Harry Redknapp complained the expertly-taken penalty was “harsh” but the Chilean had no need to commit himself.
Mourinho, a picture of misery, was already looking ahead, to more profound afternoons.

Chelsea: (4-2-3-1) Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Luis; Fabregas, Matic; Willian (Drogba, 64), Oscar, Hazard (Ramires, 93); Costa (Schürrle, 78).
QPR: (4-4-2) Green; Isla, Dunne, Caulker, Yun; Hoilett (Zamora, 60), Henry, Sandro, Fer (Traore, 84); Vargas Austin.

Referee: Mike Jones.
Man of the match: Oscar (Chelsea)
Match rating: 6/10

======================

Observer:

Chelsea’s Eden Hazard nets late penalty to see off a spirited QPR
Paul Doyle

Chelsea continue to set the pace at the top of the Premier League but their stride does not look unbreakable. José Mourinho knows that, which is why he spent much of this west London derby seething on the sidelines, his team requiring a late penalty to overcome a lowly but tenacious Queen Park Rangers side.
“My team did not play well, or well enough,” huffed Mourinho. “It was not what I was expecting. We had periods of good football, but not consistently. I was expecting more. There is no doubt we deserve the points but one thing is to deserve and another is to deserve and play very well, which we didn’t.”
Chelsea were mostly dominant but at times sloppy. They seemed capable of blowing away visitors who had suffered heavy defeats in all of their away trips this season, yet they also betrayed a fragility that meant they wound up grateful to cling on to all three points. Their spluttering irritated their manager. “It was periods, 10 to 15 minutes here, 10 to 15 minutes there,” said Mourinho. “We were playing against a very well organised defensive team where everyone knew the job they had to do. It was fantastic work by Harry and they gave us a tough match. But with our quality I would expect us to be stronger.”
Mourinho had deployed his most powerful available line-up, with the fit-again Diego Costa returning to the side after almost a month out, as Chelsea made no concession to the forthcoming trip to Maribor in the Champions League nor next weekend’s showdown with Liverpool. Mourinho evidently wants his team to continue stretching their lead in the Premier League, especially after last weekend’s last-minute stumble at Old Trafford. At first it seemed that QPR would be submissive opponents, as the visitors surrendered possession straight from kick-off, inviting two minutes of pressure during which Chelsea threatened with three successive corners.
It soon transpired, however, that Rangers were in obstinate mood and, with Sandro excelling at the base of a five-man central midfield, Chelsea toiled to create chances despite near-constant possession. Sporadic counterattacks by the visitors even evoked memories of Rangers’ last visit here, in January 2013, when they pilfered a 1-0 victory.
Costa looked short of sharpness but did produce a foxy drag-back and pass in the 10th minute to dink the ball to Oscar, who dabbed a soft shot wide from 12 yards. A minute later, the ever-dangerous full-back Branislav Ivanovic made the stealthy run of a natural predator to collect a through-ball from Willian, but then spared his quarry by shooting into the side netting from close range.
Generally, however, QPR were doing a fair job at keeping their hosts at bay and, in the 15th minute, they served warning of their own menace when Charlie Austin headed just over the bar following a cross from Junior Hoilett.
Eden Hazard was seeing plenty of the ball and producing some sumptuous touches but not penetrating. It took a mistake by Eduardo Vargas in the 25th minute to create another opening for the home team, with Cesc Fàbregas pouncing on the Chilean’s loose pass before forcing a save from Rob Green from 25 yards. Seven minutes later, the goalkeeper was left bewildered by Oscar, who ran in from the right wing to receive a pass from Fàbregas and flip the ball into the far corner of the net with the outside of his foot. It was an exquisite finish. As the crowd cooed over the Brazilian’s skill, Mourinho bore an expression that seemed to say “about time.”
QPR emerged from half-time with more attacking intent. They pressed Chelsea back in the early minutes of the second period, causing Mourinho to fume further. Surrendering the initiative at Manchester City and United was bad enough; the prospect of doing it at home to QPR seemed intolerable for the Portuguese.
Willian might have soothed his manager by setting up a killer second goal in the 54th minute but instead over-hit an intended pass to Hazard, who lunged but could not connect with the ball seven yards from goal.
Harry Redknapp introduced Bobby Zamora on the hour to give Charlie Austin company up front. Two minutes later Austin equalised. It was a wonderful finish, too, as Leroy Fer fired a bouncing shot at goal from 20 yards and the striker, standing eight yards out, applied a backflick that wrongfooted Thibaut Courtois. In the end Chelsea needed help to secure the win – and, not for the first time this season, Redknapp’s men came to their opponent’s aid, Vargas giving away a penalty with a witless shunt on Hazard in the 75th minute. Redknapp complained that it was just a “shoulder charge”, but the challenge was reckless. And from the spot Hazard was ruthless. But Mourinho knows that stronger teams are unlikely to show such vulnerability.

