Liverpool 0-1 Chelsea: Premier League – as it happened
Liverpool #Liverpool
6.12pm EST 18:12
… and so we reach the end of a historic night at Anfield. Chelsea followed Burnley, Brighton & Hove Albion, Manchester City and Everton in beating Liverpool on their own patch. Five losses in a row at home for Liverpool, something that’s never happened since the club were formed in 1892. Miserable and very strange times for a side that swept everyone aside en route to the title last year. By contrast, Chelsea are on the up, and were deserved winners tonight; 1-0 flatters Liverpool. They look genuine top-four material, and ready for a title tilt next season. Andy Hunter was at Anfield to witness history. Here’s his report. But before you go, here’s one for the road, courtesy of Robin Hazlehurst: “Unless you’re all drinking from the bottle, you’re going to need one-time Carlisle goalie and famous goal scorer Jimmy Glass.” Chin chin, everyone. Nighty night!
Chelsea’s Mount condemns Liverpool to historic fifth Anfield loss in a row
Updated at 6.15pm EST
6.04pm EST 18:04
An extremely low-energy Jurgen Klopp emerges. “The individual quality of Mason Mount in that one situation made the difference … we didn’t score in other situations … it was a tight, intense game … that’s it, pretty much [sighs] … we had more situations but didn’t score … but I’d have to watch it back … we didn’t defend it well, and these details decide these games … it’s the quality of Chelsea, the first time Fabinho played for a while, you cannot defend Chelsea completely for 95 minutes so they don’t have any chance … but with all the possession we had again, we need to have more chances … [exasperated drawing of breath] everything was really good until the final pass … you are close but not close enough and it’s not even a chance … unfortunately you cannot just say it is only at home, we have lost a lot of games now … we know everything, but it’s not about Anfield, it happens in general too often … in the decisive moments we have to improve and show our quality … it is not very often, but Mo today looked like he was suffering, having played a lot of games … you are right, I could have taken off Sadio or Bobby but it looked like Mo suffered the most … [tonight’s defeat] is a massive blow … if you lose that many games, you don’t have the right to go to the Champions League, you have to win games and we know that … [another exasperated sigh] and we work on it, but for tonight it was not enough.”
5.44pm EST 17:44
Thomas Tuchel speaks to Sky. “We played with courage … excellent moments with the ball … we had moments when we needed to suffer but never lost the attitude to defend … the desire and courage to defend up front … it was a well-deserved win, a big performance and a bit result … the performance was very complex, we were strong in transition, in defending, winning second balls, counter pressing … everybody was very brave … they needed to adapt their positions all the time … it’s a six-point game, but the race is on, there is still 11 games to go … we go step by step, there is no other way … we can never rest because there is no time for that … I have felt a big part of the club from the first moment … I am delighted to be part of it.”
5.35pm EST 17:35
The post-match managerial interviews are still to come. But in the meantime, Andy Hunter’s report is in. Here it is!
Chelsea’s Mount condemns Liverpool to historic fifth Anfield loss in a row
5.25pm EST 17:25
“On a more positive note for Klopp … the Champions League home leg against RB Leipzig will be played in Budapest,” quips Gary Byrne. Can they play there every week?
5.20pm EST 17:20
Mason Mount, who secured Chelsea’s first win at Anfield since 2014, talks to Sky Sports: “It’s very tight at the top four and we want to push it … we’ve been keeping clean sheets and are good defensively … we haven’t been scoring enough and maybe should have had a couple more tonight but it was good to score … the gameplan was to press them high … be brave … win the ball back up high … most of the time the defensive line is quite high so the runs were on and we tried to exploit that.”
5.13pm EST 17:13
Thomas Tuchel’s certainly enjoying his honeymoon. What a start he’s made to his Chelsea career! This team were going nowhere under Frank Lampard, but the former Dortmund and PSG man has turned the ship around. Champions League football next season is a distinct possibility now. The reigning champions are stuck in reverse, seventh, a top-four finish a pipe dream unless they relocate their mojo quicksmart. Jurgen Klopp walks off the pitch, grey and haunted, staring approximately one thousand yards into the distance.
5.06pm EST 17:06
FULL TIME: Liverpool 0-1 Chelsea
For the first time since the club was founded in 1892, Liverpool have lost five consecutive home matches. That this run has occurred after a 68-game unbeaten run is almost beyond comprehension. But here it is. Chelsea, worthy winners tonight, return to the top four, and celebrate accordingly.
Three points for Chelsea. Photograph: Chelsea Football Club/Getty Images
Updated at 5.10pm EST
5.05pm EST 17:05
90 min +3: Chelsea take their sweet time over the throw, as Liverpool would in their situation. On the touchline, Klopp looks thoroughly miserable, completely defeated.
5.04pm EST 17:04
90 min +2: The corner’s no good, and Chelsea push out. Mane tries to come back at the visitors down the left, but runs the ball out for a throw. The look on his face suggests he knows the jig is up.
