Sept. 18 (Bloomberg) -- Liverpool's chances of a first English soccer championship in 17 years were yesterday reduced by a Didier Drogba strike that had top-ranked golfer Tiger Woods applauding in the stands.

Drogba scored the only goal at Stamford Bridge, London, as defending champion Chelsea beat record 18-time winner Liverpool for the fifth straight league game even after having Germany midfielder Michael Ballack red-carded.

``We deserved more, but one player won the game with a fantastic goal,'' Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez told reporters after his team's 1-0 defeat.

Liverpool, which beat Chelsea in F.A. Cup and Champions League semifinals the past two seasons, slipped to 15th in the 20-team Premiership, eight points behind third-placed Chelsea and nine behind leader Portsmouth. Liverpool was third last season, closing the gap on Chelsea to nine points from 37 a year earlier.

``It's clear that we need more points, but it's only the beginning of the season and it's a long race,'' Benitez added. ``We need to get going.''

Liverpool created several chances yesterday before a piece of individual skill from Drogba settled the match.

Drogba had his back to goal and was closely marked by Jamie Carragher when Frank Lampard's chipped pass reached him on the edge of the penalty area. In one motion, the Ivory Coast striker controlled the ball on his chest, swiveled and smashed the ball past goalkeeper Jose Reina on the half-volley.

Woods, taking a break from his preparations for this week's Ryder Cup in Ireland, clapped and smiled as Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho sat and nodded his approval.

Four in Five

Drogba, who last year cost Chelsea 24 million pounds ($45 million) from Marseille, has retained his place since Andrei Shevchenko's arrival from AC Milan for a U.K.-record transfer fee of 31 million pounds. Yesterday's goal took his tally this season to four in five league games.

``It was very special,'' Mourinho said. ``Drogba led the line superbly.''

In the leadup to the game, U.K. newspapers focused on a feud between the coaches, whose teams have met 12 times following their appointments in 2004. Mourinho and Benitez, who failed to shake hands after the previous two matches and have criticized each other's players, observed the sporting etiquette before and after yesterday's game.

``We don't have to be close friends,'' Mourinho said. ``We have a relationship of respect. I admire his qualities as a coach.''

Ballack Dismissed

Ballack, who last week scored his first Chelsea goal after joining from Bayern Munich, received the first straight red card of his career five minutes after half time for stamping on midfield opponent Momo Sissoko.

``In the second half these situations can happen, it was bad for me, the team worked very hard after this,'' Ballack told reporters. ``It looked bad on TV and all I can say is sorry.''

Mourinho had earlier protested referee Mike Riley's decision not to give Sissoko a second yellow card for a foul on Lampard, which would have resulted in the Liverpool player's dismissal.

``It was a clear red card,'' Mourinho said. ``Everybody who has seen it thinks the same and it kills the game. We are 1-0 up and play for 45 minutes with a player more.''

Ballack's ejection galvanized Liverpool, for whom Dutch striker Dirk Kuyt hit the crossbar in the first half. Steven Gerrard shot straight at Petr Cech with just the Chelsea goalkeeper to beat and Cech saved a low shot from Craig Bellamy and an injury-time header from substitute Peter Crouch.

``We are improving and if we keep playing like this we will score goals,'' said Benitez, whose team has scored one goal in three games away from home.

To contact the reporter on this story: Ryan Mills at Stamford Bridge stadium in London at 3339 or at rmills5@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: September 17, 2006 23:31 EDT