Chelsea emerged from a spate of draws to grind out a 2-0 victory over third-placed Liverpool and re-open their 15-point lead in the English Premier League on Sunday.
After three successive 1-1 draws for the champions, two in the league and one in the FA Cup, goals in each half by William Gallas and Hernan Crespo all but extinguished Liverpool's remote chance of overhauling them.
Liverpool have been a thorn in the side of Jose Mourinho's team in their Champions League tussles but after a bright opening half hour, they faded badly at Stamford Bridge.
The European champions' frustration boiled over eight minutes from time when Spanish goalkeeper Pepe Reina was sent off for raising a hand to Arjen Robben who collapsed to the floor holding his face.
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez accused the Dutch winger of making a meal of the incident.
"Now I must go quickly to the hospital to see Robben, he must be in the hospital now," an angry Benitez told Sky Sports.
"It's unbelievable, we have to stop these things. Pepe just touched him and he dived on the floor, it's so clear."
Earlier on Sunday, Tottenham Hotspur consolidated fourth place with a comprehensive 3-1 home victory against Charlton Athletic -- with Jermain Defoe twice on target.
Chelsea now have 66 points from 25 matches, Manchester United are second with 51 and Liverpool have 45 with two games in hand. Tottenham have 44.
United's 4-2 victory over Fulham on Saturday trimmed Chelsea's lead to 12 points and a victory for Liverpool would have raised the prospect of a revival of the title race.
Liverpool were the more impressive side early on, playing the more fluent football on a threadbare pitch.
AERIAL PROWESS
Midfielder Steven Gerrard was influential, as was giant striker Peter Crouch, whose aerial prowess ruffled Chelsea's rearguard. After 23 minutes Crouch headed over, leaving Chelsea keeper Petr Cech with a bloodied eye in the process.
Chelsea had hardly created a chance before they took the lead after 35 minutes. Joe Cole's outswinging corner was headed goalwards by Ricardo Carvalho and Gallas turned the ball past Reina from close range.
Crespo thought he had made it 2-0 on the stroke of halftime but his effort was ruled out for offside.
Liverpool sparked briefly after the interval with Mohamed Sissoko and Gerrard having chances to equalise, but Crespo killed them off after 68 minutes, racing away to smash a powerful shot past Reina.
Liverpool's misery was complete after 82 minutes when Reina's clumsy tackle after he had raced out of his goal left Eidur Gudjohnsen in a heap near the touchline.
He then became embroiled in a row with Robben who fell theatrically to the floor after a slight push in the face.
Tottenham's challenge for a top-four place got back on track after a three-game winless sequence thanks to a double from Defoe, who was granted a rare start alongside Robbie Keane by coach Martin Jol.
The England striker, who has slipped behind Keane and Egyptian striker Mido in the pecking order at White Hart Lane, took just 12 minutes to make an impact with a deflected shot past Charlton keeper Thomas Myhre.
Jermaine Jenas fired home a second goal five minutes before halftime and Defoe, who began his career at Charlton, made it 3-0 a minute into the second half with a clinical right-foot finish after being played in by substitute Tom Huddlestone.
Charlton substitute Jerome Thomas gave the visitors a glimmer of hope when he cut in to flash a shot past Paul Robinson with 20 minutes remaining.
Tottenham are four points above fifth-placed north London rivals Arsenal, who beat Birmingham City 2-0 on Saturday.
