We’re just under an hour away from what should be an intriguing fixture.
Liverpool have made a 100% start to the Premier League season, having brushed aside Norwich, Southampton, Arsenal, Burnley and Newcastle.
They did suffer a midweek Champions League setback at the hands of Napoli, while Chelsea represent arguably their biggest test of the domestic season so far.
Frank Lampard’s side have been excellent at times this season, though have lacked consistency, with two wins, two draws and one loss so far.
How do you see this game going?
Poll Results:
44/22 - Liverpool have lost just once in their last 44 Premier League matches (W36 D7 L1) and are unbeaten in their last 22 (W18 D4 L0), their longest such run in PL history. In fact, Liverpool last went 23 league games unbeaten in November 1990 (23). Force. pic.twitter.com/kRuI2TT7n9
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 22, 2019
Confirmation of today’s teams…
Here's how today's Chelsea team looks! 👊
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 22, 2019
What do you think? #CHELIV pic.twitter.com/jXw63tzKsR
📋 #CHELIV team news. Today's line-up 🆚 @ChelseaFC... https://t.co/OWW0EsMxOb
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 22, 2019
We’re under way…
Odd scene at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea fans pass around their huge Eden Hazard banner. Gone but clearly not forgotten...
— Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT) September 22, 2019
Henderson plays a good ball across the box.
Mane is lurking, but César Azpilicueta does well to make a sliding interception to prevent the ball reaching the attacker.
Kante plays a through ball towards Willian, but Van Dijk does well to shepherd it out of play.
The Brazilian went down under the defender’s challenge amid appeals for a penalty, but the referee ignored the protests.
Mount breaks free down the left and plays a dangerous cross into the area.
Again though, Van Dijk is in the right position, using his strength to prevent Tammy Abraham getting contact on the ball.
CHELSEA 0-1 LIVERPOOL (ALEXANDER-ARNOLD 14)
Liverpool go ahead after winning a free kick on the edge of the box.
Mo Salah lays it to Alexander-Arnold, who curls the ball beautifully into the top corner.
Great finish, but Jorginho half-heartedly tries to block and turns away, before Emerson ducks.
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) September 22, 2019
Chelsea have been forced into an early substitution.
Emerson, who was an injury doubt before the game, has been replaced by Marcos Alonso.
Let-off for Liverpool.
Abraham beats the offside trap and is one-on-one, but Adrian stands up well to him and makes the save.
CHELSEA 1-1 LIVERPOOL (AZPILICUETA 27)
GOAL RULED OUT BY VAR! LIVERPOOL 1-0 CHELSEA
Willian’s cross deflects off Fabinho and Adrian initially makes the save, though Azpilicueta is on hand for the tap in.
However, it’s eventually ruled out by VAR, as Mount was offside in the build-up.
CHELSEA 0-2 LIVERPOOL (FIRMINO 30)
It’s a double whammy for Chelsea after that VAR call, as Liverpool double their advantage.
Robertson whips in a dangerous cross, and Firmino leaps above Marcos Alonso to head home.
34 - Liverpool have scored 34 goals from set-piece situations in the Premier League since the beginning of last season, at least seven more than any other side. Another. https://t.co/A8bjtBQTBa
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 22, 2019
Abraham is receiving treatment after a collision with Adrian, but it looks like he’ll be okay to continue.
Chelsea, though they were a bit unlucky with that VAR call, just haven’t been convincing at all so far in every aspect of the game.
No reason on earth why the VAR for Chelsea's disallowed goal couldn't have been shown on Stamford Bridge's big screens - with a message: "Chelsea No 19 adjudged offside." Spectators have to look at phones to work out what happened.
— Paul Hayward (@_PaulHayward) September 22, 2019
Third pretty simple headed goal Chelsea have conceded from a set-play this season in the PL. they’ve changed the positioning of the players, taken Azpilicueta out of that central zone, but same problem
— Michael Cox (@Zonal_Marking) September 22, 2019
More injury woe for Chelsea.
Defender Andreas Christensen has hobbled off. He is replaced by Kurt Zouma.