5.03pm EST 17:03
90 min +1: In the first of three extra minutes, Liverpool force a corner down the right. Before it can be taken, Havertz comes on for Werner.
5.03pm EST 17:03
90 min: These are the sort of matches where the Kop has so often sucked a late equaliser into the net. But there’s nobody there.
5.02pm EST 17:02
88 min: It nearly kicks off between Kovacic and Mane, the former having cynically tapped the ball off the latter’s head as the Liverpool man fell to the turf, pushed from behind by Rudiger. The referee calms the situation down.
Not happy. Sadio Mane. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters
Updated at 5.06pm EST
5.00pm EST 17:00
87 min: Milner hoicks down the left. Christensen steps across to deny Firmino access to the ball. Chelsea’s defence has been superb tonight, and on that subject here’s Stan Tarazi: “With the white wines, don’t forget to ChillWell.”
4.58pm EST 16:58
85 min: Firmino dribbles delightfully down the left, reaches the byline, and fires into a six-yard box that contains seven Chelsea players and no red shirts. The ball pinballs its way to Kabak, who can’t force it goalwards from a right position on the right. As close as Liverpool have come, although that’s not particularly close.
Photograph: Oli Scarff/Reuters
Updated at 5.01pm EST
4.57pm EST 16:57
84 min: A long pass down the left nearly releases Jota, but he has to settle for a corner. The set piece is powerfully headed clear by Azpilicueta.
4.55pm EST 16:55
83 min: Liverpool are pinning Chelsea back, sort of, if you can pin back a team that look perfectly comfortable. Mendy still hasn’t had anything to do.
4.54pm EST 16:54
81 min: Werner nearly gets through down the middle again, but Alisson comes off his line to gather. Meanwhile Andrew Goudie brings “Alan Corkscrew” to the party. Thank goodness somebody remembered one.
4.53pm EST 16:53
80 min: Milner comes on for Thiago, while the goalscorer Mount makes way for Kovacic.
4.52pm EST 16:52
79 min: Robertson crosses from the left. Christensen hoicks away. Liverpool are totally bereft of ideas. Not so Paul Griffin, who names our head sommelier: “Chateau Neuf du Pep.”
4.49pm EST 16:49
77 min: Werner is sent free down the inside-left channel. He’s one on one with Alisson, who does very well to spread himself to block and keep Liverpool’s hopes alive. Nothing comes of the resulting corner.
4.48pm EST 16:48
75 min: Liverpool are going nowhere. This run at home, coming off the back of a 68-game unbeaten spell, is nothing short of astonishing. The decline from the brilliance of last season is hard to fathom.
4.45pm EST 16:45
73 min: Chelsea haven’t offered too much in attack during this second half, but then the onus isn’t on them to do so. Liverpool have been woefully short of ideas.
4.44pm EST 16:44
71 min: Oxlade-Chamberlain sends Mane into a little space down the right, but his cross is way too long for Jota and easily shepherded away from danger by Christensen. Here’s Colum Fordham: “To respond to an excellent Macon Mount, Liverpool need a fine Bobby Saint Firmin or the spirit of an Ian Saint-Julien.”
4.42pm EST 16:42
69 min: Space for Pulisic down the left. He gets two chances to deliver a cross, but messes them both up. “Nacer Chablis, surely,” suggests Adrian Riley. I’m beginning to think Mac Millings has much to answer for.
4.40pm EST 16:40
68 min: A Liverpool free kick out on the right leads to a corner on the left. That ends up in the arms of Mendy, who hasn’t yet had a serious save to make.
4.39pm EST 16:39
66 min: Chelsea send Pulisic on, replacing Ziyech. “Bend your elbow like David Malbec-ham,” quips Alan Webb, while James Beesley notes that “Chelsea have a youngster on their books named George Nunn. Blue Nunn?”
Updated at 4.41pm EST
4.38pm EST 16:38
65 min: Chelsea spend a bit of time in the Liverpool half. A few passes. A free kick that comes to nothing. The clock, their friend, ticks on.
4.37pm EST 16:37
63 min: Robertson whips in from the left. Jota and Firmino confuse each other on the penalty spot, and the ball flies harmlessly out for a goal kick. On the bench, Salah flings something to the floor. He’s not best pleased at being hooked.
4.36pm EST 16:36
62 min: Liverpool make a double change. On come Jota and Oxlade-Chamberlain for Jones and a slightly miffed Salah.
Diogo Jota replaces Mo Salah. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters
Updated at 4.41pm EST
4.35pm EST 16:35
61 min: Some space for Werner down the right. He sends the ball towards Stanley Park. Meanwhile a fair point is raised by Dave Horwell: “No room for Danny Rosé?”
4.33pm EST 16:33
60 min: Liverpool are enjoying more possession, but Chelsea are well-organised and aren’t offering any half-chances, never mind proper opportunities to score. “A Fine Wines XI without even a place on the bench for Blue Nuno Gomes? Or Paul Don Masson?” Simon McMahon there, slugging straight from the Californian carafe.
