Chelsea rose into the top four of the Premier League table with a hard-fought 1-0 win over reigning champions Liverpool at Anfield on Thursday night.
The Blues enjoyed the better opportunities in the first half and played their way through the Liverpool press confidently, with Mason Mount breaking the deadlock in the 42nd minute after Timo Werner's earlier effort was ruled out by VAR.
Jurgen Klopp's men improved in the second 45, but Chelsea weathered the storm excellently as each member of Thomas Tuchel's back three played their hearts out at Anfield, with Mount's goal eventually proving decisive.
Chelsea have now strung together a 10-game unbeaten run since Tuchel took the reins at Stamford Bridge, with the Blues leapfrogging West Ham United into the Champions League places with yet another clean sheet.
In contrast, Liverpool have now lost five in a row on home soil for the first time ever and are winless on their former fortress since the turn of the year, with their top-four homes slimming by the week as they sit four points below their adversaries in the standings.
Klopp's team now turn their attention to Sunday's home meeting with Fulham as they attempt to end their wretched home record, while Chelsea gear up for the visit of Everton on Monday evening.
HIGHLIGHTS
7th min: A long ball from Ozan Kabak finds Andy Robertson after a mistake from Reece James - the Scottish left-back receives it again from Mohamed Salah on the edge of the area before dragging a shot wide.
11th min: A long ball over the top from Ben Chilwell finds Timo Werner; the German forward takes an excellent touch before blasting a shot over the bar.
That first touch 👌
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 4, 2021
Timo Werner goes close for Chelsea in front of The Kop
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16th min: Werner is presented with a golden opportunity following a missed header from Thiago, but the Chelsea man cannot get enough power on the effort and Alisson calmly gathers before Cesar Azpilicueta lashes an effort over the bar.
24th min: Chelsea goal disallowed. Jorginho plays a pinpoint ball over the top to Werner, who gets there just before Alisson and prods home into an empty net, but the striker was a fraction offside.
NO GOAL ❌
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 4, 2021
Timo Werner is ruled offside by the smallest of margins...
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28th min: Brilliant opportunity for Liverpool as Salah finds Sadio Mane with a terrific first-time pass, but the Senegalese winger completely fluffs his lines.
30th min: The hosts begin to knock it around with more confidence and Thiago picks out Curtis Jones, but his effort goes well wide.
37th min: Mason Mount turns in the Liverpool box and manages to get a shot away on the half-volley, but his effort is wild.
42nd min: Chelsea draw first blood and VAR do not rule this one out. N'Golo Kante pings an excellent ball over the top to Mount, who cuts inside and takes a couple of touches before finding the far corner. 0-1 Chelsea.
𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗠𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 👏
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 4, 2021
The Chelsea midfielder puts the Blues ahead at Anfield
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49th min: Roberto Firmino's attempted cross strikes Kante on the hand after a promising period of play for Liverpool, but no penalty is given.
50th min: Fabinho meets Trent Alexander-Arnold's outswinging corner but cannot direct his header on target.
54th min: Liverpool just cannot get out of their own defensive third and Chilwell has an effort saved by Alisson before Hakim Ziyech's effort is blocked on its way through.
63rd min: Andy Robertson fizzes a ball in and Firmino is in plenty of space in the area, but the Brazilian gets his header horribly wrong and the ball rolls harmlessly out for a goal kick.
77th min: Chelsea absorb the pressure and break out down the left-hand side - Mount finds Werner but he cannot beat Alisson at his near post, and the resulting corner comes to nothing.
BIG SAVE ❌
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 4, 2021
Chelsea open Liverpool up again but Alisson prevents Werner from making it two!
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85th min: A sustained period of Liverpool pressure ends with Georginio Wijnaldum rising highest for a header, but it is straight down Edouard Mendy's throat.
MAN OF THE MATCH - MASON MOUNT
© Reuters
Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger deserve special mentions in the Chelsea defence, but Mount continues to go from strength to strength in blue.
Even before his sublime finish, the English playmaker was trotting around the pitch with unbridled confidence and was always comfortable with the ball at his feet.
STANDOUT MOMENT
© Reuters
Chelsea's balls over the top were causing Liverpool's high line all sorts of problems, and Werner so nearly took advantage with a much-needed goal, but VAR once again ruled it out for the tightest of offsides, sparking more debate between pundits and journalists alike.
BEST STAT
5 - Liverpool have lost five consecutive home games (league and all comps) for the first time in their history, while they're also the first reigning English top-flight champion to lose five home league games in a row. Nosedive. pic.twitter.com/Rg25S3pmC0
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 4, 2021
MATCH STATS
Possession: Liverpool 54%-46% Chelsea
Shots: Liverpool 7-11 Chelsea
Shots on target: Liverpool 1-5 Chelsea
Corners: Liverpool 5-2 Chelsea
Fouls: Liverpool 9-8 Chelsea
LINEUPS
Liverpool (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Kabak, Fabinho, Robertson; Thiago (Milner 80'), Wijnaldum, Jones (Jota 62'); Salah (Oxlade-Chamberlain 62'), Firmino, Mane
Chelsea (3-4-2-1): Mendy; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger; James, Kante, Jorginho, Chilwell; Ziyech (Pulisic 66'), Mount (Kovacic 80'); Werner (Havertz 90')
Ben Knapton
