Martin Kelly fizzed a shot narrowly wide after being teed up by Babel in the early moments of the second half but, around the hour mark, Chelsea went so close to opening the scoring when Malouda crashed a drive off the outside of the post from 20 yards.
A superb save by Sander Westerveld, on in place of Reina, stopped Hazard from breaking the deadlock as Chelsea ramped up the pressure, before John Terry looped a half-volley onto the roof of the net.
But the Reds looked increasingly threatening on the counter-attack and it was a breakaway that led to Babel’s winner.
Jermaine Pennant strode forward and played a fine pass to the Dutchman, who cut inside from the left and dispatched a fine low finish before paying his own tribute to Jota by replicating his Baby Shark goal celebration in front of the away supporters.
LFC Legends team: Reina (Westerveld, 65 (Kirkland, 88)), Skrtel, Klavan, Vignal (Gonzalez, 90), Kelly, Aurelio, Spearing, Biscan (Henchoz, 60 (McAteer, 75)), Benayoun (Gonzalez, 46 (Benayoun, 80)), Babel (Dowie, 60 (Babel, 80)), Sinama-Pongolle (Pennant, 46).
Match-worn, signed shirts from the game are being auctioned to raise more funds for LFC Foundation. Find out more and bid at the club’s official auction store.