4.30pm EST 16:30
58 min: Salah looks for Alexander-Arnold down the right. The wing-back wins a corner, and takes himself. He rolls a training-ground effort towards Wijnaldum near the penalty spot, but it’s read well by Rudiger who clears in the no-nonsense style.
4.29pm EST 16:29
56 min: Liverpool, almost completely drained of confidence, are living extremely dangerously. Ziyech hares down the right on a break, and should find Mount clear in the middle, but sends his pass too close to Alisson. Then Ziyech pings from a deep position on the right, nearly finding the outstretched leg of Werner in the Liverpool box. Alisson again gathers.
4.27pm EST 16:27
54 min: Mount and Chilwell combine crisply down the left. Chilwell has a shot from the left-hand corner of the six-yard box. His rasp is parried by Alisson, but rebounds to Ziyech, who creams towards the bottom right. Fabinho blocks off the line, and Liverpool clear.
4.25pm EST 16:25
52 min: Chelsea calm Liverpool’s early second-half storm with some sterile possession. “No room for a pint of Sammy Chab-Lee?” splutters Jonathan Frankham.
4.23pm EST 16:23
50 min: Liverpool win their first corner of the game, out on the right. Fabinho meets it, but his header sails harmlessly wide left and high. This is better from Liverpool, though. The paint must be peeling off their dressing-room wall.
4.22pm EST 16:22
49 min: Firmino dribbles down the right and looks to flick into the middle. His cross clanks the arm of Kante, which was raised, but neither referee nor VAR shows interest in giving a penalty, the players both so close together. You saw those given earlier in the season, but here we are now.
Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters
Updated at 4.24pm EST
4.20pm EST 16:20
47 min: Liverpool start quickly, Alexander-Arnold romping down the right, but delivering neither cross nor shot. “Presumably the Wine XI is delivered in a Jimmy Case and stored in a Mo Cellar.” Please be upstanding and raise a glass for Tatiana Blackstone, everyone.
Updated at 4.22pm EST
4.19pm EST 16:19
Liverpool, now kicking towards the Kop, get the second half underway. Klopp gave a sullen Mane a much-needed cuddle as the teams trotted out. Like Chelsea, they’ve made no changes, though you’d imagine the returning Diogo Jota will get a runout soon enough should the scoreline stay the same or get worse for the home side.
4.11pm EST 16:11
Half-time correspondence. “Further to Peter Oh’s 21st-minute correspondence, please allow me to present my all-time Fine Wines XI,” writes Mac Millings.
No room for Emmanuel Petit Chablis, Saint-Émilion Heskey or Mâ(i)con? Controversial as ever, Millings.
4.03pm EST 16:03
HALF TIME: Liverpool 0-1 Chelsea
A one-goal lead is the least Chelsea deserve. They’ve been excellent. Liverpool not so much. The Reds are facing a fifth consecutive Anfield defeat straight in the face, something that’s never happened since the club was formed in 1892. They’re also in serious danger of falling well behind in the race for a Champions League spot next season. Much to play for in the second half for the misfiring champions.
4.01pm EST 16:01
45 min: Salah cuts in from the right and curls low towards Jones, who attempts to trap and spin. He doesn’t trap. Had he managed it, he’d have been clear down the middle. Liverpool have created next to nothing.
4.00pm EST 16:00
44 min: So that’s Gary Naylor, of 33 mins fame, bang on the money again. Liverpool’s high line is all over the shop. And they’re nearly caught out again, Werner haring after yet another long pass, Robertson doing just enough as the last man. Liverpool could easily be three goals down.
3.58pm EST 15:58
GOAL! Liverpool 0-1 Chelsea (Mount 42)
Mount glides after a long pass down the left. He drops a shoulder to get past Fabinho, takes a couple of touches as he runs along the front of the box, and having made room spears an unstoppable shot into the bottom right! Simple but brilliant, and Liverpool are behind at Anfield once more.
Mason Mount opens the scoring for Chelsea Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters
Updated at 4.02pm EST
3.56pm EST 15:56
41 min: James fizzes a hot backpass towards Mendy, who juggles calmly and clears under pressure from Mane. He offers his team-mate a wry smile once the job is done.
3.54pm EST 15:54
39 min: Robertson curls towards Mane from a deep position on the left. The ball nearly sends his team-mate clear, but Azpilicueta has read the danger brilliantly and steers it back to Mendy just in time.
3.53pm EST 15:53
37 min: Mount rasps a shot high over the bar from the edge of the box. It’d have been interesting had that gone in, because Mane felt he was illegally hauled back by Azpilicueta earlier in the move.
3.49pm EST 15:49
33 min: Liverpool stroke it around for a bit, but not with any great conviction. “Do you think it’s an ego thing for Klopp to continue to play this high line?” wonders Gary Naylor. “It’s beginning to look like the W formation.”