LONDON, London (AFP) — Glen Johnson’s brilliant 87th minute goal secured Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge here yesterday and increased the pressure on Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas.

The defeat was Chelsea’s second successive home loss and came after it looked as if they had secured a point when Daniel Sturridge cancelled out Maxi Rodriguez’s first half opener with an equaliser 10 minutes after the restart.

But Johnson’s late strike ensured his former club suffered a third defeat in four Premier League games and moved Liverpool up to sixth, level on points with the Blues.

Chelsea are now 12 points behind table-toppers Manchester City.

Villas-Boas sprang a surprise before kick-off, omitting Fernando Torres from his starting line-up, denying the striker the chance to face the club he left for 50 million during January’s transfer window.

Dalglish mirrored his opposite number’s move by leaving Andy Carroll, Torres’s 35 million replacement, on the bench.

But it was Dalglish who had more cause to be satisfied during a first half when the defensive lapses that had marred Chelsea’s last home outing, the 5-3 defeat by Arsenal, resurfaced with alarming regularity.

Liverpool were impressive from the start.

But while they chased and harried, Chelsea were surprisingly lethargic and repeatedly conceded possession in dangerous areas.

A 22nd minute Didier Drogba free kick almost gave the home side the lead but it was Liverpool who were in the ascendancy with striker Luis Suarez apparently unaffected by facing an FA charge following allegations he racially abused Manchester United’s Patrice Evra.

Both Suarez and Chelsea’s John Terry, accused of racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand, wore ‘Kick it Out’ T-shirts during the warm-up, as did their teammates with Sunday’s match being dedicated in support of the anti-racism campaign.