Liverpool vs Chelsea LIVE: Premier League result and final score after Diaz goal and Nkunku penalty appeal
Liverpool 4-1 Chelsea: Jurgen Klopp’s side went five points clear with a dominant display at Anfield
Liverpool put Chelsea to the sword at Anfield as Jurgen Klopp saw his side move five points clear at the top of the Premier League table with a thumping win over the Blues.
Liverpool made a fast start as Darwin Nunez hit the crossbar and saw a shot tipped onto the post by Chelsea goalkeeper Dorde Petrovic, but the hosts were perhaps fortunate not to concede a penalty when Conor Gallagher was clipped by Virgil van Dijk in the box.
Diogo Jota then powered through the Chelsea defence to fire Liverpool ahead, before Conor Bradley produced a stunning finish to double their lead with his first goal for the club. It could have been three at half-time had Nunez then converted a penalty, but the striker hit the post again.
Mauricio Pochettino made a triple change at the break but despite a brief improvement, Liverpool made it three as Bradley set up Dominik Szoboszlai’s header in front of the Kop. Christopher Nkunku pulled one back with his first Chelsea goal, and then could have had a penalty when Van Dijk clipped him from behind.
But Luiz Diaz then added a fourth and Klopp could afford to make changes ahead of Sunday’s trip to third-place Arsenal. Follow all the action from Anfield below plus get the latest odds and tips right here:
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea (Jota, 23’)⚽️
23 mins: Sheer determination from Diogo Jota!
Liverpool weave their way down the right side before slipping a pass into the middle for Jota.
He decides to drive straight at the two centre-backs, shrugs off Thiago Silva, watches the ball bobble up and hit Benoit Badiashile, before taking back control and slicing it past Dorde Petrovic for the opener!
Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea
21 mins: Liverpool are getting closer and closer to this first goal and Chelsea are barely hanging in there at present. After Nunez’s cross is nodded away the ball drops to Mac Allister who shoots and sees his strike deflected behind for a corner.
Dominik Szoboszlai swings in the set piece but Petrovic gets off his line and punches the ball away.
Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea
18 mins: Save! Konate floats an aerial ball over the top and perfectly picks out Nunez once again. He brings the ball under control the hits one with his left foot.
Petrovic leaps to the left and gets a good chunk of the ball with his hand. The ball deflects, looks to be sneaking in but hits the post and bounces safe!
Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea
15 mins: Darwin Nunez shoots again from just inside the penalty area. The angle is tight to score as he blazes the ball across goal but he doesn’t have the accuracy and the ball flies well wide of the far post.
Liverpool have had four attempts already and Nunez has taken three of them.
Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea
12 mins: Axel Disasi and Cole Palmer attempt to link up for Chelsea but Joe Gomez comes easily across to recover possession for the Reds.
Liverpool are bossing this game at present.
Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea
9 mins: Crossbar!
Alexis Mac Allister sends forward a cutting pass this time and slips Darwin Nunez in behind. He rolls the ball into the box with his left foot then drills a shot at goal.
Dorde Petrovic gets a hand to the ball and tips it onto the crossbar before the ball rebounds out for a corner.
Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea
8 mins: In what is probably Chelsea first real foray into the Liverpool half, Conor Gallagher drives the ball into the penalty area. He’s clipped on his way through and falls to ground searching for a penalty.
The referee waves for play to go on and VAR doesn’t overturn the decision.
Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea
6 mins: Close. Conor Bradley, playing at right-back for Liverpool tonight, chips a lovely pass over the top and feeds Darwin Nunez in behind the Chelsea back line.
Nunez gets to the ball and attempts to lob the goalkeeper but doesn’t get the best connection and Dorde Petrovic clings onto the ball.
Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea
3 mins: Liverpool have controlled the opening minutes and maintained possession brilliantly. The feed the ball across to Luis Diaz who sneaks into the box from the left.
He tries to cross with the outside of his right foot but gets it all wrong and sends the ball out of play.
Kick off! Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea
Liverpool kick off the match and send the ball to Ibrahima Konate. He fizzes a diagonal ball over to the left where Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez are providing options for the ball.
The Reds sweep it over to the opposite side of the pitch but Chelsea hold firm and make a clearance as the ball comes into the box.
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