Second Half
Two minutes into the second preiod Atletico almost went in front on the night, another wicked cross deceiving the Chelsea defence, this time reaching Arda Turan at the far post, who brought a fine instinctive save from Schwarzer.

The Australian wasn't the only stopper in fine form, with Courtois, a Chelsea loanee we must remember, going down well to his left to keep out Terry's powerful header from a Willian free-kick.

Chasing the tie, Mourinho made a first switch. Fit-again Samuel Eto'o replaced Cole, Azpilicueta reverted to left-back and the Cameroonian joined Torres, who dropped a little deeper, in attack.

Misfortune was to strike the striker though, and Eto'o's first involvement was to his side's detriment, accidentally tripping Diego Costa inside the box and gifting his counterpart a penalty.

The Atletico man, who was booked for complaining about the state of the penalty spot, eventually smashed his kick high into the net. Now Chelsea needed two.

David Luiz hit a post from another wide Willian delivery, Courtois reacting quickly to push the rebound away as the Blues poured forward, before the visitors dealt the killer blow.

A swift move down the right saw the ball played into the area where Arda Turan headed goalwards, his effort bouncing down off the bar and allowing the Turk to tap home into the empty net with Schwarzer beaten.

Nineteen minutes remained but it was the visitors who would threaten again, Schwarzer blocking Filipe Luis at close range after the left-back had burst past two defenders into the area.

Demba Ba had replaced Torres by this stage, and the last change was to introduce Andre Schurrle in place of Willian, but Atletico were well drilled, and showed they too could defend with backs to the wall when necessary.

Hazard and Eto'o went close in the final stages but found Courtois in excellent form, meaning our run ends at the final four.

There is though still a chance of a Premier League crown, and we will be back at the Bridge on Sunday to face Norwich.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Schwarzer; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Cole (Eto'o 53); David Luiz, Ramires; Willian (Schurrle 76), Hazard, Azpilicueta; Torres (Ba 66).
Unused subs Hilario, Kalas, Van Ginkel, Oscar.
Scorer Torres 35
Booked Cahill 30

Atletico Madrid (4-4-1-1): Courtois; Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Filipe Luis; Koke, Tiago (c), Mario Suarez, Arda Turan (Cristian Rodriguez 82); Adrian Lopez (sub Raul Garcia 65); Diego Costa (Sosa 75).
Unused subs Aranzubia, Alderweireld, Diego, Villa.
Scorers Adrian Lopez 43, Diego Costa (pen) 60, Arda Turan 71
Booked Diego Costa 59, Adrian Lopez 64

Referee Nicola Rizzoli (Italy)
Crowd 37,918

Summary
Chelsea's Champions League dream ends at the semi-final stage after defeat to a well-drilled Atletico Madrid.

The Blues went in front through Fernando Torres's first-half strike to give a temporary advantage, but were pegged back just before the break through Adrian Lopez's equaliser.

With Chelsea behind on away goals, we needed to attack more, but substitute Samuel Eto'o gave the upper hand to the visitors when he tripped Diego Costa inside the box, and the Spaniard made no mistake from the spot to make it 2-1.

Arda Turan added a third in the closing stages to take the game beyond Chelsea's reach, with credit also due to on-loan goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who performed admirably to keep the Blues at bay.

It means Chelsea's season will definitely end on May 11, with two important Premier League fixtures now remaining.

Team News
After resting key figures for Sunday's match at Liverpool, there were wholesale changes once more from Jose Mourinho.

The main surprise was the presence of Cesar Azpilicueta in a right-wing role, providing added defensive cover to Branislav Ivanovic, while Ashley Cole continued on the left of the back four. John Terry was passed fit to captain the side from the middle, while Eden Hazard returned behind Fernando Torres after a three-week layoff.

John Mikel Obi and Frank Lampard were suspended after picking up bookings in Madrid, while Petr Cech remained out with a shoulder injury, and Mark Schwarzer deputised.

