Dirk Kuyt took advantage of Peter Crouch's touch to put the skids under injury-hit Chelsea after three minutes.

Jermaine Pennant's brilliant dipping volley effectively sealed the points for Liverpool after 17 minutes in boss Rafa Benitez's 100th league game.

The defeat leaves Chelsea six points behind Manchester United - defeated by Arsenal today- and puts Liverpool only five points behind Jose Mourinho's troubled champions.

Jamie Carragher made his 450th appearance for Liverpool.