Nevertheless, the Reds fell to Chelsea 2-1, extending their winless streak to three in a week.
The Anfield crowd, in full voice, urged the home side from the kick off and the Reds responded with a quick surge. Emre Can shot inside the first minute, but it was from distance and deflected out of play. Yet, Liverpool managed to gain some possession in the opening few minutes, while absorbing the Chelsea attack.
Liverpool's intensity and commitment continued all the way in the ninth minute, when Can fired another shot from just outside the penalty area, this time with a fortuitous deflection that steered the ball into the net for an opening goal. The goal sent the home supporters into a frenzy of even greater volume.
Chelsea, however, seemed unfazed and equalized in the 14th minute. It was more sloppy defending on a corner kick, as Cesc Fabregas found Diego Costa, beyond the crowd on the back post. John Terry then headed a shot on target, forcing a strong save from Simon Mignolet, but the rebound fell to Gary Cahill who's attempt was ruled over the line by goal-line technology.
The home side responded with the same kind of positive, attacking play that they have been struggling to sustain. In the 20th minute, a series of corner kicks helped the Reds apply pressure on the visitors, but Chelsea’s balance and tight defense remained strong and compact.
Pushing forward, Philippe Coutinho turned into the middle, carving open the Chelsea midfield, and drove to the edge of the area before unleashing a shot that forced a strong save from Thibaut Courtois. Only a minute later, Raheem Sterling drove from the left side towards the centre but could not find Mario Balotelli running into the box.
With the score square, Liverpool kept possession and pushed forward but found it difficult to break down the league leaders, at times giving the ball away too cheaply. Chelsea maintained patience, always keeping five and six players deep behind the ball, looking to counter. In spite of the Blues attempts to capitalise on Liverpool errors, their lack of precision helped Liverpool endure the first half on level terms.
The second half started very much like the first ended with Chelsea seizing progressively greater control of the match. Liverpool struggled to maintain that same amount of possession they experienced for most of the first half.
In the 51st minute, Costa improvised from a poorly cleared Dejan Lovren header, twisting into an overhead attempt on goal that looped off his shin and over the bar.
Two minutes later, Sterling manufactured his own opportunity after challenging and picking the ball up in midfield, surging forward on the left before cutting inside Ivanovic and lashing a low drive to the far post that Courtois just batted away
Suspect defending haunted Liverpool again. In the 67th minute Chelsea’s César Azpilicueta easily beat Coutinho along the left touchline, driving towards goal. Glen Johnson offered little cover and the Blues fullback would challenge Mignolet, flashing a ball toward the near post, forcing the keeper to block and the ball travelled across the face of goal. It deflected off Moreno and right to Costa, who slotted home a right-footed finish for his 10th goal of the season.
Shortly after the goal, Coutinho and Can were replaced by Fabio Borini and Joe Allen respectively. In the 79th minute Lambert made a cameo appearance in place of Balotelli. For the final ten minutes, Liverpool pressed hard for an equalizer, finding more time in and around the opponent’s penalty area with minor genuine threat. However, Chelsea’s defense seemed to grow more suffocating the deeper it dropped.
Then, in the 88th minute, Gary Cahill threw himself, arm first, at a Steven Gerrard strike that could easily have resulted in a Liverpool penalty. Referee Anthony Taylor ignored multiple penalty claims and the Reds faltered with their fifth defeat of the season.
Despite the loss, this was a much improved performance by Liverpool overall. There was an energy and intent visible in the side that has been sorely missing for most of the season. Yet this match was against a table topping side that, barring some injuries, looks likely to coast to a title.
For all the chatter about manager Brendan Rodger’s team selections, the truth is that Liverpool have fallen in three consecutive fixtures, heading into another international break. Experiments have failed to produce results and Daniel Sturridge has yet to return. Liverpool finish a tough run of seven fixtures in 21 days similar to where they started. Questions and pressure will mount on the manager during this interim spell. The need for solutions have only become more urgent.
Still, this time the short break could prove a chance for Rodgers to rally the squad on the training ground. Yet, without sustained improvement and a strong run of form upon returning to league action, Liverpool run the risk of heading into the festive season on the outside looking in, with a top four place looking increasingly distant.
Follow Fred on Twitter @akh003