Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool Jacob Steinberg has already filed his report from Stamford Bridge, bless him, so I’ll leave you with that. Thanks for your company - goodnight.
“Liverpool played better at Stamford Bridge last year and drew,” says Niall Mullen, “so really nobody knows anything.”
You can’t be throwing opinions like that around without the xG stats, mate.
Full time: Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool
Peep peep! That’s an important win for Liverpool, their first away to one of the big six for over a year. It’s also their 15th consecutive league victory. That’s a staggering achievement, especially as they have scored at least twice in all 15 games. They were nowhere near their best today, particularly in the second half, but they defended resolutely and rode their luck to restore their five-point lead at the top.
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90+4 min Alonso is booked for taking out Robertson, who bought Liverpool some time with a brilliant 60-yard run.
90+1 min Four minutes of added time. Joe Gomez replaces Mo Salah for Liverpool, who will play 5-4-1 for the last few minutes.
90 min: Mount misses a great chance! It was a lovely move from Chelsea. Willian drove a crossfield pass to Alonso, who took it down and threaded a low pass into the area for Mount. He had to take the shot first time, as the ball bounced up, and he spanked it wide with his left foot.
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90 min Liverpool can’t get out. Their ball retention in second half has been abysmal.
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88 min Batshuayi flicks a header just wide from Alonso’s cross. It was a decent chance, 12 yards out, but there wasn’t much pace on the ball and he couldn’t quite guide it inside the far post.
87 min Liverpool break dangerously, with Firmino putting Salah through against the last defender. Trouble is, that last defender is N’Golo Kante, and he wins the ball with ease. What a truly magnificent footballer he is. I take back that comment about a Premier League XI - Kante would walk into it, and probably a World XI too.
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87 min Mount’s free-kick is headed clear superbly by Matip. Liverpool have crap with the ball in this half but they have defended impeccably.
86 min Milner is booked for a foul on Zouma.
85 min Willian, Mount, Willian... Milner.
84 min Kovacic is booked for something or other, dissent I think.
84 min Another Liverpool change: Adam Lallana replaces Jordan Henderson.
83 min It’s still all Chelsea, although they are struggling to get behind the Liverpool defence.
80 min Willian is fouled on the left wing by Matip. Mount’s free-kick finds the offside Alonso, whose header was saved by Adrian anyway.
79 min Azpilicueta’s cross is flicked well wide by Batshuayi. The ball was behind him so it was a speculative attempt.
78 min Fabinho is booked for a cynical foul on Batshuayi.
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77 min Chelsea’s final substitution: Tammy Abraham is replaced by Michy Batshuayi.
76 min This is turning into a good test for Liverpool, who have been weirdly poor in the last 25 minutes or so.
74 min Liverpool have switched to a 4-4-2, with Henderson on the right and Milner on the left.
73 min Alonso, who has been a constant outlet for Chelsea, comes back infield and wallops into orbit with his right foot.
72 min James Milner replaces Sadio Mane, another example of Liverpool’s peculiar second-half caution.
It was all his own work. He turned away from Fabinho and scurried towards the edge of the area. Then, as three Liverpool players converged, he moved the ball slightly to the right and forced a rising shot that beat the diving Adrian and flew into the top corner. That was a lovely goal.
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GOAL! Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool (Kante 71)
Oh my, that’s a spectacular goal from N’Golo Kante!
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70 min Liverpool have kept Chelsea at arms length for almost all of this match. I bet Virgil van Dijk still has a resting heart rate.
69 min A dangerous break from Liverpool. Mane flights a pass over the defence to Salah, whose chest control is just too heavy, allowing the Chelsea defenders to get round and intercept.
67 min Azpilicueta’s dangerous lobbed cross towards Mount is high-kicked away by Alexander-Arnold. Had that been outside the area, a foul would almost certainly have been given for dangerous play. I haven’t a clue any more, I’ll be honest.
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67 min “Not on board with playing for 2-0,” says Matt Dony. “I’d rather see Liverpool pile forward in search of a 9-0 statement victory.”
