This gruelling, energy-sapping contest, one from which Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea emerged triumphant after being taken to extra-time by Liverpool, was not ideal preparation for a match days away that could come to define their season.

Mourinho and his players face title rivals Manchester City this Saturday. A victory means that they reopen their lead in the race to eight points. After squandering a similar margin at the end of last year, it would be difficult to see them relinquish it again.

Chelsea, however, were the victors following this superbly contested match at Stamford Bridge with Branislav Ivanovic’s headed goal in extra time securing their place in the League Cup final, on March 1 at Wembley.

The game, as is usually the way when these two rivals face each other in big ties, had its fair share of flash points. Diego Costa, the Chelsea striker, may find himself in hot water for what looked like a stamp on the ankle of Liverpool’s Emre Can. The game was littered with yellow cards and it was a surprise that neither side lost players.

It was played at a frenetic pace, and had Liverpool taken their early chances the tie could have been theirs.

Brendan Rodgers’s Liverpool left west London with their heads held high after matching their opponents for much of the game. Ultimately, however, they were to fall short.

“I always say to players that during the game, normally difficult moments arrive and that difficult moment arrived in the first half,” said Mourinho. “We coped with that difficult moment. Liverpool were good, better than us, creating. We have to be humble and intelligent to cope with the difficult moment of the game, and wait for the moment to be in control.

“That moment arrived in the second half. When we scored the goal in extra time, after that the team showed me maturity, control.”

In response to the humiliating defeat at the hands of lowly Bradford City on the weekend, Mourinho make wholesale changes to his starting line-up. Among them was the return of captain John Terry, as well as goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and Costa, the club’s top scorer. Rodgers named an unchanged team to the one that began the first leg.

“I think the goalkeeper has won them the tie,” said the Liverpool manager. “Performance-wise we were outstanding. Some of our play was very good, created chances, certainly in the first half we created enough to get a couple of goals, but their keeper made some very good saves and, ultimately, has won them the tie.”