Liverpool ended a run of seven straight defeats at Stamford Bridge to beat Chelsea 1-0 and re-ignite their Champions League charge, thanks to Bruno Cheyrou's first half goal.

Cheyrou swept in Emile Heskey's low cross on 33 minutes and Liverpool survived a frantic second half despite losing keeper Jerzy Dudek to injury and El-Hadji Diouf to a dubious late sending-off.

Chelsea dominated possession and rattled the crossbar through Adrian Mutu's late header, but they lacked creativity throughout against a well-organised and resolute Liverpool rearguard effort.

How Chelsea are missing Damien Duff as their Championship challenge stutters in eerily familiar mid-season fashion. Lampard grafted and Cole flicked, Gudjohnsen powered and Mutu purred, but the Blues rarely looked like forcing an equaliser.

Dudek was barely forced into a save in the first half and Liverpool grabbed the lead when the impressive Heskey turned sharply on the right and fired in an early cross low to the far post for the arriving Cheyrou.

It was a classic counter-attack goal and the way Liverpool dug in to defend their advantage was reminiscent of their 'glory' days of a couple of seasons ago - when so many narrow leads were defended so defiantly.

Even when Dudek hobbled off, Liverpool barely wavered and replacement Patrice Zizi pulled off one excellent save at the feet of Mutu.

Zizi was beaten when Mutu outjumped the Liverpool defence with five minutes left, but his close range header cannoned off the crossbar.

The Romanian should have had a penalty when Stephane Henchoz climbed all over him in injury time, but perhaps referee Steve Dunn was making amends for the 84th minute sending-off of Diouf.

He and Mutu squared up on the right but the incident was over when the two men turned away, only for their legs to become entangled. Mutu hit the deck and Diouf saw red. Liverpool will probably see that as a small price to pay for their first Premiership win at the Bridge.
 

Teams

Chelsea Cudicini, Johnson, Gallas, Terry, Bridge, Makelele, Lampard, Cole (Gronkjaer 62), Geremi, Crespo (Gudjohnsen 12), Mutu.
Subs Not Used: Sullivan, Babayaro, Desailly.

Liverpool Dudek (Luzi Bernardi 77), Henchoz, Hyypia, Traore, Biscan, Diouf, Murphy, Hamann, Cheyrou (Riise 77), Heskey, Kewell.
Subs Not Used: Smicer, Owen, Le Tallec.
Sent Off: Diouf (87).
Booked: Heskey, Diouf.
Goals: Cheyrou 33.

Attendance: 41,420

Referee: S Dunn (Gloucestershire).