A bizarre error from Liverpool captain Stephen Gerrard gifted Chelsea the first goal in a 0-2 home defeat to Carlo Ancelotti’s men.
Many had questioned whether Liverpool would want to throw Manchester Utd a title life line by beating table-toppers Chelsea ahead of the game, and the manner in which Gerrard (pictured above just after his team’s home defeat) handed the lead to the visitors will be highlighted by the conspiracy theorists.
A Liverpool win would have set United up for their 19th league title – one more than Liverpool’s joint record of 18.
Didier Drogba intercepted Gerrard’s back pass to give his side the lead on 31 minutes.
Liverpool were in fact the better of the two sides up until the mistake. The best chance of the early stages falling to an uncharacteristically bright Alberto Aquilani who clipped the cross bar with a cracking shot from range.
However, they faded rapidly after conceeding and their misery (joy) was compounded soon afterwards when Frank Lampard stepped up to make it 0-2 on 54 minutes.
Chelsea now face a visit from Wigan Athletic in their final game of the season while Man United are at home to Stoke.
