/world sport
LIVERPOOL, England -- Michael Essien kept Chelsea's title dreams alive as Everton's hopes of finishing in the top four -- and grabbing a Champions League slot -- all but disappeared with a 1-0 defeat at Goodison Park.
Essien scores the only goal at Goodison Park to keep Chelsea in the Premier League title hunt.
Chelsea efficiently won three points to cut Manchester United's lead at the top to just two points, with the pair clashing at Stamford Bridge in a likely title decider later this month.
Everton found themselves overpowered, with Essien's first-half goal leaving them five points behind Merseyside rivals Liverpool with just three games left.
Chelsea always looked in command and the decisive breakthrough came four minutes before half-time.
Neat passing involving Salomon Kalou, Essien and Shaun Wright-Phillips ended with the ball deflecting off Phil Jagielka straight into the path of Ghanaian Essien who lifted the ball over diving goalkeeper Tim Howard.
It was a huge relief for manager Avram Grant who saw Chelsea denied a vital victory by lowly Wigan in the last minute of added time on Monday.
Grant recalled Joe Cole, Ashley Cole, Ricardo Carvalho, Paulo Ferreira and Wright-Phillips to his starting side, but Frank Lampard was again missing because of family illness.
England winger Wright-Phillips had one shot blocked, saw another float wide and wasted another first half chance after he was put clear by Kalou.
Chelsea keeper Petr Cech pushed away a dipping free kick from Manuel Fernandes but otherwise Everton failed to find a way round dominant duo Carvalho and John Terry.
The pattern changed little after the break and with Chelsea moving efficiently towards victory, Everton had to change things.
Thomas Gravesen and Victor Anichebe took over from Andy Johnson and Pienaar and Everton at last made an impression.
Fernandes produced a stunning, dipping free-kick which missed the far post by inches while Essien fired a dipping drive just over for Chelsea before Malouda replaced Joe Cole after 76 minutes.
Chelsea must now hope that defending champions United drop points at Blackburn Rovers on Saturday -- before the leaders go to Stamford Bridge on April 26. E-mail to a friend 
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