=================

Telegraph:

Chelsea 2 Queens Park Rangers 1: Eden Hazard and Oscar help hosts triumph in west London derby
Jonathan Llew

Jose Mourinho stalked into his press conference with a face as sour as a pickled egg. His side had just won. They were top of the Premier League. But there was a sullenness to him.
Are you happy, one reporter asked him. “No,” he replied. Why not? “Because my team didn’t play well enough. We had periods of good football, but not consistently. We deserved the points, no doubt. But it’s one thing to deserve; another to deserve and play well.”
Mourinho did not like what he had seen. And what he had seen was the biggest threat to Chelsea’s title challenge – a title that, according to some observers, is already in the bag. Still top, still unbeaten, this is a Chelsea side without a single recognisable flaw. Except one: sometimes they know it.
At half-time, the notices for this game were already being written in advance. Chelsea were only a goal up, but Queens Park Rangers were yet to register a single shot on target. Mourinho’s hands had scarcely left his pockets. Chelsea looked comfortable. We all knew how this was going to end.
What followed, then, was something of a surprise. Chelsea, perhaps lulled into a certain complacency, slipped down through the gears. Meanwhile, Harry Redknapp’s team scrapped like cheetahs and burgled a fortuitous equaliser. The result was a game far more entertaining than it really had any right to be.
Eden Hazard’s late penalty - "harsh", according to Redknapp - secured the points, but it was a close-run thing. Every so often, this Chelsea side succumbs to the myth of its own inevitability. Every cog in the machine is so well-oiled that sometimes the entire machine lapses into autopilot.
Mourinho’s irritation in the press room would have been nothing compared to his irritation in the dressing room. Still, he and we were really picking at tiny fissures here. Chelsea remain the best team in the league by a mile, and even on the lowest setting were rarely troubled.
And yet, there was a certain languor to them. Oscar, all crackling electricity and fizzing ball control, was one notable exception, even before you consider the sublime opening goal he scored.
It had taken Chelsea half an hour to break through, but it was well worth the wait. Oscar’s finish will grab the headlines, but the goal’s real architect was Diego Costa, sucking three defenders towards him and then swatting them all aside, like a human booby trap.
His lay-off to Cesc Fabregas was played into the path of Oscar, who curled the ball deliciously around Robert Green with the outside of his foot. You or I could try that in the park and fail 100 times out of 100. It was the sort of goal you see in the last minute of a football film.
And as such, QPR were pretty much blameless. They defended about as well as could have been expected, and Green had a superb game, making at least three world-class saves. All they could do was keep plugging away, waiting for a glitch in the Chelsea mainframe. Eighteen minutes into the second half, Eduardo Vargas spotted one.
Nobody quite saw the danger coming until it was too late. Least of all Chelsea, who were unacceptably sluggish as Vargas sprinted out of his own half and bore down on goal. His fierce cross-shot was beaten away by Thibaut Courtois, but only to Leroy Fer, who tried his luck from distance.
The next few seconds seemed to unfold in slow motion. Fer’s shot was badly miscued, but rolled towards Charlie Austin, who instinctively flicked at the ball with his heel. Courtois, wrong-footed, could only watch as the ball trickled helplessly past him and into the net. If Oscar’s goal was one for the end-of-season DVD, this was one for the bloopers reel afterwards. And it was no less than Chelsea deserved for allowing their intensity to drop.
Mourinho reacted straight away. On came Didier Drogba for Willian. With Bobby Zamora introduced for QPR, there were now four strikers on the pitch, and it showed in a gloriously chaotic closing stretch. Green tipped Oscar’s free-kick around the post, but just a few minutes later Hazard stalked the edge of the penalty area with menace.
Hazard only needs a tickle to go down at that speed, and Vargas duly provided it, trying to win the ball when there was no real need. Hazard took the penalty himself, and scored. “I just felt it was soft,” Redknapp said afterwards. “Two little men, shoulder to shoulder, and they both hit each other. It was a harsh one.”
Though QPR never seriously looked like getting a second goal, virtually all their fans stayed right until the end, singing heartily even as defeat beckoned. And why not? After a torrid start to the season, this was another step in the right direction. “I felt we deserved something for how hard we worked,” Redknapp said. “We didn’t lay down against the best team in the country, and for that we deserved a point.”
Mourinho, meanwhile, continued to smoulder with mild resentment. Perhaps he was just trying to keep himself interested. When you are this far ahead of your rivals, ennui quickly sets in. But more likely than not, at some stage this season, Chelsea will play better than this, and lose.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1) Courtois 6, Ivanovic 5, Cahill 6, Terry 7, Filipe Luis 6; Fabregas 6, Matic 7; Hazard 7 (Ramires 90), Oscar 7, Willian 6 (Drogba 64); Diego Costa 6 (Schürrle 78). Subs Cech, Zouma, Ake, Salah.

