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Victorious Chelsea dance to Brazilian beat

David Luiz's header finally broke the deadlock for Chelsea © Getty Images

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David Luiz headed home from close range before compatriot Ramires scored a fine individual effort to give Chelsea a crucial 2-0 win over Manchester City that keeps alive their Premier League aspirations.

In what was generally a dull game at Stamford Bridge, the January signing found space in the box with just ten minutes remaining to meet substitute Didier Drogba's free-kick and flick the ball past Joe Hart and inside the far post. Then, in the dying moments of the game, his fellow Brazilian showed quick feet to break into the box before coolly slotting the ball home.

It was probably what the home side deserved from a game where they had the better chances, although City may feel they deserved greater reward for some resilient defensive work.

Carlo Ancelotti opted to start the match with Fernando Torres leading the line, but the striker could not celebrate his 27th birthday with a first goal in Chelsea colours. He was given a great opportunity to do so from Frank Lampard's through-ball, but Nigel de Jong closed down the Spaniard to prevent his shot troubling Joe Hart.

He still looked lively, however, finding a fantastic flick to release Kalou that would have resulted in a Lampard shot if not for Vincent Kompany's intervention, while Ramires was left red-faced as he fell over in front of Salomon Kalou as the forward found space just eight yards out.

The second half continued in a similar vein, with Chelsea pushing hard but Manchester City proving up to the challenge defensively. Carlo Ancelotti's side were guilty to an extent of being wasteful, however, with Florent Malouda only able to hit his weak shot directly at Joe Hart when unmarked inside the penalty area.

Perhaps it was a sign City's defenders were flagging, however, as they increasingly began to ride their luck - with Branislav Ivanovic frustrated as he saw his header from six-yards rebound away off the unwitting Kompany.

City did carry a threat of their own, with the increasingly impressive Luiz making a number of timely interruptions to prevent Petr Cech being overly troubled. The Brazilian could do little from David Silva's free-kick, however, as Edin Dzeko flicked it only just wide of the far post.

Ancelotti eventually got impatient, withdrawing Torres and Malouda for Nicolas Anelka and Drogba in an adventurous double substitution. And it was Drogba who created the winner, the Ivorian's inswinging ball finding the head of Luiz - who shrugged off Alexander Kolarov to nod the ball past the despairing Hart.

Not content with their lead the Blues continued to press, with Joleon Lescott forced into an important stop. Then, with injury time underway, Ramires showed some samba flair as he received the ball from Michael Essien, beat two defenders - Kolarov again one of them - and calmly clipped the ball past Hart.

Dirk Kuyt put Liverpool ahead from the spot in fortuitous circumstances © Getty Images

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In Sunday's early kick-off, a dubious penalty from Dirk Kuyt and clever piece of individual skill from Luis Suarez were enough for Liverpool to beat Sunderland 2-0.

Kuyt scored from 12 yards shortly after the half-hour mark after the referee incorrectly adjudged Jay Spearing to have been fouled inside the area, before Suarez fired home from an acute angle with ten minutes remaining to secure all three points at the Stadium of Light.

Kenny Dalglish turned heads before kick-off as he finally partnered January signings Andy Carroll and Suarez in attack, but it was Kuyt who would end up opening the scoring in controversial circumstances.

Jay Spearing's surging run through on goal was ended illegally by John Mensah, initially seeing referee Kevin Friend give a free-kick on the edge of the box despite the midfielder falling inside the area. But the linesman had his flag raised, and after some consultation a penalty was awarded - despite subsequent repays clearly showing the contact came two yards outside the area.

Sunderland's players protested, but to no avail, and an unfazed Kuyt made no mistake as he calmly slotted the ball into the right-hand corner as Simon Mignolet dived the other way.

The two big money Reds signings had subsequent chances to show their worth, with Suarez denied by a fine save from Mignolet shortly after the opener and Carroll seeing his header cleared away off the line by Lee Cattermole just after half-time.

Suarez then saw his free-kick denied by the Belgian, as Sunderland struggled to find their way back into the game. Indeed it was their goalkeeper who remained their most influential player, called into action again as he dived to his right to palm away Spearing's vicious left-foot attempt.

By then Carroll had been withdrawn, but Suarez was still around and the Uruguayan would decide the match with a clever piece of play. Dribbling into the box near the right sideline, Suarez finally embarrassed Mignolet as he beat the 'keeper - who was anticipating a cross - at his near post from an acute angle with a powerful drive.

Salt was rubbed into the wounds for Steve Bruce's side as Mensah was then given his marching orders for a collison with Suarez as the forward tried to get on the end of the ball over the top.

Sunderland will doubtless feel aggrieved at that decision - as well as the penalty - but in reality they can have few complaints as they failed to manage a single shot on target until the 87th minute.

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