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.

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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.