Drogba 33

                                                                                                                          Lampard 54

Chelsea are one win from the EPL title after a canter against a mediocre Liverpool at Anfield.

After pre-match denials that Liverpool would be keener on Chelsea pipping Manchester United to the title than on winning this game, it was ironic that Chelsea’s opening goal should come from a mistake by Reds captain Steven Gerrard.

His 33^rd minute backpass was seized upon by Didier Drogba, who rounded Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina and rolled the ball into the net in front of the Kop.

Until then, Liverpool had matched Chelsea. And the increasingly-impressive Alberto Aquilani nearly gave them a 10^th-minute lead when his 25-yard right-foot piledriver shaved the crossbar.

However, Chelsea strolled to victory after the goal, and were denied an emphatic win by controversial refereeing from Alan Wiley and fine goalkeeping by Reina.

Wiley dismissed furious Chelsea penalty appeals on 45 minutes after Lucas appeared to foul a goalbound Salomon Kalou.

But on 50 minutes, Frank Lampard did double Chelsea’s advantage, sweeping home Nicolas Anelka’s right-wing cross from close range.

And Reina made second-half saves from Anelka, twice, Michael Ballack, Kalou and, on 67 minutes, a fantastic left-handed stop from Florent Malouda’s 20-yard left-foot volley, as Chelsea controlled the game.