Whenz Felipe Scolari took charge of Chelsea last summer, the club were full of big expectations - now they are just heading for major disappointment.

Referee Mike Riley may have stolen the headlines for wrongly sending off Frank Lampard on the hour, however even his error couldn't disguise the fact Chelsea froze in another big game.

The Blues are appealing against Riley's decision in a bid to ensure Lampard escapes a three-game ban, but they should look at themselves for another abject performance which makes them outsiders now to win the League.

The facts don't lie. Chelsea's first and only shot on target came after Lampard had left the fray and Salomon Kalou's tame effort provided mere catching practice for Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina. It was a similar story in their 3-0 demolition at Manchester United three weeks ago and this team no longer look capable of beating the best.

That should be a major cause for concern, not just because of the damage it has inflicted on their title hopes but also because there is a Champions League tie against Juventus on the horizon and self-doubt must be running throughout the squad.

One point from five games against the Premier League elite is simply not good enough and is why they are seeing United disappear into the distance.

The level of despondency shared among the club's fans is sure to increase today as they watch most of the other teams strengthen their squads before the window closes at 5pm. Chelsea need more than a quick fix, though, they require a thorough makeover and Roman Abramovich may not be prepared to go to those lengths again.

Scolari still doesn't appear the best man for the job either. The Brazilian insisted before the match that his side had to win to keep up the pressure on United and yet there was little sign of such ambition.

He elected to play the same front three in Kalou, Nicolas Anelka and Florent Malouda which failed to pose a threat in the 1-0 defeat to Liverpool at Stamford Bridge earlier in the season.

If he wanted the three points then surely it was time to start with Didier Drogba alongside Anelka but the Liverpool defence were allowed to coast through 90 minutes once more.

Four straight wins against the unmighty quartet of Southend, Stoke, Ipswich and Middlesbrough had given the 60-year-old a temporary reprieve from intense scrutiny.

He is back in the firing line and might as well fall on his sword should Juventus triumph. At the moment he continues to put on a brave, if somewhat resigned, front. He said: "We need to go game by game and we will see what happens when we arrive at the final [game]. Now there is more distance.

"We are behind two clubs now, United and Liverpool and with us is Aston Villa. It is not in our hands for sure.

"Pressure for me? Well, I have my job, I work every day and I do my best - so for me there is no pressure. If I do my best then I don't have a problem."

Whether the fans who made another fruitless journey to the north-west will be quite so pragmatic is unlikely.

It seemed the snow shower at kick-off had taken the heat out of the occasion, with Liverpool supporters surprisingly quiet. A few fouls from the men in blue soon changed that, as well as a fine 25- yarder from Xabi Alonso which Chelsea keeper Petr Cech did well to tip over.

While Liverpool lacked the quality in their play which makes one doubt whether they can overtake United, at least they showed they were prepared to fight as a team. The visitors had only the odd individual standing out, particularly the central defensive pair of John Terry and Alex.

Rafael Benitez's men almost took the lead before the break when Ashley Cole sent the ball just past his own goal after Cech had blocked Albert Riera's low shot. Eight minutes after Lampard's departure in the 60th minute, Alex flung himself at an Alonso shot and the ball defected onto the bar.

Substitute Yossi Benayoun then saw his fine effort saved by Cech and it looked like Liverpool were going to draw for the fifth game in a row.

But then Fernando Torres, who had been subdued, finally sprung into action in the 89th minute. He escaped the attentions of Terry and Alex for the first time and was there at the near post to head in Fabio Aurelio's cross.

It was too late for Chelsea to come back from such a blow and instead, just like at United, they crumbled. Cole's poor control let in Benayoun and while he redeemed the situation by tackling the midfielder, he only sent the ball straight to Torres to score again.

They were his first League goals since October having been out with a hamstring injury and it made Benitez's afternoon all the more satisfying.

He said: "It was important for the team and also for him. To see Fernando coming back will be very important for us for the rest of the season.

"I am really pleased with our position. For me it was a long race before this game and we were in a very good situation. It is still a long race now, but we are in a better position."