Neil BIG MATCH VERDICT

IT TAKES some doing these days, putting Eden Hazard in the shade.

But Daniel Sturridge managed it at Stamford Bridge. And then some.

The little Belgian appeared to have stolen the show, the limelight and the points for Chelsea with his second world-class strike inside a week when substitute Sturridge ensured the focus would be all about him.

The striker grabbed a goal from 25 yards, three minutes after jumping from the bench with his first touch of the ball.

That certainly counts as one of his finer moments in red.

Of course, the forward has enjoyed others. He had them for Manchester City. And Chelsea before them.

Disaster

Every England manager – bar the current one – has placed great store by his ability.

The problem is, managers cannot truly count upon him. An injury record has cast doubts on whether he can play week in, week out.

It was that which saw him shunted out to West Brom on loan last season. That was a disaster.

But at Stamford Bridge he gave a reminder of why he can count those prestigious clubs on his CV.

Within seconds of coming off the bench, with one swing of that lovely left foot, he ruined a hard day’s night for Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri.

And ensured that no one would be the wiser in this battle of the title pretenders.

Sturridge’s 89th-minute effort did not detract from the quality of Hazard’s strike, however.

It will still be replayed as an effort of beauty.

Hazard somehow finished seventh in a list of the world’s best players this week.

The results of a Fifa-sponsored vote were announced on Monday. Since then, he scored a breathtaking goal at Anfield.

And he was at last night.

Twenty-one international captains, managers and members of the media gave him the nod above Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Kevin de Bruyne and Antoine Griezmann.

This morning, those one-andtwenty appear to be visionaries.

Of course, that won’t include Sarri who claimed he was at that level a couple of weeks ago.

Gianfranco Zola, the Italian’s it again assistant, added after the results were announced: “The more he plays, the better he gets.”

Perhaps the argument should be opened up. Perhaps we should have a people’s vote this week on where he now stands in the rankings, given what took place last night.

He will have moved up a couple of places, surely?

How many players could produce the kind of virtuoso effort that stunned Anfield?

There is no doubting that, at 27, he is now in his prime.

Take the former Lille man away from this Chelsea team and, truth is, they do not look as fluid, confident or structured as the Reds.

Add him to it and he becomes