Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League clash between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.
Victory today would take last season's champions to within six points of Liverpool in the race for a top-four finish, and Antonio Conte's side have played a match fewer.
Meanwhile, three points for the Reds would secure Champions League football, and be halfway towards their dream finish to the campaign ahead of their trip to Kiev.
Liverpool are unbeaten in the last six league meetings between the two teams, and have won on their last two trips to Stamford Bridge, scoring five goals in the process.
Make sure you don't miss a moment of the action with our minute-by-minute updates below.
The Premier League champions will be coronated before kickoff at Stamford Bridge today, where another top-of-the-table race could either be virtually concluded, or blown wide open, as Champions League-chasing rivals Chelsea and Liverpool do battle in London. Team news coming up...
CHELSEA: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Rudiger; Moses, Kante, Bakayoko, Fabregas, Alonso; Hazard, Giroud
Subs Caballero, Christensen, Zappacosta, Emerson, Barkley, Pedro, Willian
Subs Caballero, Christensen, Zappacosta, Emerson, Barkley, Pedro, Willian
LIVERPOOL: Karius; Clyne, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson; Alexander-Arnold, Wijnaldum, Milner; Salah, Mane, Firmino
Subs: Mignolet, Klavan, Moreno, Henderson, Woodburn, Ings, Solanke
Subs: Mignolet, Klavan, Moreno, Henderson, Woodburn, Ings, Solanke
Jurgen Klopp makes just the one change to the starting lineup which just about held off Roma in a thrilling Champions League semi-final, with captain Jordan Henderson rested to the bench and replaced by Nathaniel Clyne. That means Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield as he was against Stoke City.
The Liverpool boss has rotated his frontline in recent weeks while balancing league action with their European adventure, giving opportunities to the likes of Danny Ings and Dominic Solanke. However, today he unleashes all three of his big guns as Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane start.
PFA Player of the Year Salah, who today returns to the club that let him slip through their fingers, is four clear of Tottenham striker Harry Kane in the race for another individual trophy - the Premier League's Golden Boot. Salah has a remarkable 31 this term, with back-to-back winner Kane adrift on 27.
Adam Lallana is back in training for the Reds after five weeks out with a hamstring strain, but his World Cup hopes hang in the balance as he is not yet fit enough to make the squad. We already know Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will miss out on Russia 2018 while Joe Gomez (ankle) is also missing.
Emre Can, who may have played his last game for Liverpool, and Joel Matip complete their absentees.
For Chelsea, Marcos Alonso is back having served his three-match suspension, and he replaces Emerson Palmieri in the only change from the 1-0 win over Swansea City. Cesc Fabregas, the goalscorer at the Liberty Stadium, has won his place back from Willian for the crucial run-in.
Gary Cahill is starting his sixth successive match in the three-man defence, which could salvage his place in Gareth Southgate's squad. Olivier Giroud, who has three goals in his last four matches, is preferred to Alvaro Morata who is out with a recurring back injury which has hampered him all season.
Ross Barkley is a bit of a forgotton man at Stamford Bridge following his January move from Everton, having only played 131 minutes in a Chelsea shirt so far. Today, against his old Merseyside rivals, would be a perfect time for him to make an impact, for both his current and former club.
My colleague Barney Corkhill is at a sunny Stamford Bridge this afternoon. Follow him on Twitter @BarneyCorkhill for some more visual updates of the Chelsea vs. Liverpool action.
At a glorious Stamford Bridge to cover Chelsea vs. Liverpool for @SportsMole this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/AHMIPLI1mZ — Barney Corkhill (@BarneyCorkhill) May 6, 2018
Another 4.30pm kickoff this afternoon sees Arsene Wenger take charge of his last ever home game as Arsenal manager. Burnley are the visitors, hoping to string together a series of late results which could see them pip the Gunners to sixth place. I'll keep you updated on the scores at the Emirates too.
So to make the situation crystal clear, a win for Liverpool today would guarantee their top-four finish and leave Chelsea five points adrift of Spurs, who also have a better goal difference. Victory for Chelsea would bring them to within three of Liverpool, with a game in hand, and within two of Spurs.
