• Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool, Premier League

Johnson returns to haunt Chelsea in Liverpool victory

ESPN staff
November 20, 2011
Glen Johnson proved the match-winner for Liverpool © Getty Images
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Glen Johnson came back to haunt his former club on Sunday as Liverpool stormed Stamford Bridge for the second time in as many seasons to beat Chelsea 2-1.

Johnson broke into the box with four minutes of normal time remaining to net a priceless Liverpool winner, embarrassing England colleague Ashley Cole en route before keeping his cool to slot the ball into the far corner.

Chelsea had earlier turned in a calamitous first-half display as they cracked under the pressure of some excellent pressing by Liverpool, who deservedly led at half-time through Maxi Rodriguez. Daniel Sturridge's arrival signalled a much improved response from the home side after the break and he appeared to have earned a point, but Johnson's late solo effort could well spell the end of Chelsea's title challenge this season.

A draw leaves the Blues 12 points behind league leaders Manchester City, while Liverpool move level with Andre Villas-Boas' side in their hunt for a Champions League spot.

Almost a year ago Chelsea and Liverpool signed £85 million of attacking talent as Fernando Torres headed to Stamford Bridge, with Andy Carroll his replacement at Anfield. However, neither featured in the starting line-ups as Didier Drogba returned for Chelsea, while Craig Bellamy and Maxi came in for Liverpool - with Stewart Downing also making way.

The result of Kenny Dalglish's gamble was an excellent first half display by Liverpool, who deservedly led 1-0 at the break through Maxi. Taking advantage of Chelsea's high line, the Reds ran in behind the home defence with alarming regularity, although the goal came from a crazy mistake by John Obi Mikel.

Maxi Rodriguez opened the scoring for Liverpool © Getty Images
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Petr Cech did not help his team-mate by passing the ball to him under pressure on the edge of his own area, but Mikel still should not have relinquished possession so readily to Charlie Adam. Bellamy pounced on the loose ball to play a brilliant one-two with Luis Suarez, before unselfishly squaring for Maxi to prod past the despairing lunge of Cech.

Prior to that moment Liverpool had threatened on three or four occasions, with Johnson and Bellamy raiding down the right, while Suarez found acres of space by dropping into midfield. The only thing missing was the final ball, but that problem was solved by Bellamy's assist for Maxi.

Chelsea threatened only briefly in the opening 45 minutes, firstly when Juan Mata drilled a right-footed volley across goal and then when a Drogba free-kick had just about everybody in the ground believing it had finished the right side of a post.

Villas-Boas' response was an aggressive one, replacing Mikel with Sturridge at half-time, and it took just 10 minutes to bring reward as the England youngster tapped home at the back post. Dalglish will have been furious with his midfield for allowing Florent Malouda to drift unchallenged into the area, where his cross-cum-shot fell perfectly for Sturridge to find the net.

The goal sparked a momentum shift, and Liverpool needed a world class save from Pepe Reina to deny Chelsea the lead through Branislav Ivanovic's header. Almost the entire second period was played in the Liverpool half, and Malouda should have put his side ahead when he volleyed wide at the back post.

The script appeared to be written for Torres when he came on against his former club with eight minutes remaining, but instead it was Chelsea who were haunted by a familiar face as Johnson strode forward to produce a moment of match-winning brilliance.

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