Points were wastefully shed to Liverpool, the celebratory mood that had briefly flared when John Terry marked his return from domestic suspension with his first goal of the season having dissipated by the end. The four-point advantage at the top enjoyed a fortnight ago has been surrendered, with Roberto Di Matteo's side now third and playing catch-up.
This might actually have been worse had Petr Cech not reacted well to turn José Enrique's skimmed shot round a post in stoppage time, with Chelsea's vulnerability having been exposed not least by Terry's absence. The captain had not seen out the first half, crunched inadvertently by Luis Suárez, who had been nudged in the back by Ramires, and left thumping the turf in agony. He departed on a stretcher, medical staff left to scrutinise the state of his right knee, with concern mounting behind the scenes.
It was no way to mark his return to the fold, though at least he had the time to make an impact. This contest was drifting towards the midway stage of the first half when Chelsea won a corner, swung over by Juan Mata, and Terry darted into space to thump a header beyond Brad Jones. Daniel Agger should have done more to snuff out the home captain's threat, though the Dane had started the set-piece on the wrong side of his man and was blocked off by Glen Johnson and Branislav Ivanovic. By the time Terry was charging off to the corner flag in celebration, Agger's guilt was clear.
Chelsea's centre-halves have contributed as many Premier Leaguegoals so far this term as their extravagant attacking trio of Eden Hazard, Mata and Oscar, and the home side should have eased further clear thereafter, revelling whenever they sprinted in possession at back-tracking defenders.
Hazard's dart through the middle, leaving Joe Allen floored, might have prompted a second only for Jones to save well from Fernando Torres, the Australian thwarting the Spaniard's close-range header early in the second half. In between Mata should have gained personal reward after three visiting defenders collided and inadvertently released him. Yet, having eased into space, the forward skied his attempt over the bar.
Liverpool had offered little, with Steven Gerrard too peripheral and the possession they enjoyed spent in deep-lying areas. Anxiety set in whenever Petr Cech came into view, their route back into the contest a grind as they benefited from the hosts' profligacy and sought to create a clear-cut chance of their own. When it came, from the substitute Suso's corner, it was taken. Jamie Carragher, making his first Premier League start of the season, flicked on and Suárez, peeling off Ramires, nodded in a sixth goal in as many league games. The Londoners have now failed to keep a clean sheet in eight games in all competitions, stretching back to early October. Their principal weakness remains clear.