Chelsea's top-four hopes appeared to be over when they lost at home to Spurs on Easter weekend, but a run of three successive wins has given them late hope of staying in Europe's elite. A fourth straight victory this afternoon would equal their longest Premier League winning streak of the season.
Should they fall short in their top-four pursuit, Chelsea will look regretfully at their results against their rivals. The Blues have won only two of their nine Premier League fixtures this season versus the other current top-six teams, and not since beating Manchester United back in November.
Although Chelsea have rediscovered some of their most productive form - if not their best - in recent weeks, they have only taken one point from their last two home league matches, having also been held 1-1 by West Ham United after their defeat to Spurs.
Olivier Giroud's insertion into the starting lineup ahead of Morata seems to have aided Chelsea in recent weeks. The big Frenchman has a great record against Liverpool too - bagging four goals in his last five Premier League starts against Liverpool.
On the flip side, Salah has scored in each of his last four matches against Chelsea - for Basel and Liverpool, for whom he scored in the 1-1 draw at Anfield before Willian's late equaliser. The Egyptian King needs one goal to set an outright Premier League record of scoring 32 times in a 38-game season.
Jurgen Klopp is unbeaten in all five Premier League matches as a manager against Chelsea, winning two and drawing three including on his last two visits to Stamford Bridge, scoring five in the process.
The key to Liverpool going to the next level has been the January arrival of Virgil van Dijk, whose influence has helped them keep seven clean sheets in their last 12 Premier League matches.
However, it has been 13 league games without a clean sheet against Chelsea, which is Liverpool's longest such top-flight run since a streak of 17 matches against Blackburn between 1947 and 1995.
Speaking of Blackburn, they were the last team to win three away league games in a row at Stamford Bridge when they did so in the mid-90s. Liverpool could follow suit today, and we are now less than 20 minutes from finding out if they can as kickoff in glorious West London approaches.
One concern for the Reds might be that they have only won only three of their last 11 Premier League matches directly following a Champions League fixture. Indeed the 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture came after a disappointing 3-3 draw in Sevilla when they conceded a three-goal lead.
While Anfield has continued to be a fortress domestically and in Europe, Liverpool's away form has dipped of late with only one win in their last four league games on the road. This has included draws at bottom two Stoke and West Brom, and their struggling Merseyside counterparts Everton.
West Brom were big winners over Tottenham yesterday to potentially open-up the top-four race. Victory for Liverpool today would take them four points clear of Spurs and leave Mauricio Pochettino's side needing to win both of their remaining matches to leapfrog the Reds into third.
Thibaut Courtois will be anticipating a busy afternoon today but he seems to be up for the challenge!
Good stop, @thibautcourtois! 🚫 #CHELIV pic.twitter.com/ioYSVr3Zpx — Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 6, 2018
The Belgian goalkeeper will have to be at his best to keep out the prolific trio of Salah, Firmino and Mane, who have managed 55 league goals between them this season - more than 14 clubs in the division have managed.
Both of these teams could be forgiven for having one eye on other prizes as Chelsea have the FA Cup final on the horizon, and of course Liverpool are looking to conquer Europe. However, with Champions League football now the holy grail for attracting players, the importance of this match cannot be underestimated, particularly for Antonio Conte as speculation over his future rumbles on.
The players have emerged from the tunnel and are about to partake in a minute's silence for Chelsea's first-ever league winning captain Roy Bentley, who passed away last month.
PREDICTION: Liverpool only play one way, but I think Antonio Conte will try to keep things cagey with Alonso and Moses staying deep to quell the threat of Salah in particular. If the Blues can survive the first 25 minutes without conceding, I fancy they might pinch this 1-0 or 2-1.
KICKOFF: The action is underway at Stamford Bridge, where Anthony Taylor is the referee this afternoon...
SHOT! Firmino makes a good run into the right channel, and Alexander Arnold finds him with a nice ball over the top. The Brazilian takes on the volley early and Courtois gets down to make a decent save at his near post. Liverpool have started on the front foot as you would expect.
© Offside
Chelsea have set up like the away team here, with Alonso and Moses making up a back five and Kante and Bakayoko providing a double shield in front. This puts a lot of emphasis on Eden Hazard to create something out of nothing, unless Chelsea become more expansive after the opening exchanges.
