Chelsea had skipper John Terry sent off as they failed to reclaim the Barclays Premier League top spot against Everton at Goodison Park.
They had been expected to overcome the Merseysiders, but were up against it from the 36th minute when Terry saw red for a high challenge on Leon Osman.
The night ended with Liverpool still leading the table by one point, while 10-man Chelsea had lost their 100 per cent away league record after eight successive victories on the road.
Chelsea, who have not lost to Everton in the last 20 meetings, saw their first attack have an ominous look about it. The ball fell for Ashley Cole on the corner of the box, and his drive deflected off Tony Hibbert and gave Tim Howard a difficult, acrobatic save to make.
But Everton were able to produce some neat movement with their enforced line-up. Cahill, dropping deep, worked well as he interchanged position with Marouane Fellaini.
Petr Cech was forced to deal with a dipping Mikel Arteta free-kick, while two Leon Osman crosses from the right created opportunities for Cahill and Fellaini in the box.
Slowly Chelsea began to take control, maintaining possession with crisp passing as they forced Everton back.
Anelka hit a post from close range, but was adjudged to have handled in the build-up.
Chelsea had a firm grip on proceedings, but the match changed dramatically after 36 minutes when England captain John Terry was sent off.
Referee Phil Dowd was no more than 15 yards from a Terry challenge that was high and caught Osman on the ankle. In the current climate, the official probably felt he had to act decisively and Terry saw red having lunge in, connecting with Osman while off the ground.
Terry will now miss the Christmas matches against West Bromwich Albion and Fulham, plus the FA Cup tie with Southend United.
Chelsea sent on defender Branislav Ivanovic for Joe Cole at the break, while Drogba replaced Anelka.
Everton, though, must have felt that they had their best chance in eight years to register a win against the Stamford Bridge club.
But if that was to happen they would need to be more adventurous. Two minutes into the second period they were just that when Fellaini got on the end of a long Hibbert pass to test Cech.
Everton lost defender Joseph Yobo, who limped off with what looked like a hamstring injury. Leighton Baines came on after 61 minutes, with Joleon Lescott moving to central defence.
Cech had to hurl himself backwards to touch away a Hibbert cross deflected dangerously under the bar off Lampard. A minute later Cech was needed at his best again to touch over a Lescott header.
Baines then fired in a low cross from the left, and Fellaini's flick went just wide of the far post. Arteta then curled a free-kick just over the bar.
Everton were denied a goal with six minutes left when Cech touched away an Osman shot from Fellaini's cross. The goalkeeper managed to get his hands onto the ball as it rolled towards the line, seconds before Steven Pienaar arrived to bundle the ball home.
However, the effort was disallowed for offside against the South African, while there was also a question over whether Cech had control of the ball before it was kicked out of his hands.
artical:premierleague.com
