The English Premier League may be heading for a photo-finish this season with the leaders, Liverpool, suffering a two-nil defeat to Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday.
With this loss, the Reds are likely not to realize their dreams of winning the league after 24 years of title quest in England, as it is now advantage Manchester City.
The blue side of Manchester, with a game in hand are now on 77 points, with just three points shy of Liverpool’s 80 points.
In terms of goals difference, the Manuel Pellegerini boys are ahead with 58 to Liverpool’s 50, which give the title to Man City should both side win their remaining games in the league.
City has one away game at Everton and two home games against West Ham and Aston Villa, while Liverpool travels to Crystal Palace and also welcome Newcastle in the final league tie.
Meanwhile, Steven Gerrard’s slip on the stroke of half-time allowed Ba to race through unopposed on Simon Mignolet’s goal and slot the ball home to give the visitors a lead they never relinquished.
Liverpool poured forward but were repeatedly frustrated by Chelsea’s massed defensive ranks and ran out of ideas long before Willian sprinted upfield to tap a second into an empty net at the death.
Brendan Rodgers’ men are now just two points clear of Chelsea at the top of the table, while the result also provides a huge boost to third-placed Manchester City’s hopes of catching the current leaders.
With Frank Lampard, John Obi Mikel and Nemanja Matic – all unavailable for the game with Atletico – screening the back four, Chelsea were set up with the objective of frustrating their opponents and the game plan worked perfectly as Liverpool struggled to create clear-cut opportunities, despite enjoying a greater share of possession.
As a result, the leaders drew a blank for the first time in 26 league games and were condemned to their maiden top-flight defeat in 2014, having last been beaten in December’s reverse meeting with Chelsea.
Ashley Cole was involved in the 14th minute, this time clearing off the line after the ball had ricocheted off Mikel, before Sakho scooped Luis Suarez’s driven ball over the crossbar from six yards out.
The hosts continued to enjoy the greater share of possession and Suarez curled an effort a yard over the bar from the edge of the box four minutes before the interval.
For all Liverpool’s dominance, they fell behind in the third minute of stoppage time at the end of the first half.
Moments after Kalas had glanced a free header wide from a corner, Gerrard’s slip allowed Ba to race clear and the Senegalese striker kept his cool to slot underneath Mignolet.
Liverpool tested Mark Schwarzer for the first time in the 59th minute, the Australian getting down low to his left to keep out Joe Allen’s first-time volley from just outside the area.
Andre Schurrle brought a similar stop out of Mignolet three minutes later, while Gerrard saw an effort from distance comfortably held by Schwarzer.
Liverpool continued to press hard for an equaliser, Schwarzer tipping Suarez’s rasping drive over the bar in stoppage time, but as the hosts pushed on they were left exposed at the back and Willian had the simple task of finding an empty net after Torres’ unselfish square ball.
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