Queens Park Rangers (4-3-3) Green 8; Isla 6, Dunne 7, Caulker 7, Yun 7; Henry 6, Sandro 7, Fer 6 (Traore 84); Vargas 7, Austin 7, Hoilett 6 (Zamora 60). SubsMurphy, Hill, Phillips, Kranjcar, Wright-Phillips.
Referee M Jones (Cheshire).
Attendance 41,486

================

Times:

Chelsea turn up heat on Manchester City after being made to scrap for derby spoils
Chelsea 2 Queens Park Rangers 1

Rory Smith

The journey was rather more arduous than Chelsea expected, but the ultimate destination was the same. It is not yet Bonfire Night and already Jose Mourinho’s side have all but burned away the rest of the Barclays Premier League; only Southampton, for now, cling on to their coat-tails.
They had to scrap for this victory against Queens Park Rangers, but scrap they did, taking them nine points clear of Manchester City. If Manuel Pellegrini’s side fail to beat Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium tomorrow, they may as well start engraving the trophy now. Mourinho teams do not throw away that sort of advantage.
For a while here, it looked as though Harry Redknapp’s side might do City, Arsenal and anyone who likes a semblance of intrigue to their league seasons a favour and halt Chelsea’s remorseless advance: they fell behind to a beautiful goal from Oscar but found a way back through a moment of inspired improvisation from the altogether less likely feet of Charlie Austin. Only Eden Hazard’s composure and Eduardo Vargas’s lack of it prevented them holding their hosts at bay.
Indeed, despite the gulf – in quality, in league position – Redknapp’s side started creditably enough. Richard Dunne and Steven Caulker batted away everything Chelsea threw at them; Sandro and Karl Henry snapped and snarled in central midfield. Vargas, on the right, scurried around, twisting and turning, his energy troubling Filipe Luís.
Chelsea, of course, had the greater weight of early chances, Oscar scuffing one effort wide and then Willian’s low cross fizzing into the path of Branislav Ivanovic, the Serb not quite able to switch his feet quickly enough and finding only the side netting. But QPR threatened too, Austin heading on to the roof of the net, Leroy Fer feinting past two defenders but eased off the ball as he set himself to shoot.
As unlikely as it might have seemed before the game, as the half-hour ticked past, the west London derby was threatening to turn into something resembling a contest, rather than a cakewalk. The deadlock was to be broken by something truly outstanding.
It goes without saying that Oscar’s goal was teed up by Cesc Fabregas – the former Barcelona midfielder’s ninth assist in ten games – but, if in this case the pass was a simple one, the finish was anything but: the Brazilian, darting into the right hand side of the penalty area, struck the ball first time with the outside of his right foot, sending it arcing beyond Rob Green’s dive and into the far corner, not so much a goal as a work of art.
That should have been the hosts’ cue to go on and bury their rivals, not just to secure three points but to send out a message to City, their only real challengers for the title. There was a resigned look on Redknapp’s face, certainly, one that suggested he knew the next hour or so would be an exacting one.
It did not quite turn out like that. QPR would make their hosts work for their win. Chelsea, as was to be expected, launched a barrage of attacks, pinning QPR back, leaving them hanging on the ropes. Hazard flung himself at Willian’s cross, the Belgian just an inch too short to connect. Filipe Luís fired over; Green saved a soft Hazard header.
The longer the wait for a second went on, though, the more hope QPR had that they might have one moment. They would, and they took it. With Chelsea committed forward, the ball broke to Vargas, who sprinted down the right flank. He floated a ball into Austin, who turned it back to the Chilean with his chest. Vargas’s shot was saved, but the ball broke to Fer on the edge of the box. He scuffed his shot, but it fell straight to Austin, who flicked his heel at it, diverting it past Thibaut Courtois. All but a corner of Stamford Bridge fell silent. The procession had stopped.
Mourinho introduced Didier Drogba, that doughty guarantee of victory, to try to force a way through again. Green tipped away an Oscar free kick, quite brilliantly, and then watched as Hazard whistled a shot narrowly over. The league leaders turned up the pressure; eventually QPR cracked, Vargas bundling over Hazard as the two contested the ball on the very edge of the box and Mike Jones, the referee, awarded a penalty. It was a hairline call, but a correct one. Hazard converted the spot-kick himself.
This time, there would be no mistakes. Green saved well from Andre Schurrle, introduced as a substitute, and from John Terry as Chelsea looked to remove all doubt; Mourinho claimed his team should have had a second penalty for a foul on Drogba. None of it mattered. They are nine points clear. It sounds an exaggeration, but it does not feel it. Everything hinges on City.

