Premier League: Chelsea 0 Liverpool 1

Chelsea’s hopes that 50 million pound record signing Fernando Torres would become an instant hero lasted only 66 minutes.

He was substituted at Stamford Bridge and could only watch as his former club Liverpool scored a famous 1-0 victory.

A goal from Raul Meireles after 69 minutes gave Kenny Dalglish’s side a stunning and deserved victory leaving Liverpool fans to sing ‘you should have stayed at a big club’ as Torres looked on from the bench.

Earlier Torres had been given a rousing reception by Chelsea fans and booed by the visitors after moving to London from Anfield in a shock transfer deadline day deal.

But the Spaniard looked out of sorts and out of form as he barely touched the ball all match, wasting two good chances before being hauled off in favour of Salomon Kalou.

By that time Meireles had won the game for resurgent Liverpool, firing home a Steven Gerrard cross to seal a result that takes Liverpool up to sixth and leaves Chelsea hanging onto fourth, tied on points with Spurs, and now 10 points adrift of the leaders.

Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti had attempted to squeeze his new striker into the team without dropping either Didier Drogba or Nicolas Anelka, but his new-look 4-3-1-2 formation was a disaster.

When Mikel was booked after only 22 seconds for a bad foul on Gerrard it was clear the home side were off to a bad start.

But it could have been different if Torres had been more alert as he wasted two good chances.

First he raced towards goal after Maxi gave the ball away, but fired his effort over the bar; then, with 31 minutes on the clock, he was sent away by Drogba but saw his shot superbly blocked by Jamie Carragher.

Carragher, playing his first game since November because of injury, was outstanding all match and Liverpool grew in confidence as the minutes ticked by.

In fact, they should have gone ahead when Gerrard fizzed a low ball right across goal – and Maxi somehow managed to hit the bar from only three yards out with keeper Petr Cech stranded.

With Chelsea struggling to cope with their new system the home team became increasingly frustrated, not least when Cech and Ivanovic argued on the cusp of half-time following a mix-up in the six-yard box.

Glen Johnson then went close after the break for Dalglish’s team and when Meireles’ goal came it was well deserved.

Chelsea, with Kalou on for Torres, did have a couple of half-hearted penalty claims – the best when Johnson ran into Ivanovic in injury time – but Cech also had to produce a superb save to deny Liverpool sub Aurelio and the visitors were worthy winners.