CARLO ANCELOTTI has refused to write off Liverpool despite helping land a further blow to their title challenge.

Ancelotti led Chelsea to a 2-0 victory over their championship rivals at Stamford Bridge yesterday.

Goals from former Anfield striker Nicolas Anelka and substitute Florent Malouda sent Liverpool tumbling to their third defeat in just eight Premier League games this season.

Chelsea are now six points clear of Benitez’s side, who have dropped out of the Champions League qualification places.

But Ancelotti has dismissed the notion Liverpool are no longer title contenders.

“I think it’s a long way to the end of the season and Liverpool has the quality to do a very good season,” said the Italian.

“We played against a strong team and it was a difficult game until the very end. We got a very good three points against a very good team.”

Ancelotti believes Anelka’s 60th-minute opener was the pivotal moment of the game.

“It was an important win and it was difficult,” he said.

“In the first half it was a balanced game, both teams kept good control of the defensive positions.

“It was different in the second half after we scored. We had an opportunity to play on the counter-attack as Liverpool were pressing forward.

“We deserved to win as we did a good job over the 90 minutes. We did what we had prepared and I’m happy about that.”

Ancelotti added: “We wanted to avoid Gerrard getting free passes, and I was pleased with the way Lampard, Ballack and Essien closed that down.

“Drogba had two good assists for Anelka and Malouda and he worked very hard, but if you play against a big team like Liverpool then you need to work hard and we worked hard together today.

“Liverpool had very good defensive organisation and didn’t leave space in midfield, and sometimes you need to use the strength of Drogba, Essien or Ballack to get through. It’s a characteristic we can use at times.”