Chelsea survive Ballack dismissal

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LONDON, England -- Chelsea hung on for a fiery 1-0 Premier League win over Liverpool, despite having Germany captain Michael Ballack sent off for stamping on Mohamed Sissoko in the 51st minute at Stamford Bridge.

The English champions held out after a superb 42nd minute goal by Didier Drogba had put them in front.

Chelsea moved to within a point of leaders Portsmouth, level on points with Manchester United, whose winning start was ended by Arsenal.

It was a highly charged game between rivals who have crossed swords 12 times since their managers, Jose Mourinho and Rafael Benitez, took over in 2004, and it produced end-to-end football.

Chelsea's goal came somewhat against the run of play in the 41st minute. Frank Lampard crossed precisely from the right and Ivory Coast striker Drogba turned and shot in one movement, leaving Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina standing helpless.

Until then Liverpool, apparently showing no ill-effects from their 3-0 Merseyside drubbing by Everton last weekend, nor their 0-0 Champions league trip to PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday, had easily held their own, moving with verve and purpose.

New Dutch signing Dirk Kuyt was unlucky not to score in the 16th minute when his fearsome strike from 20 meters rattled the crossbar.

Chelsea, coming off domestic and European wins, looked solid until the final third where they were still having trouble integrating close season purchase Andriy Shevchenko.

Penetrative

Mourinho substituted the Ukraine striker with Arjen Robben in the second half and the winger, newly returned from injury, proved more penetrative despite playing in a 10-man formation.

It was six minutes into the second half that the tension, evident from three first- half yellow cards and the flailing arms of both coaches on the touchline, erupted.

Sissoko stole the ball from Ballack and the German captain tumbled on the well watered green turf.

Frustrated, he returned to challenge Sissoko, stamping heavily on the Mali international midfielder's leg.

Referee Mike Riley showed an immediate red card which will earn Ballack a suspension of at least three games, relieving Mourinho of his much publicized midfield conundrum of how best to play his new signing and Lampard in tandem.

The Chelsea coach had no complaints about the referee's decision.

"It was a clear red card," Mourinho said. "Everybody who has seen it thinks the same and it kills the game.

" We are 1-0 up and play for 45 minutes with a player more. It's a completely different game.

"He (Ballack) told me he didn't go in to hurt the opponent but the rules are very clear. The red card is deserved."

Liverpool had free rein to come forward and it was keeper Petr Cech who kept them at bay, saving a point-blank shot by captain Steven Gerrard in the 68th minute.

Jermaine Pennant, Kuyt and Craig Bellamy also tested the Czech goalkeeper continually through the second half.

Chelsea had won all Mourinho and Benitez's Premier League encounters as well as the 2005 League Cup final but the London side have bitter memories of their 2005 Champions League semifinal defeat to what they consider a disputed goal at Anfield.

Much had been made in the media build-up to the game of the animosity between the Iberian managers but they made a very public show of civility before kickoff with a lengthy handshake in the mouth of the tunnel.

McCarthy swoops

South Africa striker Benni McCarthy scored his third goal for Blackburn in a 4-2 win over Manchester City 4-2 at Ewood Park.

McCarthy has made a big impact since his pre-season move from Portuguese club Porto and he produced a cool close range finish to restore Blackburn's lead after half-time before Paul Gallagher added a fourth to seal a first win this season for Mark Hughes's side.

Blackburn had taken the lead through a Trevor Sinclair own goal but Joey Barton equalized for City. Pedersen put Blackburn back ahead before Andre Ooijer's own goal levelled the scores again.

Nigeria striker Obafemi Martins scored his first Newcastle goal in a 2-0 win at West Ham.

Martins was also the provider for Damien Duff who opened the scoring in the 50th minut,e with his first goal since signing from Chelsea.

Martins, signed from Inter Milan, added the second in the 75th minute to give manager Glenn Roeder a happy return to the club that sacked him in 2003.

West Ham have not won any of their three matches since the surprise signings of Argentina stars Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.

Tottenham failed to win for the fourth time in five league matches this season as Fulham held Martin Jol's side to a 0-0 draw at White Hart Lane.

Jol's side have made their worst start to a season for 11 years but they had the better chances with Benoit Assou-Ekotto bringing a fine save from Antti Niemi.

Egypt striker Mido hit the woodwork with a header after the interval and Pascal Chimbonda's header was cleared off the line by Luis Boa Morte and Heidar Helguson.

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