Michael Essien scored his second goal in two games since returning from a serious knee injury, giving Chelsea a 1-0 win over Manchester City on Sunday to stay second in the Premier League and add pressure on leader Manchester United.
The Ghana midfielder scored in the 18th minute at Stamford Bridge, hooking the ball home first time from inside the box after teammate Frank Lampard had taken a quick free kick from 35 meters (yards).
Essien, who returned from six months out with a ruptured cruciate ligament last week, also scored against Juventus last Tuesday to help Chelsea into the Champions League quarterfinals.
"He's very strong and he gives a lot to the team," Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink said. "He gives the team options to play differently. Being in three different competitions, we need options."
Chelsea is second in the standings with 61 points _ above Liverpool on goal difference _ to be four points behind Man United, albeit with the Red Devils having a game in hand.
Hiddink said Liverpool's win 4-1 over Man United on Saturday had revived interest in the league.
"The door is a little bit open," Hiddink said. "It gives them a blow and now all depends on their calmness Let's see how they react in the coming games but they have a lot of experience. We have to keep winning."
Man City dropped to 10th place with 35 points, six above the relegation zone, after extending its scoreless run at Stamford Bridge to eight years and failing to win at the stadium for 16 seasons.
It wasn't until the 23rd minute that Man City, which has not won away from home for 12 games, earned its first chance. However, Ecuadorean forward Felipe Caicedo, let loose by Wayne Bridge on the left, fired wide with the goal at his mercy.
Chelsea might have been have awarded a penalty when Nicolas Anelka, bearing down on goal from the right, was brought down by Nedum Onuoha in the area but referee Mike Riley waved play on.
Chelsea had further chances. In the 36th minute, Michael Ballack hooked wide while unbalanced after a neat backheel from Didier Drogba had sent him free on goal. Two minutes later, Essien headed over the crossbar from Lampard's flick.
Brazil forward Robinho, the subject of a transfer battle with Chelsea before moving to City for a British record 32.5 million pounds at the start of the season, gave a subdued performance and was jeered by the crowd.
City coach Mark Hughes said Robinho and the rest of his players were tired after Thursday's 2-0 UEFA Cup win over Aalborg.
"I think we looked a bit leggy," Hughes said. "The difference in preparation time told Today, it just wasn't Robbie's day. You can't expect one player to carry the team."
He was eventually substituted with 10 minutes left by Valeri Bojinov, who immediately drew a rare save from Petr Cech when he rifled a shot straight at the goalkeeper.
Chelsea began the second half with both Anelka and Essien shooting just wide in the first 10 minutes after the break.
The Blues came dangerously close to doubling their lead in the 52nd when Portugal right back Jose Bosingwa sprinted away on a jinking run before laying the ball off to Drogba, who forced goalkeeper Shay Given to make a punching save.
Drogba, who has returned to form since Guus Hiddink took over from the fired Luiz Felipe Scolari last month, hobbled off the pitch in the 70th minute with an apparent ankle injury but Hiddink said the problem did not appear serious.
Portugal playmaker Deco, who also limped off in the first half could miss the rest of the season, after aggravating a hamstring problem that has kept him out of the side for several weeks this season.