Having failed to break the Blues down in the first leg, Atletico coach Diego Simeone opted for alterations also. Arda Turan replaced Raul Garcia out wide, and Adrian Lopez was passed fit and preferred to Diego in attack. Atletico captain Gabi was suspended, and replaced by former Blue Tiago in central midfield.

First Half
Prior to kick-off, the stadium observed a minute's silence as a mark of respect for two great European coaches, Barcelona's Tito Vilanova and Vujadin Boškov of Sampdoria and the Yugoslavia national side, who sadly passed away recently.

A frenetic and passionate start to the game almost brought an Atletico opener when Koke's looping cross evaded Schwarzer and bounced down off the bar before striking Gary Cahill, who was relieved to see the ball end on top of rather than in the net.

It was from a set-piece that Chelsea first threatened, Willian bending a free-kick just over the bar after Ramires had been brought down 13 minutes in.

There followed two Atletico chances, each for Diego Costa, but both were excellently blocked by Chelsea defenders, first Cole and then Cahill.

At the other end, David Luiz's acrobatic effort had Thibaut Courtois scrambling across goal, and the home crowd on its feet, but dropped just wide of the post.

At the midway stage in the first half there was still no separating the sides, but Chelsea were more attacking in mindset than they had been eight days earlier with the trio of Hazard, Willian and Torres causing the visiting defence a few problems, while Atletico, despite decent possession, were still finding Chelsea impenetrable.

Then came a breakthrough for the Blues. Ivanovic's ball into space found the darting Willian down the right, and as he held off two Atletico markers, Azpilicueta pounced on the loose ball to deliver a low cross which Torres turned into the bottom corner with the help of a deflection.

The number nine had of course represented Atletico and been a fan of the club, so his celebration was understandably muted, but all around him the Bridge was in a state of frenzy. The job now was to keep the Spanish at bay.

Immediately a wide free-kick brought danger, though Adrian Lopez's flicked header was easy for Schwarzer to deal with, but his next effort would be damaging.

Tiago clipped a ball into the area which was knocked back across goal, evading Terry and Cole, and falling to Adrian Lopez to half-volley into the net and give his side an away goal.

At the halfway stage it was advantage to Simeone's men. Could Chelsea turn it around?

Second half
Liverpool, as at the start of the first half, were the team on the front foot early on, but Mourinho's men were remaining calm and Kalas showed he could stick with Sterling for pace and won a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge, optimistic Liverpool appeals for a penalty turned down.

Gerrard had a deflected shot safely caught by Schwarzer but with Liverpool showing no clear signs of finding the equaliser, Brendan Rodgers introduced Sturridge at the expense of Lucas.

It was Joe Allen however who struck the ball well and on target, his effort heading for the bottom corner until Schwarzer saved well.

Willian was the first Chelsea sub deployed, coming on for Salah.

On 62 minutes, it took a diving stop from Mignolet to prevent his side going two behind, Schurrle having run hard into the middle before trying his luck from 20 yards out.

Anfield was becoming edgy, as another cross dropped tamely into the hands of Schwarzer. Gerrard then shot straight at the Australian before Matic at the other end screwed an attempt wide.

Misplaced Liverpool passes in their attacking third coupled with good, concentrated Chelsea defending were continuing to be the order of the day.

However fatigue was growing in the visitors' legs. Schurrle was struggling and Gary Cahill was introduced for the final quarter-of-an-hour, going into a three-man central defence with Cole now playing more as a wing-back but Azpilicueta remaining deep.

Gerrard twice found Schwarzer with efforts and Suarez, stretching, couldn't make contact on a Coutinho ball curled into the box. It was by now a rearguard action by the Blues and when we did break with Liverpool stretched for numbers, Ba and Willian were not on the same wavelength.

Torres replaced Ba for the closing minutes, the Senegalese striker having played probably his best game for Chelsea.

Four minutes extra were added on at the end, and there was more Chelsea defending to do. A corner was half cleared and it fell to Suarez, Schwarzer doing excellently to tip a fierce shot over.

Then with less just over a minute remaining, the Blues landed the classic sucker punch. Liverpool lost the ball inside our half and suddenly it was Torres racing clear with Willian his accomplice.

