Chelsea got their title aspirations back on track with a thumping 5 – 0 victory over Portsmouth on Wednesday night.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side were leading through the first of Didier Drogba’s two goals at Fratton Park when Malouda was let off with a caution after elbowing Portsmouth defender Ricardo Rocha, leaving the Portuguese international with a suspected fractured cheekbone.
Malouda took full advantage of his reprieve by netting two goals in the space of ten second half minutes as Chelsea reduced Manchester United’s lead at the top of the table to a single point.
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich had demanded a response from his team after last week’s Champions League exit at the hands of Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan and subsequent 1-1 draw at Blackburn.
Despite making a lethargic start Chelsea, boosted by goalkeeper Peter Cech’s return, never looked in any danger of succumbing to a side 11 points adrift at the bottom of the table.
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Fernando Torres (2), Albert Aquilani and Ryan Babel all scored for Liverpool as they beat Portsmouth 4 – 1 last night at Anfield in their English Premier League encounter.
The summer signing, brought in after Xabi Alonso’s sale to Real Madrid, has struggled to adapt to life in England but was at the heart of everything in only his fifth Barclays Premier League start. It was the first time since they beat Hull City 6-1 on 26th September that Liverpool had scored more than two goals in a league match and that helped lift them to fifth in the table, a point behind Tottenham Hotspur having played one match more.
For Portsmouth the defeat ensured their 59-year winless run at Anfield continued but, considering their off-field problems, it will hardly have a defining impact on their season.
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Portsmouth beat fellow English Premier League side Birmingham City 2 – 0 to reach the FA Cup semi-finals thanks to two goals by Frederic Piquionne.
But London rivals Fulham and Tottenham – managed by Harry Redknapp, who masterminded Portsmouth’s FA Cup triumph in 2008 – will have to replay after a goalless draw at Craven Cottage.
French forward Piquionne scored twice in three second-half minutes for Portsmouth, forcing the ball home from close range and then, in the 70th minute, after being played in by Jamie O’Hara, beating Joe Hart when one-on-one with the goalkeeper to the delight of the Fratton Park faithful.
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