Eto'o pounces as Blues beat Liverpool

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Samuel Eto'o scored a close-range winner to secure three points against Liverpool following a pulsating encounter at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea supporters were stunned into silence when Martin Skrtel gave the visitors a third-minute lead as he bundled the ball beyond Petr Cech after a melee in the penalty area - but the Blues immediately responded with a deadly attacking display.

First Frank Lampard had a stinging drive tipped over the bar by Simon Mignolet before Eden Hazard restored parity with a magnificent curling effort from outside the box. Samuel Eto'o then poked home from close range before the interval for what would be the eventual winner as the Blues consolidated third place; moving within two points of league leaders Arsenal in the process.

It was a superb show of character from Mourinho's side to come from behind against an improving Liverpool side who were desperately unlucky to be beaten at the Etihad Stadium by Manchester City on Boxing Day. It was certainly through a similar stroke of fortune that the Blues were able to profit here, with the Merseysiders bemoaning the lack of a penalty decision when Eto'o appeared to upend Luis Suarez in the penalty area late on.

But that moment encapsulated a day where supposed player of the season Suarez was totally ineffective - the best the Uruguayan could conjure was a volley from the edge of the box that was directed straight into the midriff of Petr Cech.

Liverpool did have their moments - Mamadou Sakho hit the bar with a lopping header in the early stages of the second half, and Petr Cech was forced into a low save to deny a deflected Glen Johnson effort - but it must be noted that the visitors, missing a number of regulars through injury, looked jaded following the hectic festive schedule, and Suarez was not alone in under-performing somewhat.

Ultimately, Chelsea were the better side and were worthy winners of a magnificent match-up between two title rivals. Whilst Chelsea rise to within two points of the league leaders, Liverpool - who were top of the tree just four days ago - have slumped to fifth place.

The away side took the lead when Skrtel converted from close range after a fortuitous rebound off of Branislav Ivanovic's backside fell invitingly into his path - but that goal only seemed to awake the monster within as the West London outfit responded with a deadly attacking salvo.

After Lampard had a raking effort clawed over the bar, Hazard swept a curling shot into the top corner beyond the goalkeeper's despairing dive - before Eto'o had what would be the final say as he turned Oscar's intelligent pass over the line.

Liverpool twice thought they should have had penalties - first Suarez went up for a challenge with Blues skipper John Terry and complained about an excessive use of force from the veteran defender on his 600th Chelsea appearance, before Eto'o cynically kicked out at the Uruguay international in an off-the-ball incident in the final stages.

Whilst the first incident was one of those that could have been fairly given either way - in this instance correctly not given, after Hazard had been felled in a similar manner in the first half by Lucas Leiva; a showing of consistency from referee Howard Webb - the latter was a moment of madness from Eto'o, and after recent matches where his wastefulness in front of goal has become a cause for concern, the Cameroon striker was exceptionally lucky to get away with an incident that may have cost the Blues the three points.

Nevertheless, it was a performance to be proud of from José Mourinho's men, and the manager can be pleased particularly with the performances of his two goalscorers - Hazard in particular - but also David Luiz for a miserly, no-nonsense showing at the heart of midfield. With Frank Lampard substituted off with a muscle strain, there is a possibility Blues fans may see more of the Brazilian in that position in the foreseeable future.

And thus another year ends - a year where the Blues lifted another European trophy and The Special One made a dramatic comeback to see his beloved Chelsea through the quagmire of "transition". Whilst there have been a number of lows along the way, Eto'o's winner ensures that we will look back on 2013 with nothing but fondness, and this result bodes well for the future - Chelsea are not yet anywhere near top form, but they are only two points off top spot. Make of that what you will.

But what it all boils down to - quite nicely - is karma. Remember one of those aforesaid "low points", back at Anfield, when we looked to have thrown third place away when Suarez scored a 97th-minute equaliser? Remember when he wasn't sent off for biting Ivanovic? Well, he will recall a lack of a penalty decision here. Karma's a bitch, and it has bitten back. Hard.

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[Stingray 9,441]

Yeah! Nice and fast, you sexy beast

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Yeah! Nice and fast, you sexy beast

WOOHOO! Now rep me you big bloody Belgian!

[Stingray 9,441]

WOOHOO! Now rep me you big bloody Belgian!

Done

:eyebrows:

[zolayes 14,489]

WE are NEVER lucky against the fucking scum

[Barbara 15,149]

once again very entertaining read provided by you, Lex.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Muito obrigado, B!

[Sidzeret 2,257]

Karma's a bitch. Indeed.

Scouse defenders had had more threatening shots on Cech's goal than their attackers.

[bluephoenix 1,126]

Wow reading your articles are fun, short and sweet :-)

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Thanks for reading folks!

Wow reading your articles are fun, short and sweet :-)

Yeah, I used to make them so ridiculously detailed! Was no point to it, so superfluous, I literally covered every element of the game. My reports used to be in excess of 2000 words. Even I, when reading them back, found them hard to digest - so it made me realise that to keep people entertained, you have to be succinct, otherwise people lose interest. So I very rarely exceed 850 words these days, makes it a lot easier to absorb the information, but I can still be analytical.

[bushman 2,043]

Yeah! Nice and fast, you sexy beast

Sexy ? Are you into...?

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Sexy ? Are you into...?

No, he's married, but any person with a sane mind would be into me. My arse is better than Ivanovic's.

[bushman 2,043]

No, he's married, but any person with a sane mind would be into me. My arse is better than Ivanovic's.

Variety is the spice of life. Good luck. The ball is in your court.

[BleedsBlue 1,549]

I admire Jose's belief in his players. He started Eto'o for this even though he had a misfiring game against Swansea. I am glad that the belief paid dividends,Eto'o worked his socks off and had a great game.

[bushman 2,043]

We all are very happy to have seen Samuel worked hard yesterday. However, will we see the same, next time. Is he physically capable ? Only time will tell. I still would like to make sure & get a striker.