Well, if you’re going to win the league for the first time since 1989-90...
66 min Although they have had a lot of the ball in the last 15 minutes, Chelsea are not playing with much conviction. They look resigned to defeat.
65 min After a nice run from Firmino, Wijnaldum sprays high and wide from 20 yards.
63 min “Has there ever been a greater concentration of the top flight’s Grade A players at two clubs than just now Rob?” says Gary Naylor. “Or is it that the great swathes of C+ and C players (relatively speaking of course - they’re all brilliant compared to us plebs) who have always populated the majority of clubs have now slid to C and C-? It’s getting a bit Old Firmish isn’t it?”
Well, it’s only been that way for a year; and although it’s hard to see anyone getting near the top two for the forseeable future, experience tells us something will change in the next year or two. But yes, with Hazard gone you could argue that a Premier League XI would include only players from City and Liverpool.
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61 min Liverpool have started to sit on their 2-0 lead, which is unlike them. The next goal is a big one.
59 min Chelsea are having a decent spell. Azpilicueta’s low cross is flicked behind his standing foot by Abraham, and it takes a touch off Matip before going behind for a corner. Chelsea appeal for handball from the corner, and then Kante rifles a low shot just wide from inside the D.
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58 min “The problem with VAR as it is currently used is that it seems to be more concerned with motes than planks,” says Felix Wood. “Even if it’s accurate, who cares about offsides by millimetres? But a keeper being five yards off his line at a penalty with three players encroaching like in the Barca-Dortmund game is missed.”
They should bring VAR logic to the judiciary. Stealing a penny sweet = life in the jug. Breaking into the Bank of England = a slap on the wrist.
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57 min Alexander-Arnold is booked for timewasting at a throw-in. What are Liverpool doing? They are miles better than Chelsea, they should just play.
56 min Michael Oliver warns the captain Jordan Henderson about Liverpool timewasting, which in turn helps them waste a bit more time.
53 min “Define ‘pompous’,” says Roger Domeneghetti. “Cheers!”
Any use of the word ‘narrative’. You’re welcome!
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51 min It’s been all Liverpool since half-time. Kepa makes a spectacular reaction save after a rebound off Azpilicueta, although it wouldn’t have counted because of an erroneous offside decision against Alexander-Arnold in the build-up.
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50 min “I’m in Eugene, Oregon and trying to explain to an American friend what this team is to an LFC fan,” says Paul Quigley. “I started supporting LFC in 86 and I think this is the best team I’ve ever seen from LFC. Which one of the great sides would you say is better, or is this the best?”
If they win the league I think they’ll sit alongside the teams of 1978-79, 1983-84 and 1987-88. You could make a case for any of them really. The 1987-88 team is the best I’ve seen, although the Manchester United supporter in me was a big fan of Roy Hodgson’s Liverpool.
48 min Mane heads wide from Fabinho’s cross. He was stretching, which meant he couldn’t control the header.
47 min: Kepa makes a fine save! Chelsea a mess at set pieces. A corner on the right was headed back to Alexander-Arnold, the original taker. He boomed a cross beyond the far post to find Firmino in a scandalous amount of space. Firmino cushioned a volley back across goal, and Kepa dived to his left to push it just past the far post. That’s a fine save.
46 min Peep peep! Chelsea begin the second half.
“Are you claiming he wasn’t offside?” says Mary Waltz. “I just saw the replay on the US feed and he looked offside. I am open to counter arguments.”
No, I think Mount was just offside. But I’m not certain that Son was yesterday in the Leicester-Spurs game, and that’s not good enough. My main problem with VAR, apart from the fact it’s turning football into reality TV, is that it was introduced at least a decade too early. It should have tested properly, so that various unforeseeable scenarios could be considered, rather than it being fasttracked so that it could make a mockery of an otherwise brilliant World Cup.
