
Liverpool’s title defence has ended in tatters as an injury crisis and poor form have seen the champions slip well off the pace, leaving Champions League qualification as the most realistic aim for the run-in this season.
Concerns about Chelsea’s own hopes cost Frank Lampard his job at Stamford Bridge, and replacement Tuchel will have been told in no uncertain terms that a top-four finish is expected given the attacking riches at his disposal.
Fellow hopefuls Manchester United and Leicester City have both hit runs of poor form, meaning a win for either team tonight on Merseyside would thrust them back into the race.
Follow the action on our LIVE blog with James Robson at Anfield.
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Mount has been occupying a space between Alexander-Arnold and Fabinho that Liverpool have not been able to close down.
Alexander-Arnold constantly looks like he’s chasing over his shoulder and Fabinho is wary of giving Werner the freedom to hurt Liverpool through the middle if he deals with Mount.
HALF-TIME | Liverpool 0-1 Chelsea
Mason Mount’s strike has the Blues ahead at the interval.
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Mount and Foden are musts to start for England at the Euros and Southgate can work out his midfield from there. He is an exceptional player and that was a wonderful goal that Chelsea deserve for this first half performance.
GOAL! | Liverpool 0-1 Chelsea | Mason Mount 42’
This one will count! It’s that long ball again that does for Liverpool, this time Kante finding Mount.
He stands Fabinho up and doesn’t even need to beat him, just drives far enough inside to make space for the shot and then whips into the far corner. No chance for Alisson and the visitors have a deserved lead.
37 mins: Mason Mount’s had a bright start and brings down another loopy Azpilicueta clip but he can’t keep his strike down on the volley.
35 mins: It’s been a bit of a momentum-shifter, that decision. Liverpool have had the wake-up call of a goal without actually going behind.
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I still think that disallowed goal should help Werner’s confidence. He looked very sharp as he broke through there. A let off for Liverpool, but this is as good as he’s looked for a long time.
28 mins: Big chance at the other end, now. Mo Salah whips a cracking first-time ball over the top for Mane but he completely mistimes his finish on the volley and ends up kicking at air.
GOAL DISALLOWED! Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea
This’ll be controversial. It’s a massive let off for Liverpool, who are undone by one long ball over the top from Jorginho for Werner. Alisson comes tearing out, gets nowhere near it and the German finishes, despite a decent recovery effort from Kabak.
To the naked eye, it looks like Robertson is playing Werner onside, but the Chelsea man has his arm stretched out and when the VAR boys do their work, drawing down from the ‘t-shirt line’, the verdict is that he’s off.
22 mins: James is right, it’s Chelsea who are on top early on here, retaining possesion nicely and dictating the tempo. They look like the home side, not that that means much in football these days.
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