Manchester City traveled to west London five points behind Chelsea, knowing that victory would take a large chunk out of that lead. Also traveling was Manchester City’s Frank Lampard, who until last season played for Chelsea and remains their record goal scorer.
His controversial move to Manchester City, when it had been thought he had signed for MLS team New York City FC, had angered many Chelsea supporters, giving extra spice to the clash.
But there was little drama in a largely benign encounter, with Chelsea showing signs of fatigue after their midweek exertions against Liverpool in the League Cup.
Cagey
–
West Ham have not won at Anfield since 1963 — a game in which England’s 1966 World Cup hero Geoff Hurst scored twice — so little was expected of the visiting side.
Liverpool eventually took the lead through Raheem Sterling but it was the return of striker Daniel Sturridge that had the Kop on their feet.
With Luis Suarez now at Barcelona and Sturridge injured for much of the season, Liverpool have struggled for goals. But the England international scored shorty after coming on, giving Liverpool another boost in their efforts to secure a Champions League spot.
Two of the teams in contention for fourth place in the league, Arsenal and Southampton, play against Aston Villa and Swansea respectively on Sunday.