“Does it matter if the tech is very slightly inaccurate?” says Niall Mullen. “In the end it acts as an unimpeachable external arbiter that is less prone to error than the previous system. A bit like ball tracking on DRS. Would the ball really have clipped the top of off? Who knows but as we’ve all agreed to accept its decision we’re no longer arguing about it.”
I think it does, yeah, because once you introduce technology there’s a much greater expectation of fairness. I’d have a margin for error on offside, a bit like umpire’s call in cricket, to cover for the imperfections in the system when it comes to establishing precisely when the ball leaves the player’s foot.
Half-time reading
Half time: Chelsea 0-2 Liverpool
Peep peep! Liverpool are well on their way to a 15th consecutive league win. There hasn’t been a huge amount between the sides, but Liverpool have just had a bit too much for Chelsea: too much nous, too much authority, too much confidence and too much class.
45+2 min Alonso’s driven cross is fumbled by the diving Adrian, but he does well to grab the loose ball in front of Willian. Chelsea have had a bit of joy down their left.
45 min A chance for Abraham, who flicks a header wide from Azpilicueta’s lofted cross. That was a decent opportunity, although he may have been a little unsighted.
45 min “Certain VAR things are ridiculous, particularly it’s negative synergy with the handball laws,” says Niall Mullen. “But at least the offside for VAR is totally fair. It’s objective & applies equally to all.”
That assumes the technology is 100 per cent accurate, but it’s not.
44 min The match is meandering to half-time. Chelsea will do very well to get back into this, because there’s an air of fatalism around Stamford Bridge.
43 min “8-0, Rob,” weeps Mac Millings. “It hurts so much. Here’s my all-time Sadness XI:
- Joe Hartbreak
- Despair Walker
- Daniel Aggerny
- Hankie de Jong
- Steve Sorrow
- Michael Ballachrymosity
- Graeme Sadness
- Mental disinte-Jason McAteer
- Cryin’ Robson
- Diego Forlorn
- Stan Melancholymore.”
42 min Kurt Zouma does come on to replace Christensen, who is the second Chelsea defender to go off injured in this match.
41 min Christensen is walking gingerly to the sideline. I don’t think he’ll be able to continue.
40 min “Don’t be daft,” says Roger Domeneghetti. “Mount’s whole body is offside - look at the photos, not the narrative.”
Ach, that’s such a shame – I thought we were going to get through a whole MBM without pompous use of the word ‘narrative’.
39 min Salah almost makes it 3-0, skipping easily past Tomori on the right before striking a rising shot across goal that is superbly blocked by Christensen. He’s injured himself in the process, and Kurt Zouma is warming up.
37 min “Rob,” says Matt Dony, “have I told you how much I flipping love VAR?”
36 min Adrian collects a cross from Jorginho and knees Abraham in the back in the process. Abraham is down and looks in a lot of pain.
33 min “Can you think of a time when there was more, good outstanding English talent in the league?” says Hubert O’Hearn. “At least in the EPL years I can’t think of a year like this when virtually every team has not just ‘a nice young lad’ but at least one and usually two players with legitimate shouts for an England call-up. Who do we credit? Better academies, or (gasp!) is the F.A. doing something right?”
The last time was probably in the early 2000s, when players like Gerrard, Lampard, Ferdinand, Carrick, Cole and Seth Johnson were coming through. As for why, who knows.
31 min Jorginho and Henderson square up to each other over something or other. Nothing to see here.
It was a simple goal. Robertson curled over a free-kick from the left, and Firmino got in between Alonso and Christensen to head past Kepa from six yards. That was far too easy.
GOAL! Chelsea 0-2 Liverpool (Firmino 30)
It’s there!
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29 min “Rob, I don’t suppose you could just fast forward to May and let me know if we (Liverpool) win the bloody thing,” says Niall Mullen. “I’d quite like to just enjoy the games, it’s too early in the season to be this beset by nerves.”
I really think you’ll do it this year, injuries permitting.
NO GOAL! Chelsea 0-1 Liverpool
Mason Mount was 0.000000000000000000001 yards offside in the build up.
