Liverpool revived their English Premier League title hopes after Fernando Torres' last-gasp double gave them a 2-0 home win over ten-men Chelsea on Sunday.
The dramatic victory lifted Liverpool above Chelsea into a sole second place on 51 points, two behind leaders Manchester United who have a game in hand though.
Rafael Benitez's men dominated throughout in swirling snow but had to wait until very late for goals.
After Frank Lampard's controversial straight dismissal for a foul on Xabi Alonso, Torres opened the scoring with a 89th minute header and added a second deep into stoppage time.
"I think the result after what happened with Lampard was normal because they had more possession and quality, but before then, no." Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari told Sky Sports.
"I want the referee to look at this on television and maybe change this card. I see it as a foul by the other player."
In the other clash of the day, Shola Ameobi marked his first start for Newcastle United since December 21st with a goal as they held Sunderland to a 1-1 draw.
Newcastle are still on the edge of the relegation zone while Sunderland remain in a safer 13th place.
The game at Anfield looked destined for the draw even after Lampard was sent off on the hour, a decision Chelsea contested bitterly only to have John Terry booked for protesting.
Torres, having missed important games of the season due to injuries, burst into life in dying minutes. The Spanish international headed in a near-post cross from Fabio Aurelio before sealing a deserved win with a simple finish after substitute Yossi Benayoun had robbed Ashley Cole.
The replay showed Lampard took the ball first before making contact with Alonso, but Chelsea could have no serious complaints as they barely managed a shot on target.
While feeling the red card changed the game, Scolari admitted that Liverpool had been stronger.
"Liverpool were better than us all game," he said.
"We need to look again, to try again, we have many games but we are behind two clubs (on the league table)."
Liverpool, as expected, did not even include Robbie Keane on the bench, which intensified speculation that his Anfield career is drawing to a close only after six months.
Scolari was faithful with the eleven who started the 2-0 win over Middlesbrough in midweek but his men looked a different side struggling for real chances.
They were fortunate to keep a clean sheet in the first half, escaping four minutes before the break when Petr Cech saved well from Albert Riera, with the rebound striking Cole and rolling inches wide.
(Xinhua News Agency Feburary 2, 2009)