Mail:

Chelsea 2-1 QPR: Eden Hazard slots home second half penalty to edge out struggling Rangers in west London derby

By Matt Lawton for The Mail on Sunday
An encounter that began in relative darkness left Jose Mourinho in one of his darker moods on Saturday.
He might have seen his side strengthen their grip on this Barclays Premier League title race with a second-half penalty from Eden Hazard but Chelsea’s manager seemed far from satisfied when he eventually appeared for his post-match press conference.
For a start, he accused the man in charge of the floodlights of being asleep, and he did have a point.
It was so gloomy Rob Green complained to the officials and when the lights did come on, 20 minutes into this absorbing contest, QPR’s goalkeeper was more than vindicated given the difference they made. It was like someone had just opened the curtains.
But Mourinho said it was another 10 minutes or so, with the arrival of a quite brilliant goal from Oscar, before he realised ‘the ground was not empty’ and the point he was making was obvious.
He was fighting against a sense of complacency that he clearly believes is spreading among the supporters, as well his players; this sense that the victories will simply come because they are so much better than everyone else.
He seemed to regard Charlie Austin’s marvellous 62nd-minute equaliser as a product of that complacency, even if he did then praise his team for the manner in which they responded to take all three points.
For the first half of this contest they were vastly superior to a QPR side who were only a single goal down because of the sheer defiance and determination of Green and his colleagues in defence, in particular the courageous Richard Dunne.
Mourinho (below) would probably see criticism in any comparison with his first championship-winning Chelsea team but there were periods of this game, as there have been in other performances this season, when this side has looked like an improvement on its all-conquering predecessor.
That first team was terrific. Powerful, as well potent, Sir Alex Ferguson marvelled at their machine-like consumption of consecutive Premier League titles. But there is something about this current crop of players that demands more attention, even if they are not delivering their best with the consistency their manager demands.
They are certainly easier on the eye, while maintaining a ruthless quality that is enabling them to maintain this impressive unbeaten run. There is a nice blend of craft and hard graft, making them a real joy to watch.
Clearly, the acquisition of Cesc Fabregas has made an enormous difference, his poise, precision and vision giving them something in midfield Chelsea could not even claim to have had when Frank Lampard was driving them towards trophy after trophy.
But it is not just Fabregas. It is players with the flair and invention of Hazard, Willian and Oscar, as well as those with the power and strength of Diego Costa and a brilliantly drilled back four. Oscar’s goal was a combination of both qualities. It might have been the finesse of Fabregas that saw the ball delivered into the path of Oscar but it owed much to Costa’s strength to hold the ball up for what was a terrific one-two between the Spaniards.
The finish that then followed from Oscar in the 32nd minute was just extraordinary, the Brazilian using the outside of his right foot to curl the ball across the face of the QPR goal and beyond the reach of a diving Green via the inside of the far post. The fact that Oscar also had to squeeze the ball in front of Dunne demanded even more precision. But it was the bend of the ball that was most staggering; a shot that almost challenged the laws of physics.
It certainly had Roman Abramovich on his feet and it is probably a reason why Mourinho talks of managing for another 20 years. Why would you not want to keep working with players of this quality?
Mourinho, nevertheless, still sees room for improvement. On Saturday's evidence, plenty.
Having seen his side leak a late equaliser to Manchester United last Sunday, he was distinctly unimpressed to see a spirited QPR side battle their way back into this game.
If Austin was once so in awe of John Terry he asked to have his picture taken with Chelsea’s captain, there were no signs of any enduring inferiority complex here.
He produced a quite brilliant equaliser to add another chapter to the remarkable story of his rise from non-League to the Premier League, diverting Leroy Fer’s scuffed volley beyond the reach of Thibaut Courtois with a delightful heel-flick after the Chelsea goalkeeper had punched clear a cross from Eduardo Vargas.
The vigour of Chelsea’s response did, however, please Mourinho.
They moved up through the gears again and when Hazard burst into the QPR penalty area in the 75th minute, a reckless shoulder barge from Vargas left referee Mike Jones with little option but to point to the spot.
Hazard, so composed in such situations, comfortably converted, and Mourinho noted with some pleasure the fact that Green then had to make another couple of decent saves.
The Chelsea manager also praised opposite number Harry Redknapp for his ‘fantastic work’ in the way he had ‘organised his team defensively’.
Such generosity did not extend to his players, though, even if the mark of a championship-winning team is the ability to secure victories when they fail to perform at their best.
That said, there were also spells here on Saturday when they were absolutely mesmerising.

