Mason Mount has three goals in eight Premier League appearances under Thomas Tuchel, after scoring two in 18 under previous boss Frank Lampard this season
Liverpool suffered a fifth successive competitive home defeat for the first time in their history as Chelsea made it 10 games unbeaten under new manager Thomas Tuchel with victory at Anfield.
Mason Mount's superb individual strike three minutes before half-time gave the visitors a deserved win and moved them into the top four, while Liverpool are now in seventh place and in a serious dogfight for the Champions League places.
Mount scored brilliantly when he cut inside to fire a low shot past Liverpool keeper Alisson, reward for a first half dominated by the Blues, who also had a Timo Werner effort ruled out for offside.
Liverpool, for whom a visibly angry Mohamed Salah was substituted just after the hour, barely threatened but were furious when penalty claims were rejected by the video assistant referee after Roberto Firmino's cross clearly struck N'Golo Kante's hand.
Alisson had to save well from the lively Werner but one goal was enough to give Chelsea and Tuchel another fine victory as they move four points ahead of the Reds.
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Tuchel's Anfield win tastes sweet
Tuchel's beaming smile and congratulations for his Chelsea players will have carried an added tinge of pleasure as he finally experienced victory at Anfield.
Tuchel has suffered last-minute losses at the stadium in a Europa League quarter-final with Borussia Dortmund and then in a subsequent Champions League game with Paris St-Germain.
He and Chelsea were not to be denied here, though, and while Liverpool will debate why they were not awarded that second-half penalty, no-one could seriously question the fact that the visitors were vastly superior to the beleaguered champions as they fall hard and fast from last season's status.
Tuchel has had a rejuvenating impact on Chelsea since succeeding the sacked Frank Lampard in January, and victories like this - albeit against a Liverpool team who appear to be a sitting duck at Anfield these days - will increase confidence and belief.
Mount deserved his goal for a performance of the highest quality, while Kante looked back to his best as he patrolled midfield.
Werner gave one of his finest displays since joining Chelsea and deserved a goal of his own, while Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger performed with such efficiency in defence that Liverpool did not have an effort on target until Georginio Wijnaldum's tame 84th-minute header.
All in all, it was an excellent night's work for Tuchel and Chelsea.
More to follow.
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Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key1 = Give it up10 = Pure perfection
- LiverpoolLiverpoolLiverpoolChelseaChelseaChelsea
LiverpoolStarting XIAvgSquad number1Player nameAlissonAverage rating
4.07
12345678910Squad number66Player nameAlexander-ArnoldAverage rating
3.39
12345678910Squad number3Player nameFabinhoAverage rating
3.51
12345678910Squad number19Player nameKabakAverage rating
3.49
12345678910Squad number26Player nameRobertsonAverage rating
3.52
12345678910Squad number6Player nameThiago AlcántaraAverage rating
3.15
12345678910Squad number5Player nameWijnaldumAverage rating
3.50
12345678910Squad number17Player nameJonesAverage rating
3.60
12345678910Squad number11Player nameMohamed SalahAverage rating
3.59
12345678910Squad number9Player nameRoberto FirminoAverage rating
3.08
12345678910Squad number10Player nameManéAverage rating
3.28
12345678910SubstitutesAvgSquad number7Player nameMilnerAverage rating
3.68
12345678910Squad number15Player nameOxlade-ChamberlainAverage rating
3.16
12345678910Squad number20Player nameDiogo JotaAverage rating
3.98
12345678910Share your Liverpool player ratings withFacebookTwitterWhatsAppCopy and share linkChelseaStarting XIAvgSquad number16Player nameMendyAverage rating
7.39
12345678910Squad number28Player nameAzpilicuetaAverage rating
7.40
12345678910Squad number4Player nameChristensenAverage rating
8.08
12345678910Squad number2Player nameRüdigerAverage rating
7.65
12345678910Squad number24Player nameJamesAverage rating
7.30
12345678910Squad number7Player nameKantéAverage rating
7.85
12345678910Squad number5Player nameJorginhoAverage rating
7.30
12345678910Squad number21Player nameChilwellAverage rating
6.97
12345678910Squad number22Player nameZiyechAverage rating
6.68
12345678910Squad number19Player nameMountAverage rating
8.22
12345678910Squad number11Player nameWernerAverage rating
7.83
12345678910SubstitutesAvgSquad number10Player namePulisicAverage rating
6.72
12345678910Squad number17Player nameKovacicAverage rating
6.68
12345678910Squad number29Player nameHavertzAverage rating
6.16
12345678910Share your Chelsea player ratings withFacebookTwitterWhatsAppCopy and share link
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsLiverpool
Formation 4-3-3
1Alisson66Alexander-Arnold3Fabinho19Kabak26Robertson6Thiago Alcántara5Wijnaldum17Jones11Salah9Firmino10Mané
- 1Alisson66Alexander-Arnold3Fabinho19Kabak26Robertson6Thiago AlcántaraSubstituted forMilnerat 80'minutes5Wijnaldum17JonesSubstituted forJotaat 62'minutes11SalahSubstituted forOxlade-Chamberlainat 62'minutes9Firmino10Mané
Substitutes
- 7Milner8Keita13Adrián15Oxlade-Chamberlain20Jota23Shaqiri27Origi46R Williams76N Williams
Chelsea
Formation 3-4-2-1
16Mendy28Azpilicueta4Christensen2Rüdiger24James7Kanté5Jorginho21Chilwell22Ziyech19Mount11Werner
- 16Mendy28Azpilicueta4Christensen2Rüdiger24James7Kanté5Jorginho21Chilwell22ZiyechSubstituted forPulisicat 66'minutes19MountSubstituted forKovacicat 81'minutes11WernerSubstituted forHavertzat 90+1'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Arrizabalaga3Alonso10Pulisic15Zouma17Kovacic18Giroud20Hudson-Odoi29Havertz33Emerson
Referee:Martin AtkinsonMatch StatsHome TeamLiverpoolAway TeamChelseaPossessionHome54%Away46%ShotsHome7Away11Shots on TargetHome1Away5CornersHome5Away2FoulsHome9Away8Live TextPost update
Match ends, Liverpool 0, Chelsea 1.
90'+4'Full Time
Second Half ends, Liverpool 0, Chelsea 1.
90'+1'Substitution
Substitution, Chelsea. Kai Havertz replaces Timo Werner.
90'+1'Post update
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Andreas Christensen.
88'Post update
Sadio Mané (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the right wing.
88'Post update
Foul by Antonio Rüdiger (Chelsea).
87'Post update
Foul by James Milner (Liverpool).
87'Post update
Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
86'Post update
Foul by Sadio Mané (Liverpool).
86'Post update
Andreas Christensen (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
85'Post update
Attempt saved. Georginio Wijnaldum (Liverpool) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Trent Alexander-Arnold.
84'Post update
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by César Azpilicueta.
81'Substitution
Substitution, Chelsea. Mateo Kovacic replaces Mason Mount.
80'Substitution
Substitution, Liverpool. James Milner replaces Thiago.
77'Post update
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Alisson.
77'Post update
Attempt saved. Timo Werner (Chelsea) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Mason Mount.
75'Post update
Foul by Roberto Firmino (Liverpool).
75'Post update
Jorginho (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
67'Post update
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Jorginho.
67'Post update
Sadio Mané (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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