Chelsea took charge in the race for the top four as Liverpool lose a fifth consecutive home game for the first time in their history.
Mason Mount’s superb solo goal towards the end of the first half was difference against a Liverpool side that didn’t register an attempt on target to the 85th minute.
Some of the Blues stars took to twitter to celebrate their unique victory over rivals Liverpool:
Chelsea players posted scintilating performances to conquer their hosts at Anfield on Thursday night.
Mason Mount’s exquisite finish just before half-time was the difference as Liverpool huffed and puffed in the second-half, but failed to find the visitors’ net.
This defeat is the Reds’ fifth straight home defeat – that has never happened before in the history of the club!
But for Chelsea, it’s a massive three points – it’s 10 games unbeaten now for Thomas Tuchel, who go four points above the champions!
Cesar Azpilicueta, Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rudiger, N’Golo Kante, and Jorginho were all superb for Chelsea, and it was a game where all their players really stepped up to get the win.
The Sun delivers Chelsea player rating:
Edouard Mendy – 7/10
He had a surprisingly quiet game as Liverpool struggled to create, but he did what he needed to do and swept up well at the back.
Cesar Azpilicueta – 8 A solid performance from the skipper and he was as reliable as ever at the back.
Some nice touches in advanced positions as well as he looked to join in attacks from deep.
Andreas Christensen – 9 Very comfortable at the heart of the Chelsea defence once again and very competent on the ball.
He is playing with so much confidence and he gobbled up any danger to the Blues defence.
Antonio Rudiger – 8 Rudiger was spraying beautiful long passes around all game and looked a real threat with his vision from deep.
His pace was also useful up against Salah.
Reece James – 7 He looked rusty at times in the first half and made a few small errors that could have caused issues.
He certainly grew into it a bit more and relaxed in the second half.
Jorginho – 8 Some nice over the top and through passes from him, trying to make the use of Werner’s pace in behind a high line at the back for Liverpool.
Worked very well alongside Kante with the pair complimenting each other nicely.
Match highlights 📲👇 After a performance like that, why not watch and enjoy the best bits all over again 😉 #LIVCHEpic.twitter.com/liIqRjHSG7
N’Golo Kante – 8 As usual, Kante was doing what Kante does best, being everywhere and hassling the Liverpool players whenever they tried to advance with the ball.
He also provided the assist for Mount’s goal with a smart long pass.
Ben Chilwell – 7 A couple of decent passes in from the left that could of been threatening, and similar to Rudiger his pace was much needed today in attack and in defence.
Much improved showing from him after some poor recent form.
Mason Mount – 8 Another Chelsea game, another superb Mason Mount performance.
He made and scored Chelsea’s first half goal to put them 1-0 up, and he was the biggest attacking threat for them once again.
Hakim Ziyech – 7 Certainly improved from the last match as he looked to create with his vision.
He didn’t look as rusty as his last outing and was a decent threat in attack for Chelsea.
Timo Werner – 7 He was used perfectly by Thomas Tuchel today and even scored a goal that was later disallowed for offside.
His pace was a real nuisance for Liverpool, who play high up the pitch, with Chelsea always looking to put him in.
He will still feel that he should have scored one of his chances though.
SUBS
Christian Pulisic (for Ziyech, 66) – 6 Lacked a bit of intensity when he came on to be honest but was a threat in attack.
Mason Mount has revealed the Chelsea manager’s gameplan in their win over Liverpool on Thursday night at Anfield.
The youngster was the difference in the match, scoring the game’s only goal with a superb effort just before half-time.
At full time, he’s given the lowdown on another Thomas Tuchel tactical masterclass.
Mount said: “The gameplan was to press them high and not let them have the ball, we knew how good they are with it. Most of the time their defensive line is high, and the runs in between are on.”
“Where the season is at the moment, it’s very tight in the top four. We want to keep pushing and these big games we need to win.
“We’ve been good defensively but haven’t been scoring enough – tonight, to get the goal it was good to score and maybe we could have had a couple more. We had to go and be brave, win the ball back up high and exploit the high defensive line”
Mason Mount scored a superb winner as Chelsea triumphed at Anfield for the first time since 2014, inflicting Liverpool’s fifth straight home defeat and climbing into the top four.
The Blues were the more dangerous side from the start, with Timo Werner twice going close early on and then having a goal overturned for offside after a Video Assistant Referee review.
Instead, it was Mount who gave Chelsea their deserved lead in the 42nd minute, cutting inside from the left corner of the box and whipping a clinical finish into the bottom right corner.
The visitors continued to threaten after the break, with Ben Chilwell forcing a save from Alisson and Hakim Ziyech’s follow-up being blocked on the line by Andrew Robertson.
Liverpool’s Diogo Jota made his return from injury after a three-month lay-off, but the Reds finished the match with just one attempt on target, while it took another Alisson save to stop Werner making it 2-0.
Match highlights 📲👇 After a performance like that, why not watch and enjoy the best bits all over again 😉 #LIVCHEpic.twitter.com/liIqRjHSG7
Chelsea forward Timo Werner has expressed his desire to emulate the Blues legend Didier Drogba.
The Germany international has endured a testing debut campaign in England, but he is not the first proven frontman to experience such struggles.
Timo Werner believes he can still follow in the footsteps of Didier Drogba at Chelsea, with the Germany international eager to point out that many proven strikers before him have taken a season to settle in England.
The Blues have a chequered history when it comes to big-name forwards. Patience was, however, rewarded by Drogba.
The Ivorian netted just 10 league goals in his debut campaign, and Werner believes he is capable of overcoming a slow start and emulating the efforts of a four-time Premier League winner.
Werner told BBC Sport,via Goal, when asked if he looks to Drogba for inspiration: “A lot of good strikers come to the Premier League and take one year to settle down and adapt.
“I think my form is going up and getting better and better. Maybe this year is not the year of goal-scoring for Timo but at the end I will reflect on the season.
“I have learned a lot. I know exactly the teams we play against, how they play.”
Liverpool boss has heaped praise on the match-winner Mason Mount after Chelsea defeated his team 1-0 at Anfield.
Mount’s first-half goal was all that Chelsea needed to ensure they remain undefeated under Thomas Tuchel.
It was huge win for west London club, who move into the top four.
Meanwhile, for Liverpool, it’s a fifth straight loss at home, their worst streak in history.
A disappointed Klopp believes his players need to find a way to show the talent they clearly possess if they are to recapture their best form.
After the match, the Reds boss said: “Unfortunately, we cannot say it is only at home. It is not all about Anfield, it is too often in general.
“In the decisive moments we have to improve. We have to show our quality in these moments and we don’t do that often enough.
“Intense game, tight game, one very decisive moment decided the game – the individual quality of Mason, if you want, in that situation decided the game.
“It was a ball in behind our last line, cut inside and in the end we don’t defend in the right space because these quality players, they go inside and they want to shoot from there so we don’t have to be on the six-yard box, we have to be there where he wants to finish it off.
“I think we were not there and that’s the goal we conceded, and our situations we didn’t use. That’s pretty much the explanation for the result.”
🗣️ "The details decide these game and they are going against us. We are responsible for that."
Jurgen Klopp was left frustrated by Liverpool's performance in both boxes against Chelsea pic.twitter.com/CQIKVmINVO
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 4, 2021
N’Golo Kante plays a long ball over the top and finds Mason Mount. The England midfielder cuts inside Fabinho and finds the bottom corner with a lovely finish. Chelsea lead!