The visitors have had all of the ball in the early stages here, but have perhaps not been as dynamic as they can be. Klopp usually lets them loose out of the blocks which is why they are often quick starters, but most of their possession has been along the back line with Chelsea content to sit off.
Chelsea venture forward for the first time but all that does is create some space for Liverpool to break into when they win the ball back. Salah makes his trademark out-to-in run from the left but Azpilicueta comes across to cut off the pass from Firmino.
Hazard requires treatment after being caught by a hefty slide tackle from James Milner, who could have picked up an early yellow card but referee Taylor feels a talking to is sufficient.
The Blues are starting to see a little more of the ball now but need to find an alternative method of getting the ball upfield as Hazard is being swarmed upon as soon as a pass goes into his feet.
Chelsea have their first real moment of threat as Moses gets to the right byline and pulls the ball back into a good area. Bakayoko and Giroud go for the ball at the same time and get in each other's way, with the striker picking up the second ball and getting a shot away which is blocked.
© Offside
The better chance is the one that came before but there was a lack of communication.
SHOT! Karius has his first piece of work to do as Alonso takes aim from range and fires a 25-yard shot straight into the arms of the Liverpool goalkeeper, who is now firmly established as number one ahead of Simon Mignolet.
Liverpool break three-on-three but the tireless Kante makes up the 15-yard headstart that he had given Mane to come back and make a crucial and well-timed slide tackle on the edge of the box.
UPDATE: Wenger's Emirates swansong against Burnley has got off to a good start with a goal from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, whose presence will surely be a big attraction to whoever is lined up to replace the Frenchman at Arsenal.
It has been a quiet start to the match by Salah's standards but he wins Liverpool a free kick in a decent position here by knocking the ball past his former Roma teammate Antonio Rudiger and taking the contact. Milner's delivery is headed clear at the back post.
SHOT! Mane lets the ball run across him to set up a 25-yard volley which he strikes very sweetly on his weaker left foot, with Courtois forced to push the ball behind for a corner from which only the fingertips of the goalkeeper deny Van Dijk a free header at the back post.
Klopp will be pretty happy with how his side have started but will be concerned about Milner having limped his way through the last 10 minutes. With Can, Lallana and Oxlade-Chamberlain all in the treatment room, the Reds cannot afford another injury in central midfield.
Bakayoko has not endeared himself to the Chelsea fans during his debut season but he has shown some silky footwork to get his team out of tricky situations in their own defensive third, on a couple of occasions already. Nothing of the sort from Hazard as of yet.
Alexander-Arnold runs into trouble in his own half and Fabregas pinches the ball off him before quickly releasing Giroud, but the target man does not have the pace to get clear in the area and is held up by a combination of Clyne and Lovren, making his 150th Liverpool appearance today.
CHANCES! Mane has looked by far the most likely for Liverpool so far, and here he drives forward and bends a shot towards the bottom corner which Courtois pushes away. Firmino recycles the ball but Mane can only poke his second effort straight at Courtois from 15 yards.
GOAL! CHELSEA 1-0 LIVERPOOL (OLIVIER GIROUD)
Chelsea have taken the lead against the run of play with Giroud the goalscorer, climbing above Lovren from a standing start to glance a header into the far corner after Moses had checked back onto his left foot to get a cross in. Chelsea are not going to be knocked out of the top four lying down!
Giroud went over to the Chelsea bench to celebrate with David Luiz, which prompted Jurgen Klopp to suggest disciplinary action against the goalscorer. The Liverpool manager, of all people, is not someone who should be lecturing anybody on classless celebrations, of which that definitely wasn't one.
The hosts immediately go close to a second as Fabregas's run into the right side of the box goes unchecked. The Spaniard fizzes a cross-cum-shot across goal from a tight angle but Karius had his posts covered, and Bakayoko, the only other Blue shirt in the area, didn't feel like gambling.
YELLOW! It has been a season to remember for Salah, but this might be a moment he will want to forget as referee Taylor rightly pulls him up for diving as he tried to con a free kick under the challenge of Cahill on the edge of the box. No complaints from the Egyptian...
YELLOW! Clyne, who was lucky to get away with a stomp on Giroud's foot earlier in the half, quickly follows Salah into the book for a late tackle on PFA Team of the Year member Alonso.
