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AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Liverpool v Chelsea, Premier League

Liverpool faced Chelsea, as Jurgen Klopp’s men looked to improve on a recent poor run of form.

Liverpool 0-1 Chelsea

Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.

This could be a very important game in terms of determining who gets in the top four at the end of the season.

Chelsea currently sit a point off West Ham in fifth, while a further point back in seventh.

Liverpool have lost four of their last five matches, though did get back on track last week with a victory over Sheffield United.

Chelsea, by contrast, are unbeaten since Thomas Tuchel took charge, with the coach overseeing four wins and three draws in the Premier League since his reign began.

liverpool-v-chelsea-premier-league-anfield Liverpool's Diogo Jota before the Premier League match at Anfield. PA PA

Who do you think will win tonight?


Poll Results:

Liverpool (441)
Chelsea (292)
Draw (236)

We’re underway…

Salah squares it to Robinson.

The full-back’s shot from just outside the box goes a few yards wide.

It’s been a pretty cagey start to this game.

Chelsea have had plenty of possession without looking especially threatening.

Great chance for Werner.

He latches on to a lofted through ball by César Azpilicueta and is through on goal.

It bounces slightly awkwardly for him and he tries to deftly lob Alisson, but fails to trouble the goalkeeper, as he would have been better off going for power.

LIVERPOOL 0-1 CHELSEA (WERNER 24)

LIVERPOOL 0-0 CHELSEA – GOAL DISALLOWED!

Chelsea think they’ve taken the lead, but it’s eventually ruled out by VAR for a marginal offside.

Werner did really well, sprinting through on goal, taking it past the onrushing Alisson and slotting it into the empty net.

It was a lovely lofted through ball by Jorginho in the build up too, as the striker initially appeared to have beaten the offside trap.

Just after that disallowed goal, Liverpool have an excellent chance.

Georginio Wijnaldum plays a good ball into the box, but Sadio Mane mis-hits the volley as the visitors breathe a sigh of relief.

liverpool-v-chelsea-premier-league-anfield Liverpool and Chelsea players take part in a minute's applause for the late Ian St John. PA PA

LIVERPOOL 0-1 CHELSEA (MOUNT 42)

Chelsea counter attack. Kante plays a ball over the top and Mount receives it on the left-hand side of the area.

The youngster evades the attentions of Fabinho, before firing a superb finish low into the corner of the net from the edge of the area.

There’s no doubt that this time, the goal does stand.

HALF-TIME: LIVERPOOL 0-1 CHELSEA

liverpool-v-chelsea-premier-league-anfield Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson (left) and Chelsea's Timo Werner battle for the ball. PA PA

It’s been a tight enough game, but Chelsea deserve their lead.

They’ve counter-attacked effectively, with Werner’s pace in particular causing problems to Liverpool’s high backline.

The Reds have had one or two half-chances, but have not created enough, failing to register a single shot on target and they look short of confident.

This would be Liverpool’s fifth straight defeat at Anfield — they have taken just one point from their last seven home games, an incredible stat when you consider they went almost four years unbeaten at home in the league before then.

The second half has begun…

Liverpool have earned their first corner of the match, which Fabinho subsequently heads wide.

As disappointing as the Reds have been, Chelsea have done a great job so far in curbing their attacking threat.

Liverpool’s Sadio Mane (left) and Chelsea’s Reece James battle for the ball

liverpool-v-chelsea-premier-league-anfield Liverpool's Sadio Mane (left) and Chelsea's Reece James battle for the ball. PA PA

Mount and Chilwell link up really well on the left-hand side of the box.

The full-back’s shot is then saved by Alisson, and Ziyech’s effort on the rebound is cleared off the line by Robertson.

Liverpool continue to live dangerously.

Liverpool are still struggling to create openings.

Chelsea have been very disciplined, with each player working extremely hard off the ball.

Liverpool make a double change.

Jota and Oxlade-Chamberlain replace Salah and Jones.

Liverpool’s entire attack has looked ineffectual and Klopp will be hoping the player he bought from Wolves in the summer can provide some much-needed inspiration.

It’s now Chelsea’s turn to make a change.

Pulisic is on in place of Ziyech.

Robertson’s corner is easily gathered by Mendy.

Liverpool simply haven’t done enough from an attacking perspective this evening.

Liverpool continue to see plenty of the ball without creating any real chance of note.

With just over 15 minutes remaining, they’ve still yet to register a shot on target.

Mount plays through Werner, but Alisson does well, coming out quickly to block the shot.

Chelsea’s attacks have been more sporadic in the second half, but Liverpool continue to look very vulnerable at the back on the rare occasions their opponents do counter.

Liverpool make a final change, as Thiago is replaced by James Milner.

Chelsea also take the opportunity to make a sub, with Kovacic on for Mount, who could well turn out to be the match-winner tonight.

Liverpool are really throwing bodies forward at will now.

Firmino beats Kante, before his cross deflects into the path of Kabak, but the defender can’t get a proper connection on it.

liverpool-v-chelsea-premier-league-anfield Liverpool's Roberto Firmino appears dejected. PA PA

Three minutes of stoppage time will be played.

Chelsea make another change, as Werner is replaced by Havertz.

Christensen deservedly is named man of the match by Sky.

Chelsea, in general, have looked really defensively solid tonight against Liverpool’s misfiring attack.

FULL-TIME: LIVERPOOL 0-1 CHELSEA

So that’s that.

Hard to argue with the result.

Chelsea gave a classic away performance — they were very solid at the back and exposed Liverpool on the counter on several occasions.

The Reds, meanwhile, look desperately short of confidence, as you would expect given their awful run of form.

Their attack looks really stale, as they created very little this evening, whereas their defence played a high line and thus, always looked vulnerable to the pace of the Blues on the break.

It’s also a stark contrast between the two managers — Chelsea are unbeaten in the 10 games since Tuchel took charge, while Liverpool are in freefall under Klopp and even a top-four spot looks far from certain now.

Right, that’s all from me for now.

Thanks for reading and commenting.

We’ll have more reaction to follow and you can read our match report here.

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