Hello, and welcome to today’s liveblog.
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Kick off for the game is at 4.30pm.
Confirmation of today’s teams…
Team to face Liverpool: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Cahill (c), Rudiger; Moses, Kante, Bakayoko, Fabregas, Alonso; Hazard, Giroud.
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 6, 2018
Subs: Caballero, Christensen, Zappacosta, Emerson, Barkley, Pedro, Willian #CHELIV pic.twitter.com/VWuon4wkAk
📋 Here's how your Reds line up for this afternoon's game! 🔴#CHELIV 👉 https://t.co/C7ZstaM2Rh pic.twitter.com/hoN8JzoYxn
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 6, 2018
We’re under way…
Liverpool get a half-chance after just over two minutes,.
Alexander-Arnold plays a nice through ball to Firmino, who tests Courtois from a tight angle.
James Milner is fortunate to avoid a yellow card for a poor challenge on Eden Hazard.
The Belgian is hobbling slightly, but looks like he’ll be okay to continue.
Alonso finds space to produce a shot just outside the box, but it’s straight at Karius.
It’s been a fairly even match so far. Liverpool have had plenty of possession, but Chelsea look threatening when they counter-attack.
Really good play by Kante, who makes an excellent tackle to stop Mane from bursting toward goal.
That moment epitomises what the France international is best at.
Mane finds space on the edge of the area.
His sweetly struck shot is well saved by Courtois.
Bakayoko has started well for Chelsea today. I really think he could be very good next season
— Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT) May 6, 2018
It’s been surprisingly quiet in recent minutes.
Perhaps unsurprisingly given their exhausting midweek exploits, Liverpool have not been at their all-action best.
As I type though, the Reds break, and both Salah and Mane test Courtois with shots.
CHELSEA 1-0 LIVERPOOL (GIROUD 33)
Moses crosses to Giroud, who heads the ball home expertly.
Are Chelsea about to give a big boost to their Champions League hopes?
Say what you like about Giroud, he’s bloody good in the box.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) May 6, 2018
Chelsea go close again, as a Fabregas cross-shot eludes everyone.
The hosts are playing with a real sense of confidence now.
1 - Olivier Giroud has scored in a league game in which he has started for the first time since May 2017 (for Arsenal) - each of his last six goals in the competition had come from the bench. Revert. pic.twitter.com/4vDAfBBU0r
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 6, 2018
A bad few minutes has just got worse for Liverpool.
Mo Salah has just been booked for a blatant dive.
Moments later, Clyne also sees yellow for a late sliding challenge on Alonso.
There will be two minutes of first-half stoppage time.
Chelsea probably just above deserve their lead on the balance of play, though it’s been even enough.
HALF-TIME: CHELSEA 1-0 LIVERPOOL
The second half has begun…
Straight away, Firmino lays it off to Salah.
However, the Egypt international’s strike from the edge of the area is not clean and fails to trouble Courtois.
Down the other end, Fabregas plays through Moses, who drags the ball off target from a tricky angle.
Chelsea are looking very solid at the moment.
Liverpool will find it difficult to break them down from this situation.
More danger for Liverpool.
Alonso crosses into a dangerous area, but Robertson is well positioned to clear the ball out for a corner, which ultimately comes to nothing.
More panic in the Liverpool area.
Hazard wriggles past a few players, but Karius does well to make the save.
From the ensuing corner, Rudiger heads home, but he’s correctly adjudged offside.
Liverpool make their first change, and they now have the exact same XI that lined out against Roma.
Henderson has replaced Clyne, which means Alexander-Arnold will revert to right-back, having started the game in midfield.
Hazard, who has been lively, finds Bakayoko, whose shot from the edge of the box is easily saved by Karius.
It’s been a pretty poor display from Liverpool so far — they’ve barely tested Courtois.
That Rudiger disallowed goal is one benefit of not defending with men on posts at corners
— Michael Cox (@Zonal_Marking) May 6, 2018
Van Dijk isn’t happy after Fabregas catches him with a high boot, but the referee opts not to book the Chelsea man.
As I type, Robertson tries to head a cross back to Karius, but his execution is poor and it goes out for a corner.
Chelsea break.
Giroud crosses for Hazard, who appears to get a slight nudge from Van Dijk as he attempts to head the ball, nonetheless the referee waves play on.
Firmino finds space down the left, but there is no one in the right place to convert the cross.
Liverpool make a change, as Solanke comes on for Robertson. It looks like Milner will go to left-back, with Firmino dropping to a deeper midfield position.
Chelsea look happy to sit back and soak up pressure now.
Liverpool are dominating possession, but continue to struggle for creativity.
Alonso has almost scored a Van Basten-esque volley.
The Spaniard gets on the end of Moses’ cross, striking the ball narrowly wide.
Henderson plays in a dangerous cross.
Azpilicueta gets a touch on it, before a relieved Courtois manages to gather the ball.
Chelsea make a change.
Willian replaces Hazard.
A final Liverpool change is made. Moreno comes on in place of Milner.
Chelsea also make a substitution – Zappacosta replaces Moses.
There will be four minutes of stoppage time…
Another Chelsea change to use up more time.
Fabregas is off, and Pedro is on.
Chance!
Solanke heads wide from a Mane cross.
FULL-TIME: CHELSEA 1-0 LIVERPOOL
Right, that’s all from me. Thanks for reading and commenting.
You can read our match report here.
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