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Mirror:

Chelsea 2-1 QPR: Eden Hazard penalty proves decisive in West London derby at Stamford Bridge
Steve Stammers

A penalty from the Belgian star helped the Blues to secure a narrow win over their rivals and solidify their lead at the summit of the table
In the end, class was the ­decisive factor.
And it was fitting that the most gifted player on the field should create and then score the winning goal.
Eden Hazard was superb. He has touch, vision and the ability to ride the most physical combat. And it was his elusive run 15 minutes from time that lured Rangers midfield man Eduardo Vargas into an ill-advised challenge that brought a penalty.
Hazard sent Robert Green the wrong way – and one consolation for the ­goalkeeper was that he was not the first or last Rangers player to be wrong-footed by the Belgian star. It was a strike that stretched Chelsea’s lead at the top of the Premier League and ended a brave and energetic second-half Rangers rally.
To a man, the Rangers bench – which seems to have more coaches than Victoria Bus Station – protested about the award by referee Michael Jones. But that may well have been fashioned by frustration as much as any sense of injustice.
Rangers manager Harry Redknapp was not totally convinced. “I thought it was a soft decision,” he said. “A harsh one. It was two small guys going shoulder to shoulder. But I am not saying Hazard dived – and the referee gave an honest decision.”
Rangers had clawed their way back to equality after being outplayed by Chelsea in the first half. Mind you, it was a first half cloaked in semi-darkness for the first 29 minutes without the floodlights switched on.
“I think the guy who works the floodlights was in the same mood as most of the crowd,” joked Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho. “ It took 25 minutes, until we scored, that I realised the stadium was full!”
The lights duly came on at 3.29 pm. But the only real surprise was that the Chelsea domination brought just one goal – even though it was one worthy to have illuminated any stadium.
Cesc Fabregas sent the ball wide to Oscar on the right of the Rangers area. It looked odds-on that the Brazilian would try to find Diego Costa with a cross. Instead with the outside of his right foot, Oscar powered the ball with remarkable swerve past Green. Stunning.
But there was a shock in store for Chelsea in the 62nd minute – just after Redknapp introduced the physical threat of Bobby Zamora. Rangers were more aggressive and positive and it paid off. Charlie Austin’s finish was exquisite although the origins owed much to good fortune.
Leroy Fer scuffed his shot hopelessly from the edge of the area. It posed little threat until Austin showed the instincts of a predator to back-heel the ball past Thibault Courtois.
“Overall, I was not happy with the way we played,” said Mourinho. “But I was happy with the reaction when it became 1-1. We did not panic.”
The Blues were back in front after Hazard’s tumble and it took two superb saves from Green to deny Andre Schurrle and John Terry to keep the scoreline respectable.
Mourinho’s lack of enthusiasm for his team’s performance was diluted as he reflected on the ability of successful clubs to end up with a victory when they are below par.
“No, I am not happy with the way we played,” he said. “Yes, we did well for periods. And it is important when you do not play so well that you still win. That will compensate for the matches when you do play well and do not win.”
And he praised the contribution of Oscar. “He had a difficult pre-season because of the World Cup but he played last Sunday, on Tuesday and again today,” said Mourinho. “And I expected other people to be fresher and sharper.”
Diego Costa among them. The Brazilian-born Spain striker, back from injury, had his least effective game for Chelsea thanks to the excellence of Richard Dunne and Steven Caulker in the Rangers central defence.
“We battled well and that gives us hope,” said Redknapp, who believes his team played against the best in the country.
That is why Chelsea remain on top despite Mourinho’s reservations.

