Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink grabbed a late winner to give big-spending Chelsea a 2-1 victory at Liverpool in their opening game of the premier league season on Sunday.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink scored the winner in a 2-1 Chelsea's 2-1 win over Liverpool. [Reuters]

The Dutch substitute drove a low shot into the Liverpool net after 87 minutes in front of the club's new Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich, who was watching from the Anfield directors' box. Liverpool looked to have salvaged a draw when England striker Michael Owen scored controversially with a twice-taken penalty after 79 minutes.

Argentine midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron, one of 70 million pounds ($112 million)-worth of new signings made in the close season by Chelsea, had given the London club a 25th-minute lead.

Abramovich was jubilant when Hasselbaink fired past the exposed Jerzy Dudek in the Liverpool goal after being played through by an intricate pass from Frank Lampard to give Chelsea only their third victory at Anfield since World War Two.

The goal put Chelsea in front again after Michael Owen had cancelled out Veron's opener from the penalty spot.

Wayne Bridge hauled down the elusive El-Hadji Diouf in the 76th minute to prompt referee Steve Bennett to point to the spot.

Owen screwed the penalty wide of the left hand post with goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini diving the other way only for the striker to be given a second chance on the insistence of the linesman.

This time the England forward made no mistake and beat Cudicini with a well-struck effort into the roof of the net.

SURPRISE TACTIC

Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri produced a surprise in his team formation with left-winger Damien Duff playing on the right flank and Eidur Gudjohnsen playing as a lone forward.

The system failed to sparkle as Cudicini saved Chelsea from falling behind in the opening 90 seconds by palming away Danny Murphy's low shot from Emile Heskey's neat lay-off.

The keeper had to be alert again in the 20th minute to twice smother the ball at Owen's feet following Murphy's defence splitting pass.

Moments later Liverpool's new signing Harry Kewell raced past defender John Terry to fire across goal as Chelsea struggled to retain possession.

Ranieri, renowned for changing tactics during the match, did just that in the 25th minute and his decision paid dividends immediately.

Jesper Gronkjaer switched to Duff's right wing position, collected Frank Lampard's pass and reached the goalline before pulling the ball back for the influential Veron to drill a shot home on his league debut for his new club.

Chelsea caught Liverpool on the break as Veron's pass picked out Gudjohnsen's run just as Gerard Houllier's side pushed up in an attempt to play them offside.

The striker raced away on his own but elected to shoot rather than round the keeper and Dudek saved well with his chest.

That was Gudjohnsen's last contribution as he was replaced at halftime by Hasselbaink, who linked well with the impressive Veron.

The second half brought Owen's penalty and Hasselbaink's winner but contained few of the numerous first half chances, although Dudek had to dive to his right to touch Frank Lampard's dangerous long-range drive over the bar.

Close

Today's Top News		Top Sports News
+Commentary: US job losses not China's fault ( 2003-08-18) +Civil flights to be policed from October ( 2003-08-18) +Earthquake topples 7,900 homes, kills three ( 2003-08-18) +China to restructure auto industry ( 2003-08-18) +Regulators plan long-term boost for bourses ( 2003-08-18)		+Man City rout Charlton 3-0; Sun Jihai scores again ( 2003-08-18) +Hasselbaink gives Chelsea victory over Liverpool ( 2003-08-18) +Trade helps Mavericks front court, Warriors' guard spot ( 2003-08-18) +Henin wins in Toronto; Roddick lands back-to-back Masters Series double ( 2003-08-18) +Ningxia ready for games ( 2003-08-18)