The Reds failed to meet expectations once again when turning out on their own patch and Thursday’s visitors to Anfield, Chelsea, walked away with a much-deserved win over their top-four rivals.
Mason Mount’s sublime strike in the first-half was enough to seal the game in favour of Thomas Tuchel’s outfit, handing yet another massive blow to Liverpool FC’s chances of securing Champions League football for next season.
MATCH PROCEEDINGS
Jurgen Klopp’s men were largely on the backfoot over the course of the first-half proceedings at Anfield as the Blues looked to take an early lead.
Timo Werner was a constant danger for the host’s backline and the Germany international seemed to have put his side ahead after going past Alisson Becker to bundle the ball into the back of the net.
However, VAR had other plans and the goal was disallowed after replays indicated that Werner had been just been offside in the buildup play to his effort on goal.
On the other end of the pitch, a solitary chance fell the path of Sadio Mane courtesy of a brilliant find by his teammate Salah but the former was unable to keep the ball in check, allowing Chelsea No.1 Mendy to retain control.
As both teams looked set to go into the half-time break goalless, a great break from the visitors allowed Mason Mount to steer the ball into the Liverpool FC goal with a low driving effort.
The closing 45 minutes did not see much of the action between the two sides despite the Reds upping their intensity on the pitch when going forward.
It was Chelsea who threatened to increase their advantage when Ben Chilwell’s close-range effort forced a great save out of Alisson and Hakim Ziyech’s follow-up strike was subject to a clearance off the line by Andy Robertson.
With the Reds struggling to trouble a solid-looking Chelsea defence, it was Tuchel’s men who were on their attacking best and Werner found himself one-on-one with Alisson in the closing stages of the midweek game, the latter making yet another save to defy the German striker.
In the end it was the West London visitors who sealed all three points from the high-billed clash on Merseyside and took one giant step towards ensuring a finish in the top-four of the Premier League.
