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AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Liverpool v Chelsea, Premier League

Liverpool took on Chelsea in what could prove to be a pivotal game in the Premier League title race.

Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.

As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the game. E-mail paul@the42.ie, tweet @the42_ie, post a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.

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Here are the teams for tonight…

 

Liverpool v Chelsea - Premier League - Anfield The Liverpool team bus arriving before the Premier League match at the Anfield. PA Wire / PA Images PA Wire / PA Images / PA Images

We’re underway…

It’s been a cagey opening as expected.

David Luiz has just calmly shepherded the ball out ahead of Coutinho.

Liverpool v Chelsea - Premier League - Anfield Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp before the Premier League match at the Anfield. PA Wire / PA Images PA Wire / PA Images / PA Images

Wijnaldum takes a shot from the edge of the box that forces a decent save from Courtois.

Liverpool have played most of the football so far, with Chelsea content to sit back and soak up the pressure.

Liverpool are just finding it difficult to break Chelsea down at the moment.

There are so many Chelsea bodies in close quarters anytime a Liverpool player is in possession in the final third.

Liverpool v Chelsea - Premier League - Anfield Chelsea manager Antonio Conte on the touchline during tonight's Premier League match. PA Wire / PA Images PA Wire / PA Images / PA Images

Conte has just got a ticking off from the referee for booting the ball away on the touchline.

Chelsea break after a mistake by Matip, but Milner does well to block Moses’ ensuing shot.

This game so far is not dissimilar to the famous 2014 clash between the sides when a counter-attacking masterclass by Chelsea all but ended Liverpool’s title hopes.

CHELSEA 1-0 LIVERPOOL (LUIZ 25)

Wow!

Mignolet still seems to be arranging his wall and is looking away from the goal as David Luiz blasts a free kick into the net.

The whistle was actually blown according to BT, and there was certainly a long space of time between the free kick being awarded and the goal being scored.

Glenn Hoddle makes a good point on BT.

It was a well-executed free kick, so Mignolet may not have saved it even if he was adequately prepared and in the correct position at the time the ball was struck.

Azpilicueta makes a good clearing defensive header with Milner lurking at the back post.

David Luiz falls awkwardly prompting John Terry to warm up, though the Brazilian centre-back looks as if he is going to be okay to continue for now.

Liverpool v Chelsea - Premier League - Anfield Chelsea's David Luiz celebrates scoring his side's first goal. PA Wire / PA Images PA Wire / PA Images / PA Images

Liverpool fans look worried at the moment, and justifiably so.

In 45 minutes of football, they’ve yet to create a clear-cut chance.

There is no width to their play, and Chelsea are looking very comfortable in breaking their narrow attacks down as a result.

HALF-TIME: CHELSEA 1-0 LIVERPOOL

Half-time, and so far, Chelsea have shown the kind of defensive prowess that has guided them to the top of the league.

Liverpool have had plenty of possession but look short on ideas.

David Luiz’s opportunist strike gave Chelsea the lead and they’ve barely looked like conceding since.

Britain Soccer Premier League Chelsea's Eden Hazard, right, competes for the ball with Liverpool's Adam Lallana. Dave Thompson Dave Thompson

The second half is underway…

Matip puts in a good tackle to stop Hazard galloping down the wing.

Liverpool are certainly stronger at the back now they have him back.

CHELSEA 1-1 LIVERPOOL (WIJNALDUM 58)

A goal out of nothing for Liverpool!

Wijnaldum heads home from close range.

Liverpool hadn’t really looked scoring, but all of a sudden, Chelsea were caught off guard.

It was a lovely reverse pass in the build up by Jordan Henderson, before Milner headed it across the box for Wijnaldum to head home.

Suddenly, Chelsea look under the cosh, as that goal has provided Liverpool with the momentum they desperately needed.

Willian drives the ball across the box, with Diego Costa unable to connect.

Meanwhile, Pedro is set to come on for Chelsea.

Henderson whips in a ball that narrowly eludes Emre Can.

Meanwhile, Hazard — who has been quiet tonight — has been replaced by Pedro.

It’s the sight Liverpool fans have been waiting a long time to see — Sadio Mane is back on the field.

He replaces Coutinho.

DIEGO COSTA MISSES A PENALTY!

Mignolet saves Costa’s penalty, after the striker went down in the box under a challenge from Matip.

It looked a definite penalty, but the Liverpool goalkeeper subsequently atoned for his earlier error with a good save.

Fabregas is set to come on as Chelsea bid to find a winner.

The other Premier League games have now ended, with Arsenal losing and Tottenham drawing. Check out the full details in our score centre here.

Fabregas replaces Willian for Chelsea.

A winner now would put the London side in a seriously strong position in the title race, with two of their main rivals already dropping points in the title race.

Diego Costa shows great strength to hold off Matip.

Mignolet then gets down well to stop the Spanish international’s shot.

Kante wins the ball deep in Liverpool territory.

The French midfielder lays it off to Pedro, whose shot from the edge of the box goes just wide.

Meanwhile, Origi has replaced Lallana in the dying stages for Liverpool.

Mane crosses to Firmino, whose header is tame and straight at Courtois.

Chelsea have looked susceptible from crosses tonight, as they also did in that loss to Tottenham a few weeks back.

He has been typically superb tonight.

FULL-TIME: LIVERPOOL 1-1 CHELSEA

That’s that. Probably a fair result on reflection with neither team really doing enough to win the game.

That’s all for me — thanks for reading and commenting, and we’ll have more reaction to follow.

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