Victory is proof we can compete for title, says Benitez

Liverpool's victory at Chelsea on Sunday could be a decisive moment in their quest for a long-awaited title, manager Rafael Benitez said.

An early strike by Xabi Alonso was enough to earn a 1-0 victory and put Liverpool three points clear of Chelsea at the top of the Premier League.

"They were unbeaten for a long time so it was a massive game and a big boost for the rest of the season," Benitez told reporters after ending Chelsea's 86-match unbeaten home league run at Stamford Bridge.

"It's important to have shown everyone we can do it here. They have a very good, very offensive team. We were trying to win... the commitment of the players showed they wanted to win.

"If we want to stay at the top of the table we have to beat almost everyone. We have the belief, we have the mentality."

While Benitez celebrated a first away league victory against either Chelsea, Arsenal or Manchester United, his opposite number Luiz Felipe Scolari had to digest a first defeat since taking the manager's job at Stamford Bridge.

"We did not expect the result," the Brazilian said.

"But we have to understand that Liverpool are a very good team. They didn't play better than us but they shot one ball better than us and they won."

Scolari said his players should shake off the disappointment of losing their long unbeaten record at home, a run stretching back to February 2004.