Both goals were provided by Didier Drogba crosses, and the result sees Chelsea return to the top of the Premier League table.
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti brought in Deco for Malouda as he chose to employ his favoured diamond system. Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez was boosted by the return of Javier Mascherano after his sides disappointing defeat to Fiorentina on Tuesday.
The two teams cancelled each other out until Albert Reira sent a speculative shot over from 20 yards for Liverpool.
Chelsea mustered their first attempt on goal after 24 minutes when Anelka crossed to the back post, but Drogba’s header looped into the hands of Pepe Reina.
Three minutes later, Michael Essien crossed from a similar position but Anelka’s 12 yard header lacked power.
The home side were becoming increasingly threatening from crosses and Michael Ballack headed over from six yards after being picked out by Deco’s free kick.
Liverpool came more into the game as the half reached a close, and Fernando Torres should have put his side ahead after Dirk Kuyt’s pinpoint cross had found him on the edge of the six yard box, but he could only head straight at Hilario.
A minute before half time, Reira drilled a 40 yard free kick into the area that eluded everyone, forcing Hilario to scramble across his line to tip the ball just wide.
Both sides traded long range efforts at the start of the second half through Steven Gerrard and Branislav Ivanovic; the latter forcing a good save from Reina.
Chelsea took the lead on the hour mark which stemmed from a mistake from the usually reliable Mascherano.
The Argentinian was dispossessed by Frank Lampard in midfield, who released the ball to Deco. He surged forward and played in Drogba down the left, and his low cross was turned in at the back post by Anelka.
The home side were on the front foot and Drogba nearly made it two when he rose above the Liverpool defence, but his header was kept out by Reina.
Liverpool were beginning to retain possession a bit better, and after Johnson had fired over a minute earlier, only a last-gasp tackle from Ashley Cole stopped Gerrard from firing home from close range.
With fifteen minutes left, Gerrard was booked for a lunge on Lampard, with Drogba firing the resultant free kick a yard wide.
The introduction of Yossi Benayoun gave Liverpool extra attacking options, and his lofted cross was knocked down for Gerrard who saw his shot blocked by John Terry. The ball fell to Torres but his shot went just wide.
Chelsea wrapped up the points in injury time through substitute Malouda after another cross from Drogba. The Ivory Coast forward spun past Jamie Carragher and provided Malouda with the perfect ball to scramble home from three yards.
Liverpool refused to lie down and came agonisingly close through Benayoun before Gerrard saw his volley parried away by Hilario, but Chelsea saw out the final few seconds that sees them capitalise on Manchester United’s draw against Sunderland to top the table heading into the international break.
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