Liverpool - Chelsea have one foot in the last four of the Champions League after they stunned Liverpool 3-1 at Anfield on Wednesday.

Fernando Torres put Liverpool ahead after just six minutes but Chelsea were the better side after that and two goals from defender Branislav Ivanovic and one from Didier Drogba completed a well-earned victory.

Five-time champions Liverpool will need a massive performance now in the second leg at Stamford Bridge if they are to even stand a chance of progressing.

The two teams were meeting in the Champions League for the fifth season in a row, with Liverpool having won in 2005 (on their way to winning the Cup) and 2007 but Chelsea advancing last season.

Liverpool went into the match on the back of five straight wins in all competitions and it looked like it might be another great European night for them when they took the lead in the fifth minute.

After Chelsea failed to clear their area, the ball dropped to Dirk Kuyt, whose clever flick released Alvaro Arbeloa. The Spaniard squared the ball to his compatriot Torres, whose finish gave Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech no chance.

Chelsea almost responded immediately when Fabio Aurelio dallied on the ball and Drogba found himself one-on-one with Jose Reina, but the Liverpool goalkeeper stood strong and blocked his shot.

Drogba blasted an even better chance over the bar with his left foot but Chelsea were beginning to get into the match, with the Ivory Coast striker giving Jamie Carragher a torrid time, while Michael Essien was not allowing Steven Gerrard any room.

And on 38 minutes, their pressure told as Branislas Ivanovic evaded the Liverpool defence to head a Florent Malouda corner past Reina.

Gerrard shot just wide three minutes into the second half while at the other end, Carragher cleared a Drogba shot off the line before Torres blasted a decent chance too high.

Terry was then booked for a pointless challenge on Reina, meaning he will miss the second leg, but Chelsea's disappointment turned to joy when Ivanovic scored his second goal in almost identical fashion, firing an unstoppable header into the net.

Liverpool looked stunned but they were then left dumbstruck when Michael Ballack fed Malouda, whose perfect cross was hammered in by Drogba five minutes later.

Rafael Benitez brought on Yossi Benayoun, Andrea Dossena and eventually Ryan Babel, for the disappointing Lucas, but the changes had little effect.

Xabi Alonso tested Cech with a long-range effort, but Chelsea kept their advantage to take a massive step towards the semi-finals. (dpa)