The jubilation of a Champions League final berth was cut short on Sunday afternoon for Liverpool when they suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat against a rejuvenated Chelsea side who now keep their top-4 hopes alive until the ultimate gameweek as their determined display earned them three points in a must-win encounter.
Liverpool needed a draw to secure a Champions League berth and started the game brightly with swift moves via Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.
However, they conceded against the run of play when Olivier Giroud headed home from Victor Moses’ cross. The first-half lead was kept intact as their deep defensive strategy paid off and the defeat now makes Liverpool’s final encounter against Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield a must-win one.
Did well to deny a few efforts by the Reds in first-half but was not tested after the break as a resilient Blues back-line ensured a clean-sheet and defended the narrow lead.
Was excellent on the right-hand side of a back-three as he kept on blocking the Reds’ moves with timely tackles and challenges.
The veteran centre-back used his experience well to deal with Liverpool’s attacks and was a commanding presence inside the box.
Mohamed Salah is going through a bad patch but that does not take anything away from the German centre-back who contained his ex-Roma teammate all game.
Should have done better defensively but the Nigerian was sublime while going forward and also assisted Giroud with a decent cross from the left flank. Was replaced by Davide Zappacosta in the closing minutes.
Did not offer much in the attack but helped his side to resist the visitors in the middle of the park with timely interceptions and challenges. Was replaced by Pedro in the closing seconds.
Another inspiring display in the middle of the park as he worked tirelessly to break down Liverpool in the midfield, made timely tackles and carried the ball out from the deep.
Did well to hold the ball in midfield, kept his cool and managed to help his defence amidst intense pressure.
Did well to contain Mohamed Salah alongside Rudiger and also offered presence high up the pitch with his timely runs, crosses and strikes.
His finest display this season as he looked unbeatable. His dribbles, ball-control and holding traits terrorised the Liverpool defence and the Belgian received a standing ovation from the home fans while being replaced by Willian late in the game.
Had one chance and converted that with a sublime header to continue his great scoring run against Liverpool in the Premier League.
Was introduced in the 86th-minute.
Was introduced at around 89th-minute.
Was introduced in the stoppage time to buy some seconds.
The Premier League run-in, the backend of the title race for Manchester City sees them…
Everton is having a bad season so far, from their poor form in the league…
Communication is the heartbeat of any successful soccer team. On the field, amidst the flurry…
In the annals of football history, few names evoke as much reverence and admiration as…
Are you new to the world of football betting and would you like to take…
If you are into sports betting, staying ahead of the game is crucial. One way…