Indomitable Chelsea halt Liverpool's EPL title surge

Chelsea halted Liverpool’s Premier League title charge and maintained its own pursuit of the trophy with a 2-0 victory against the leaders on Sunday.

A resilient Chelsea successfully nullified a team on an 11-game winning streak, and Demba Ba seized on Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard’s slip in first-half stoppage time to score the opener at Anfield.

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge gave the ball away in the 90th minute to allow Chelsea to launch a rapid counterattack that Willian completed to inflict the Reds’ first loss since their encounter at Chelsea four months ago.

Now the title race is no longer in Liverpool’s hands.

Chelsea is two points behind Liverpool with two games remaining, but it is Manchester City who could be the big beneficiary. The 2012 champions are six points behind Liverpool in third, having played two games fewer and with a superior goal difference. City plays Crystal Palace later Sunday.

AP