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Oh lord, it’s going to be VARed.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-1 Liverpool (Azpilicueta 27)
Of all the gin joints in all the world.
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25 min In fact, Abraham was being played onside by Alexander-Arnold, so that would have counted. He’ll feel he should have scored, though Adrian made himself big and blocked the shot with his right thigh.
24 min Adrian makes a fine save from Abraham, who was put through one-on-one by a fine pass from Christensen. I have a hunch it might have been offside had he scored, but it was a terrific save.
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21 min Liverpool have this match under control, with Fabinho dictating the play in midfield. They are such an impressive side.
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20 min Tomori is booked for a late tackle on Henderson.
19 min Adrian punches the corner clear and Liverpool break, only for Salah to run the ball out of play.
18 min Azpilicueta wins a corner for Chelsea, who have responded well to going behind.
15 min An early change for Chelsea, with Marcos Alonso replacing the injured Emerson.
That was a brilliant goal. Salah took the free-kick, dragging his studs over the ball to move it a few yards to the side. That created just enough space for Alexander-Arnold, who smacked a curling shot across Kepa and into the far corner. It was beautifully struck.
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GOAL! Chelsea 0-1 Liverpool (Alexander-Arnold 14)
It’s there!
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13 min Mane is fouled in the D by Christensen. It was a clumsy, rash tackle, and this is a great chance for Liverpool.
11 min After lovely play from Kovacic, whose fast feet left Alexander-Arnold for dead, Mount’s dangerous cross from the left just evades Abraham at the near post.
8 min Kante plays a nice pass down the side to Willian, who is eased to the floor by van Dijk. Nobody appealed for a penalty, even though it was a bit heavy-handed from van Dijk
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7 min Liverpool are starting to dominate, with Chelsea pinned in their own half for the last few minutes.
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4 min Henderson plays an imaginative long pass that would have put Mane through on goal but for a vital, last-gasp interception from the stretching Azpilicueta.
4 min Nothing to report thus far. It has, as you’d expect, been a frantic start.
1 min Peep peep! Liverpool, in red, kick off from left to right. Chelsea are in blue.
The players are in the tunnel. The Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta, as always, is laughing and joking with the opposition.
There were two early games in the Premier League, and you can read all about them here.
Pre-match reading
Team news
N’Golo Kante plays for the first time in over a month, while Mason Mount is fit to start after suffering an ankle injury against Valencia.
Chelsea (4-3-3) Kepa; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Tomori, Emerson; Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic; Willian, Abraham, Mount.
Substitutes: Caballero, Zouma, Alonso, Pulisic, Barkley, Pedro, Batshuayi.
Liverpool (4-3-3) Adrian; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum; Mane, Firmino, Salah.
Substitutes: Kelleher, Gomez, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lallana, Brewster, Shaqiri.
Referee Michael Oliver.
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Preamble
Hello. The thing Liverpool really, really want is Manchester City’s title. But it wouldn’t hurt to take their record along the way. Liverpool have won their last 14 Premier League games, and need five more victories to beat the Premier League record set by City in 2017-18.
A win at Stamford Bridge would be a particularly big statement of intent to win the title for the first time since 1990. If anything cost Liverpool the league last season, it was their away form against the big teams – they drew at Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Everton, and were beaten at Manchester City. Not exactly ‘Klopp out!’ stuff, but it’s the closest Liverpool have had to a weakness since they went to the next level with the signing of Virgil van Dijk at the start of 2018.
Chelsea have had a mixed start to the season, with some uplifting football – especially away from home – and some shambolic defending. While they are a medium-term project for Frank Lampard, Liverpool’s time is now.
This is the start of an important period for Liverpool. Their next seven fixtures include games against Chelsea, Leicester, Manchester United and Spurs, culminating in the huge one against Manchester City at Anfield on 10 November. By then, we should have a good idea whether it really is going to happen this season.
Kick-off is at 4.30pm.
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