Premier League: Chelsea 2 Manchester City 0

David Luiz and Ramires reignited Chelsea’s title hopes sending their team to third in the Premier League and overtaking Manchester City.

Defender Luiz headed home a 78th minute free-kick from substitute Didier Drogba just when it seemed the match at Stamford Bridge was heading for a dull stalemate, and Brazilian Ramires added a wonderful second in injury time.

Chelsea are now third on 54 points, only four adrift of second-placed Arsenal and nine points behind Manchester United who have played a game more.

It was another disappointing day for 50 million pound striker Fernando Torres, who was once against substituted having failed to find the net.

But Chelsea can still celebrate a vital win that should reinvigorate their season and City – who badly missed injured Carlos Tevez – will once again be rueing their lack of ambition away from home.

The game certainly took time to get going.

Considering there was so much at stake it was surprising the match was played out for the first 75 minutes at least in deathly silence at Stamford Bridge and both teams unwilling to gamble at all-out attack.

City had won their previous three games against Chelsea, with Carlo Ancelotti commenting the defeats were down to being caught on the attack; and it was clear Chelsea were set up to avoid a repeat.

They left both Drogba and Nicolas Anelka on the bench, choosing Salomon Kalou to play in and around Torres.

Petr Cech saved an early effort from Yaya Toure as City started the brighter but Chelsea managed only one shot on goal in the opening 45 minutes, Kalou chipping a shot straight to the unflappable Joe Hart just before the break.

The second half was livelier as Chelsea at least attempted to break the deadlock and they almost went ahead following an excellent move that ended with a disappointingly tepid shot from Florent Malouda.

The key moment came when Ancelotti took off Malouda and Torres – who is still waiting for his first goal for the club – and replaced them with Drogba and Nicolas Anelka.

It was not a popular move with the home crowd, who booed the decision and chanted Torres’ name but it reaped almost instant dividends as Drogba sent in a free-kick from the left and Luiz, signed from Benfica in the January transfer window, twisted to glance a fine header past Hart.

Then Ramires, an 18m pound buy also from Benfica last summer, danced through the City defence and finished superbly to wrap up victory for the Blues.