Liverpool ended Chelsea's 86-game unbeaten run at Stamford Bridge yesterday with a 1-0 victory and went three points clear at the top of the English Premier League.

Midfielder Xabi Alonso scored in the 10th minute with a shot that was deflected into the net by Chelsea defender Jose Bosingwa.

Claudio Ranieri's Chelsea side lost in February 2004 to Arsenal, but the London club hadn't been beaten at home since then, a record that remained intact under Jose Mourinho and Avram Grant.

The loss came two days after Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari reportedly suggested that his side could finish the season unbeaten.

But Chelsea rarely looked capable of denying the Reds a confidence-boosting victory that bolsters hopes that manager Rafa Benitez can end Liverpool's 19-year wait for its 19th league title in May.

Alonso, who Benitez tried to offload in the summer, scored with huge assistance from Bosingwa.

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech had been diving to his right to block Alonso's shot until Bosingwa diverted the ball away from Cech and into the net.

It was the first goal Chelsea had conceded in more than ten hours over seven league and cup matches while Liverpool's solid defensive barrier, marshaled superbly by Jamie Carragher, prevented Chelsea from creating many threatening chances.

Alonso could have doubled the lead in the 62nd with a free kick that struck the base of the goal post with Cech well beaten.

Liverpool has 23 points from nine games to Chelsea's 20, which is ahead on goal difference from Hull City, whose remarkable start to life in the top flight continued with a 3-0 win at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Manchester United wasted the chance to close in on the Premier League leaders when a poor second half display resulted in a 1-1 draw at Everton.

Midfielder Darren Fletcher put the champion in front after 22 minutes and the Old Trafford side should have had the points in the bag before the break but a second-half header by Marouane Fellaini gave Everton a deserved point.

Also, Sunderland beat Newcastle United 2-1 at the Stadium of Light, Kieran Richardson's thunderous free kick 15 minutes from time earning Sunderland a first home victory against its northeast rival for 28 years.

The end of the match which left Newcastle second from bottom was marred by skirmishes between rival sets of fans and riot police moved in to restore order.

Mid-table Blackburn Rovers scrambled a 1-1 draw at home to Middlesbrough thanks to a stoppage-time header by Benni McCarthy after Afonso Alves had given Boro the lead.

Hull was put under pressure throughout the first half by fellow league newcomer West Brom, with goalkeeper Boaz Myhill saving well from Borja Valero and Ishmael Miller, while Jonas Olsson headed against the crossbar.

West Brom paid for not taking its chances when Hull defender Kamil Zayatte volleyed Dean Marney's corner past Scott Carson in the 47th.

Geovanni doubled the advantage in the 62nd with a diving header, after releasing Marlon King and receiving the ball back again. On-loan striker King added a third four minutes later.

(Agencies via Shanghai Daily October27, 2008)