Chelsea vs Liverpool LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction from thrilling match

Aston Villa have taken the lead against Brentford through Danny Ings.

With Ollie Watkins unavailable this afternoon, Ings has taken his opportunity with both hands as he puts the visitors in front.

Emi Buendia slid the former Southampton and Liverpool man down the left channel and he fired a sumptuous finish into the far corner. Textbook.

With Covid cases and injuries rife, it is difficult to say the starting XIs that Thomas Tuchel and Jurgen Klopp will field this afternoon.

Nevertheless, we’ve had a go.

Predicted line-ups

Chelsea: Mendy; Azpilicueta, Chalobah, Rudiger; Hudson-Odoi, Kante, Jorginho, Alonso; Mount, Pulisic, Ziyech.

Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago; Salah, Firmino, Mane.

Huge game this afternoon for both sides.

Chelsea have won just one of their last four Premier League games. Liverpool have picked up just one point from their last two league matches.

Whoever loses you imagine is well and truly out of the title race.

Alexis Mac Allister has given Brighton an early lead at Goodison Park against Everton. The Seagulls clearly building on their stoppage time equaliser at Stamford Bridge earlier this week.

Was it this week? I honestly have no idea.

We are underway in the opening three Premier League games of the day. I will be keeping you up to date with goals as they go in (in as good a Jeff Stelling impression as I can muster with words).

• Brentford 0-0 Aston Villa
• Everton 0-0 Brighton
• Leeds 0-0 Burnley

Mo Salah makes yet another return to Stamford Bridge this afternoon when he faces his former club Chelsea.

The Egyptian helped Liverpool claim a point at Anfield earlier on in the season when he levelled things up with a penalty.

That was his first Premier League goal in five games against Chelsea. Will he be able to build on that this afternoon?

Questions, questions, questions.

Liverpool have not lost any of their last three Premier League games against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

And Jurgen Klopp’s side have won their last two trips to Chelsea, claiming a 2-0 victory last season and 2-1 in the campaign before.

More of the same today from the visitors?

Away from the Premier League...

Lionel Messi and three other Paris Saint-Germain players have tested positive for Covid, it has been confirmed.

The Ligue 1 club confirmed that Messi, Juan Bernat, Sergio Rico, Nathan Bitumazala have all tested positive ahead of the French Cup trip to Vannes.

All four are currently in isolation and are subject to the appropriate health protocols.

Former Chelsea player Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink believes Manchester City have ‘had the luck’ in the Premier League title race so far.

Pep Guardiola’s side moved 11 points clear at the top of the table with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Arsenal yesterday.

Chelsea could close the gap to eight points with a win this afternoon, while Liverpool would come within nine points of City with a game in hand if they can turn Tuchel’s side over at Stamford Bridge.

But has the title already slipped through the net for the two teams playing this afternoon?

There is also a bit if history being made at Stamford Bridge today.

The game between Chelsea and Liverpool is the first time fans can watch from standing areas for nearly 30 years in England.

Are we for or against safe-standing in English stadiums? Get in touch @dylanterryjnst.