The Spaniard on his old stomping ground didn't repeat his Barcelona goal. Instead he drew the keeper and squared to Willian, and three points were heading back down south.

As in Spain midweek, Mourinho's men had produced a masterclass in the art of defending, with Suarez often peripheral, and when the crucial chances came, they were gleefully grabbed.

Chelsea (4-3-3): Schwarzer; Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Kalas, Cole; Lampard (c), Mikel, Matic; Salah (Willian 60), Ba (Torres 83), Schurrle (Cahill 76).
Unused subs Hilario, Ake, Van Ginkel, Baker.
Scorers Ba 45+3, Willian 90+3.
Booked Salah 20, Lampard 42, Cole 90+2, Torres 90+2.

Liverpool (4-3-3): Mignolet; Johnson, Skrtel, Sakho, Flanagan (Aspas 80); Lucas (Sturridge 56), Gerrard (c), Allen; Sterling, Suarez, Coutinho.
Unused subs Jones, Toure, Agger, Cissokho, Alberto.

Referee Martin Atkinson.
Crowd 44,726

Summary
Another superb defensive display by Jose Mourinho's team coupled with goals in added time at the end of each half keeps this season's title contest boiling away.

Demba Ba struck the opener after a Steven Gerrard mistake with half-time approaching, and Willian finished off Brendan Rodgers's side on the break shortly before the end as we became only the second side to win at Anfield in the league this season.

The victory puts Chelsea two points behind the Merseysiders with two games to play, and sends us into our Champions League semi-final with confidence high.

Team News
Twenty-year-old central defender Tomas Kalas was handed his full debut after two previous substitute experiences. He played alongside Branislav Ivanovic in central defence with Cesar Azpilicueta and Ashley Cole the full-backs. Mark Schwarzer was in goal.

Demba Ba led the attack with Mohamed Salah and Andre Schurrle on the flanks, with behind them a three-man midfield of John Mikel Obi, Nemanja Matic and Frank Lampard, who was captain in the absence of John Terry.

Among the subs were Marco van Ginkel and 18-year-old midfielder Lewis Baker who made his first team debut late in the FA Cup win at Derby back in January.

Liverpool were unchanged from their win at Norwich but were able to name Daniel Sturridge on the bench after injury.

First half
Anyone who thought that whatever changes Mourinho chose to make to his side, the Blues wouldn't do their manager justice as the best defence in the league faced the most prolific attack, was very much mistaken.

Liverpool moved the ball around briskly when they were in possession early on, but when Cole cut out one attack spread wide, Schurrle advanced past a challenge to the halfway line where he was felled by Glen Johnson. Treatment was needed but the German continued.

It was Cole who had the first shot of the game, latching on to his own initial loose first touch to find space on the edge of the area. The strike was true but Mignolet dived and pushed it away.

Kalas passed his first test of the game with honours, diving in to take the ball off the flying Raheem Sterling.

Chelsea were winning our share of the 50-50s but when one broke kindly for Liverpool on 10 minutes, the ball was switched to create the home side's best opening yet, but Philippe Coutinho at the far post volleyed wide.

Then Liverpool won a corner, and although no proper contact was made when it dropped into the danger zone, Cole still need to clear hurriedly off the line. The ball was pinged back in by Suarez but Mamadou Sakho scooped it over the bar from only six yards out.

Liverpool were beginning to exert sustained pressure but there was no lack of focus or aggression from the Blues. Ivanovic was alert to cut out a ball heading dangerously the way of unmarked Sterling.

The main problem for Chelsea at this stage was the ball not staying up when played forward, a facet of the performance that would improve. From one such moment, Sterling was able to counter and took on Salah for pace. The Egyptian fouled and was booked, which probably had Schurrle wondering why the similar offence on him by Johnson early in the game did not result in a card.

Chelsea enjoyed more of the ball in the Liverpool half around the 30-minute mark. Mikel was playing in a more advanced role in midfield with Lampard, Matic doing the holding. Ba was toiling hard and occupying more than one of the Liverpool backline at a time.