Here’s a look at that Firmino goal…
Robertson swings in a delicious ball from the left and Firmino is unmarked in the middle to make it 2-0 two minutes after #CFC had a goal ruled out by VAR!
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 22, 2019
📺 Watch on Sky Sports Premier League
📱 Follow #CHELIV here: https://t.co/PS1788F5zq
📲 Download the @SkySports app! pic.twitter.com/KxVjPZSO6h
Azpilicueta’s cross finds Abraham, but the striker can’t find the target with a header.
While they deservedly lead, Liverpool haven’t looked entirely secure at the back in this first half.
As I type, Alonso drills in a cross that Adrian only gathers at the second attempt, with Willian nearly getting to it after the goalkeeper initially spilled the ball.
HALF-TIME: CHELSEA 0-2 LIVERPOOL
Here’s a screengrab of that Mount offside call, which led to Chelsea’s ‘goal’ being ruled out.
The second half has begun…
Liverpool have started the second half positively.
A Firmino volley forces Kepa to make a good save, before Mane heads wide moments later.
Fabinho and Alexander Arnold play a lovely one-two, before Kepa makes a good save to prevent Azpilicueta unwittingly turning the ball into the net.
It was marginally offside anyway, but that’s more clever, creative attacking play from Liverpool.
Decent build-up play by Chelsea, before Jorginho’s cross-field pass narrowly eludes Willian.
Chelsea are showing that they’re not out of this game yet.
Azpilicueta’s cross is flicked wide by Abraham via a deflection.
From the ensuing corner, Kante’s low shot from the edge of the area goes a few inches wide.
This is a decent spell for Chelsea.
Salah breaks on the counter, but Tomori makes a good challenge to stop him in his tracks.
Moments later, Wijnaldum’s shot from the edge of the area is well off target.
CHELSEA 1-2 LIVERPOOL (KANTE 71)
Out of nothing, Chelsea are back in the game.
Kante receives the ball on the edge of the area. Liverpool defenders back off and he places it beautifully into the top corner.
Liverpool respond by taking off Mane, and bringing on Milner.
Chelsea continue to probe and have been the better side for much of this second half.
Per Sky, they have had 70% possession in the last five minutes.
Chelsea make a change.
Abraham, who hasn’t had the best of games, is replaced by Michy Batshuayi.
Fabinho gets booked for cynically taking down Batshuayi and preventing a Chelsea counter.
This could be a nervy last few minutes for Liverpool.
Liverpool make an interesting change.
Henderson is replaced by Lallana, who will try to get them controlling the play again.
The England midfielder passes the armband to Milner as he goes off.
Liverpool break through Salah, but Kante is on hand to rob the ball off the Egyptian.
The France international has had an excellent game today.
Chance for Chelsea!
Alonso finds himself in plenty of space wide left. His cross finds an unmarked Batshuayi, who heads wide.
Alonso crosses for Mount, but it falls slightly awkwardly for the youngster, who can’t hit the target on the half volley and instead blazes over.
Liverpool are very much under the cosh now.
There will be four minutes of stoppage time.
Liverpool make a late change, as Joe Gomez replaces Salah, who’s been quiet enough by his high standards.
FULL-TIME: CHELSEA 1-2 LIVERPOOL
6 - Liverpool are the first team in top-flight history to win their opening six matches of a top-flight season in two consecutive seasons. Pacesetters. pic.twitter.com/a1EzeGGvrk
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 22, 2019
So that’s that. A vital win for Liverpool that sees them extend their lead at the top of the table to five points.
It was not a vintage performance from Jurgen Klopp’s side. They were clinical in the first half, without ever really dominating.
Chelsea got better as the game progressed and were a tad unfortunate not to get anything from the game, as some inept defending ultimately proved costly.
The Reds’ front three were more quiet than usual, and they had to dig out the win in the end.
Jurgen Klopp will be relieved more than anything else — there won’t be too many games this season where his side will have to work harder for the three points.
Right, that’s all from me.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
You can read our match report here, and we’ll have more reaction to follow.
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