Chelsea vs Liverpool LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction from thrilling match
Chelsea welcomed Liverpool to Stamford Bridge for a massive game in the Premier League title race
Chelsea and Liverpool played out one of the games of the Premier League season with a pulsating draw at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon.
Thomas Tuchel's decision to drop Romelu Lukaku following the airing of a controversial interview this week dominated pre-match discussions before it was revealed Alisson, Roberto Firmino and Joel Matip had joined Jurgen Klopp in being ruled out of the contest with suspected positive Covid tests.
Sadio Mane gave the visitors the perfect start, however, with a well-taken opening goal before Mohamed Salah doubled the Reds' lead with a fine run and finish.
Mateo Kovacic went one better, though, finding the net with a sumptuous volley from the edge of the area before Christian Pulisic netted what proved to be the equaliser just before half-time.
Both teams pushed for winners in the second period but it wasn't to be with the main beneficiaries proving to be title rivals Manchester City, who now sit 10 points clear at the top of the table.
Half-time scores
Here are the half-time scores from the three 2pm Premier League kick-offs:
- Brentford 1-1 Aston Villa
- Leeds 1-0 Burnley
- Everton 0-2 Brighton
Danny Ings’ opener was cancelled out just before the break by a brilliant striker from Yoane Wissa as Brentford and Aston Villa go in all square.
Jack Harrison’s goal has given Leeds a precious advantage over Burnley in a relegation six-pointer at Elland Road.
And goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Dan Burn have given Graham Potter’s Brighton a health lead over a desolate Everton team. Dominic Calvert-Lewin also skied a penalty on his return to the side.
Tuchel admits to ‘bump in development'
Thomas Tuchel has admitted Chelsea will keep refining their tactical blueprint in a bid to shake off December’s “bump in development”.
“We have the feeling we’ve invested a lot, we squeezed the lemon and squeezed the lemon,” said Tuchel. “But it’s like squeezing the same lemon over and over again and expecting fresh juice.
“It’s hard to take these results and stay positive because we know we can play better, but also everybody is trying extremely hard. It’s tough, we have now three games at home where we conceded late equalisers where we dominated all statistics and are purely unlucky.
“It hurts because obviously with six points more we would have a completely different feeling around New Year.
“But it’s sometimes like this, I’m sure it’s not the first time in my career and the players’ career when things feel a bit more heavy than in other days.”
Thomas Tuchel admits to recent ‘bump in development’ at Chelsea
The German admits it ‘hurts’ that the Blues have drawn four of their last five at home but predicts they will learn and improve
Brentford 1-1 Aston Villa
Out of nowhere Yoan Wissa has scored a wonderful goal to equaliser for Brentford against Aston Villa.
The Congolese forward whips a sensational effort into the top corner from the edge of the box to send the Brentford Community Stadium into jubilant scenes.
Wonderful strike.
Leeds 1-0 Burnley
Big goal in the battle to avoid the drop!
Jack Harrison has given Leeds the opener in their clash with fellow relegation candidates Burnley at Elland Road.
Potentially a massive match at the bottom of the Premier League table and it’s Marcelo Bielsa’s side who have struck first six minutes before half-time.
Klopp not worried about misfiring Mane
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is not concerned by Sadio Mane’s current goal drought.
The Senegal international has not found the net in nine matches and is on the worst run of his Anfield career, having gone more than 13-and-a-half hours without scoring. Prior to that he had scored nine times in 16 matches.
“Sadio has no problem with confidence but of course the momentum finishing-wise is not there at the moment. Otherwise he plays really well,” said Klopp.
“Most strikers – pretty much all strikers – have to go through these kinds of things. It happened to Sadio before and he came out of it. He has scored some important goals and I am pretty positive he has a good chance to score one on Sunday.
“For this game it is all fine. He is too important for us, for us to even think about these kinds of things. You have to take these kind of things from time to time and after it will be good again. We are human beings, that’s how it is.”
Mane double gives Liverpool win at Stamford Bridge
Two goals from Sadio Mane handed Liverpool a 2-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last season.
Mane and Mo Salah are expected to play their final games for the Reds today before they leave for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Can the pair find their shooting boots to send Liverpool above Chelsea in the Premier League table?
Chelsea vs Liverpool
Right, so let’s put the Lukaku-sized sideshow to one side for a moment. Should Chelsea be beating Liverpool this afternoon?
Jurgen Klopp will not be there to coach his side - at least not in person. Liverpool are coming off the back of a draw with Spurs and defeat to Leicester in the Premier League.
It’s all there for Chelsea to provide a statement win today. But have they recovered from a poor run of form in December?
Everton 0-2 Brighton
Oh dear, oh dear. Dominic Calvert-Lewin has just blasted a penalty over on his return from injury.
Not sure Goodison Park is where you want to be right about now...
Everton 0-2 Brighton
Dan Burn has just doubled Brighton’s lead at Goodison Park.
It’s worth remembering that coming into this one Rafa Benitez’s side had won just one of their last 11 games in all competitions.
Everton are all over the place and Graham Potter’s Brighton are taking full advantage. They can move up to eighth place with a win.
Chelsea’s sensational 2021
It’s worth remembering that Chelsea are the reigning European champions. It took Tuchel less than six months to lift the Champions League after arriving at Stamford Bridge.
Over the course of the calendar year, Chelsea were also the second best team in the Premier League in 2021 behind Manchester City.
Safe to say fans are quick to forget when their side goes on a losing run, but it’s been a superb opening 12 months for Tuchel in England.
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