On 38 minutes there was a strong Chelsea shout for a penalty when Ba played the ball wide to Salah who cut inside and fired. The lower arm of Flanagan was sticking out as the defender turned his back and stopped the shot with it, but despite appeals from those in blue, referee Martin Atkinson waved play on.

Five minutes before the break there was an escape when a Cole pass was misplaced and the Liverpool attack ended with Suarez shooting just over the bar.

Soon after, Lampard was booked for a tackle from behind on Sterling on halfway.

Midway through three minutes added time at the end of the half, Ba's industry forced Sakho to give away a corner which Kalas very nearly got the necessary contact on to put the visitors ahead.

We were not to be denied however, and moments later, the home side's skipper slipped when taking control of a pass in midfield. Ba pounced and ran clear, calmly beating Mignolet with a shot close to the keeper's legs.

'Steven Gerrard, he's done it again,' sang the Chelsea support - recalling the same player's ill-judged back-pass that allowed Didier Drogba to open the scoring in the same Kop End net in a famous win in 2010.

The Liverpool crowd had done their best to influence the game today, but even before that goal the feeling approaching the break was that Chelsea had somewhat drawn the sting from the game. It certainly felt that way now.

Second half
It was Lampard with the first shot after the restart but that was straight at Courtois, and the pattern of the game didn't change.

After a scrappy few minutes, punctuated by free-kicks, Cole was back to head behind for a corner and it had been clear throughout that the home fans fancied their chances from set-pieces such as these. On this occasion Schwarzer claimed it confidently and when the Australian did less well punching out in open play soon after, he raced back in time to field Diego's shot.

On 58 minutes, a Cole block tackle and then his run set us on the front foot and Torres skilfully snaked his way into range, but couldn't beat Courtois.

Five minutes later, Lampard, who had just before been whistled up for handball, committed a foul near halfway that means he will miss the second leg. He was shown his third yellow card in this season's competition.

There was miscommunication between Schwarzer and Mikel as a ball came deep into our box but we escaped, and there was a feeling the home support were starting to become a little anxious about the lack of a breakthrough. They were certain increasingly annoyed by what they perceived to be Chelsea players needing treatment unnecessarily. They were proved wrong on that when after his second stoppage in quick succession, Terry had to come off with Schurrle on and David Luiz dropping back.

Still Chelsea bodies were there to block and challenge when Atletico got into our area. After a Chelsea foul, tempers frayed and Mikel and Atletico's Gabi were booked. Both will also miss next week's return.

Schwarzer paddled the free-kick that followed round the post before the Spaniards missed one of their best opportunities yet - Raul Garcia heading wide.

With three minutes left on the clock, Diego Costa reached a cross in the six-yard box but his on-target header was blocked by the head of Cahill, the defending typifying Chelsea's resolve at the back throughout.

Miranda was booked on 88 minutes for a foul on Torres just outside the area and as at the end of the first half, the chance was there for a late Chelsea goal, but this time David Luiz's free-kick cleared the bar.

As the final seconds ticked past, there were two wayward attempts from distance from the Spaniards and one worrying break after our corner that was eventually repelled before the whistle blew.

Both these teams will have their reasons to believe they can come out on top in the second leg. It promises to be quite a night at Stamford Bridge next Wednesday.

Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech (Schwarzer 18); Azpilicueta, Cahill, Terry (c) (Schurrle 72), Cole; David Luiz, Mikel, Lampard; Ramires, Torres, Willian (Ba 90+4).
Unused subs Kalas, Ake, Van Ginkel, Oscar.
Booked Lampard 63, Mikel 74, Ba 90+5

Atletico (4-4-1-1): Courtois; Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Filipe Luis; Raul Garcia (Villa 86), Gabi (c), Mario Suarez (Sosa 79), Koke; Diego (Arda Turan 60); Diego Costa.
Unused subs Aranzubia, Alderweireld, Tiago, Rodriguez.
Booked Gabi 74, Miranda 88.

Referee Jonas Eriksson from Sweden
Crowd 52,560