Player ratings
Chelsea: Courtois 6, Ivanovic 7, Cahill 7, Terry 7, Luis 6, Fabregas 7, Matic 6, Willian 6 (Drogba - 63mins), Oscar 7, Hazard 8 MoTM (Ramires - 89 mins), Costa 6 (Schurrle - 77 mins)
Subs: Drogba 6 (Willian - 63 mins), Ramires 5 (Hazard - 89 mins), Schurrle6 (Costa - 77 mins), Cech, Zouma, Ake, Salah
QPR: Green 7, Isla 6, Caulker 7, Dunne 7, Suk-Young 6, Hoilett 5 (Zamora - 60 mins), Henry 6, Sandro 7, Fer 6 (Traore - 83 mins), Vargas 6, Austin 6,
Subs: Zamora 6 (Hoilett - 60 mins), Traore 5 (Fer - 83 mins), Murphy, Hill, Phillips, Wright-Phillips, Kranjcar
Referee: Michael Jones. Had no doubts about the controversial penalty that brought the winner. Decisive.

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Express:

Chelsea 2 - QPR 1: Blues prove leading title race can sometimes be an ugly business
LIGHTS - camera - action. Like the Stamford Bridge floodlights Chelsea took their time to illuminate this derby.
By: John Richardson

But after sending for the cavalry, manager Jose Mourinho can look down on the rest from the Premier League summit with increasing confidence.
It wasn't pretty - except for Oscar's stunning opening goal - but come next May the title isn't handed out for artistic merit.
Scruffy wins against your struggling neighbours count just as much as scintillating displays against teams in the top four.
QPR boss Harry Redknapp came so close to giving Mourinho another bloody nose following last season's shock 1-0 victory here.
Only a rash challenge from Chilean international Eduardo Vargas 15 minutes from time handed Chelsea the lifeline they were desperately searching for.
That had been in stark contrast to earlier in the game, when Chelsea switched on shortly after the club's lights had done the same.
The request had come from QPR keeper Rob Green - one he was soon rueing as Chelsea discovered the path to goal to plunge Redknapp's team into relegation darkness.
Within four minutes the Bridge had the perfect view of a goal which would have earned 'a ten from Len' for beauty and execution if Strictly Come Dancing's head judge Len Goodman had been in residence.
As Chelsea broke the king of assists, Cesc Fabregas, took over with a neat ball into the box.
There was still plenty for Oscar to do, but in one stunning movement he stroked the ball with the outside of his right boot and it flew past Green into the corner of the net.
It prompted an instinctive response from a purring Jose Mourinho, looking to the heavens in amazement.
After all, there was little else for him to enthuse about as Chelsea dominated with their midfield attacking quartet of Oscar, Eden Hazard, Willian and Fabregas exchanging slick passes and intuitive flicks, but with no real final thrust.
Returning striker Diego Costa might as well have continued his break, often being starved of the ball.
He left to a standing ovation when the Spanish international was eventually substituted. By then Chelsea had recovered from the shock of conceding a goal.
It came just after Redknapp had answered the chants of the QPR fans to bring on Bobby Zamora, although it was his sidekick Charlie Austin who grabbed the glory.
Thibaut Courtois punched out from Vargas and when Leroy Fer's mis-hit follow-up spun towards goal, Austin back-flicked the ball over the line.
Chelsea were rattled - even more so when Courtois had to fingertip a low Sandro strike around the post.
Mourinho had seen enough. Didier Drogba was summoned from the bench as the Portuguese ordered the tempo to be stepped up.
The break soon arrived, Hazard's gallop into the box halted rashly by Vargas, who was the wrong side of the Belgian international.
Redknapp insisted: "It was a shoulder charge between two tiny guys. They bounced off each other. I'm not saying he (Hazard) dived but it was a soft, soft penalty.
We didn't lie down against the best team in the country. Yes, I feel we deserved a point. It was a good away performance."
Hazard picked himself up to send Green the wrong way, maintaining Chelsea's 100 per cent home record and the four-point cushion at the top of the table.
Of more significance is the nine-point gap between themselves and champions Manchester City.
Chelsea ended with a flourish, Green saving magnificently from Andre Schurrle and John Terry.
But it hadn't fooled a brutally honest Mourinho.
He confessed: "I wasn't happy because we didn't play as well as I was expecting.
"We had periods of good football but not consistent enough.
"I thought we deserved to win but we didn't play very well." The Chelsea boss believed, like the floodlights operator, his players had taken their eye off the ball.
"The man responsible for the lights was in the same mood as the crowd. Everyone was asleep," he added.
"It took more than 20 minutes for the lights to come on. Until then everyone was in the dark."

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Star:

Chelsea 2 - QPR 1: Light relief for Jose Mourinho as Eden Hazard's penalty sneaks win
IT LOOKED all doom and gloom for Jose Mourinho until the Stamford Bridge floodlights lit up the way for a vital win.


By John Richardson

The Portuguese accused the floodlight operator of falling asleep and accused his highly-paid stars of doing the same as they laboured to a 2-1 derby win over London neighbours QPR.
The lights sparked into life following a request to referee Mike Green from QPR keeper Rob Green a half-hour after the kick-off.
Mourinho said: "The man responsible for the lights was in the same mood as the crowd. Everyone was asleep."
He added: "It's important when you don't play so well you still win. That compensates for those games when you play fantastically well and you lose."
It was not pretty - except for Oscar's stunning opening goal - but come next May the title will not be handed out for artistic merit.
Scruffy, hard-fought wins against your struggling neighbours count every bit as much as dazzling displays against the top-four trail-blazers.
QPR boss Harry Redknapp came oh so close to giving Mourinho another bloody nose following last season's shock 1-0 win here.
Only a rash challenge from Eduardo Vargas 15 minutes from the end handed Chelsea their lifeline and a disappointed Redknapp insisted it was no foul.
Redknapp said: "It was a shoulder charge between two tiny guys. They bounced off each other. I'm not saying he dived but it was a soft, soft penalty.
"We didn't lie down against the best team in the country. We deserved a point. It was a good away performance."
A lacklustre Chelsea only switched on shortly after the club's lights did.
And within four minutes the Bridge had a perfect view of a goal which would have earned a ten from Len for beauty and execution if Strictly head judge Len Goodman had been in residence.
As the hosts broke the king of assists, Cesc Fabregas, took over with a neat ball into the box.
There was plenty to do for Oscar but in one stunning movement he stroked the ball with the outside of his right boot and it flew past Green into the corner.
A delighted Mourinho gazed to the heavens in amazement.
But there was little else for him to be happy about as Chelsea dominated with a midfield attacking quartet of Oscar, Eden Hazard, Willian and Fabregas all exchanging slick passes and intuitive flicks but with no end product.
Returning striker Diego Costa might as well have continued his break, often being completely starved of the ball.
He left to a standing ovation when the Spain international was taken off.
That owed more to relief of the home fans that he is back to score the goals they hope will lead them to the Premier League title.
By then Chelsea had recovered from the shock of conceding a goal to a QPR side growing in confidence because they had not been blown away by Mourinho's runaway leaders.
It came just after Redknapp answered the chants of the QPR fans to bring on Bobby Zamora - although it was his sidekick Charlie Austin who got the glory.
Thibaut Courtois punched out from Vargas and when Leroy Fer's mishit follow up spun towards goal Austin, who had scored both goals in QPR's 2-0 win over Villa, back flicked the ball over the line.
The hosts were visibly rattled - even more so when Courtois had to fingertip a low strike from Sandro around the post.
And Mourinho had seen enough.
He sounded the cavalry charge and Didier Drogba was summoned from the bench as the Special One ordered the tempo to be stepped up.
The break soon arrived and Hazard's gallop into the box was halted rashly by Vargas, who was the wrong side of him.
The Belgium international picked himself up to confidently send Green the wrong way to maintain Chelsea's 100 per cent home record and maintain the four-point cushion right at the top of the table.
Of more significance, though, is the nine-point gap between themselves and champions Manchester City.
The hosts ended with a real flourish, with Green twice saving superbly from Andre Schurrle and John Terry.
But the finale did not fool a brutally honest Mourinho, who confessed: "I just wasn't happy because we didn't play as well as I was expecting.
"We had periods of good football but not nearly consistent enough.
"We deserved to win but we didn't play well."