Liverpool will be disappointed to be behind on the balance of play but Chelsea have been on top since scoring and have limited the threat of the formidable front three they are facing. Mane has taken up some dangerous positions centrally but Firmino and Salah have been ineffective thus far.
The first half is finishing as it began, with Chelsea settling back into their shape and backing themselves not to be broken down. I wouldn't say that the Reds look short of ideas but they are finding it difficult to get in between the lines, so well drilled has Conte got his team this afternoon.
Wijnaldum, who scored his first away goal for Liverpool in Rome in the week, sees a shooting opportunity go to waste as he slips when pulling the trigger. That should allow Chelsea to get through these two minutes of stoppage time and to the interval with their lead intact.
HALF TIME: CHELSEA 1-0 LIVERPOOL
The top-four race is well and truly on as we enter the break at Stamford Bridge, where Olivier Giroud has proven once again what a shrewd January signing he has been with a 32nd-minute goal which has given Chelsea a Champions League lifeline to hang onto.
LATEST: Arsenal may be regretting have sold Giroud to their London rivals, but the strikers he made way for - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette - have given the Gunners a 2-0 lead at half time of Arsene Wenger's last home match in charge, against Burnley.
STAT: No Premier League player has scored more headed goals since Giroud's top-flight debut in August 2012. The Frenchman has 29, which is four more than Christian Benteke, and has arguably established himelf as one of the Premier League's best ever aerial marksmen.
AS IT STANDS: Should it finish this way in West London, Chelsea would remain in fifth but close to within two points of Spurs, and within three of Liverpool, on whom they have a game in hand, remember. There could be a few twitchy bums in the Tottenham camp come full time!
BENCH WATCH: Antonio Conte will be more than content to keep things as they are for the next 25 minutes or so. Klopp does not have many established attacking options to call upon, but we may see captain Jordan Henderson in midfield as James Milner has been battling an injury.
One real positive for Chelsea in that first half was the performance of Bakayoko, who has taken his fair share of stick this season but has enjoyed one of his best 45 minutes in a Blue shirt. The midfielder has been disciplined in protecting his defence but also used the ball really well, including for the goal.
KICKOFF: The action resumes in the capital, with both sides unchanged for now. Salah, having been pretty quiet in the first half, takes less than a minute to get a shot away but, on his weaker right foot, was never troubling Courtois with that effort.
It has been a more open start to the second period, with attacks at each end. Moses gets forward on the overlap and whips a low cross into a dangerous area, but too far in front of Giroud.
SHOTS! Alexander-Arnold, who we know can him them from range, slices an ugly 25-yard shot high into the stands. At the other end, Kante, who is not known for his shooting ability, gets it similarly wrong when trying to curl a first-time shot beyond Karius after being teed up by Fabregas.
Conte is furious that Liverpool are given a free kick for a challenge by Moses on Robertson right under his nose. Referee Taylor has to calm the Italian down - which is easier said than done - before play can continue.
Hazard has taken some punishment today from some overenthusiastic Liverpool tackles, with the Reds clearly tasked with depriving the Belgian of any space. The Chelsea playmaker requires a new shirt with his previous one having been ripped by the tugging hand of Nathaniel Clyne.
Even with Hazard absent for a wardrobe change, Chelsea manage to open up Liverpool down the left wing, and Robertson has to stay poised in the box to knock a good cross from Alonso behind.
CLOSE! Brilliant from Hazard as he dribbles his way through three Liverpool defenders, and tries to catch out Karius with a left-footed drive across goal which is diverted behind for a corner by a combination of Karius and Robertson at the back post.
DISALLOWED! Rudiger wheels away in celebration only to find out that he has been flagged offside from Gary Cahill's flick-on, which he bundled past Karius from close range following a corner.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Klopp decides it is time for his captain as Henderson comes on for Clyne, which will see Alexander-Arnold revert to right-back and Liverpool to the team which started in Rome.
LATEST: It is party time at the Emirates where Saed Kolasinac has given Arsenal a 3-0 lead over Burnley. The Gunners are well on their way to the home send-off that Arsene Wenger deserves.
Hazard, with his low centre of gravity and underappreciated strength, is so difficult to get the ball off. He holds off several Liverpool challenges on the left edge of the box before playing the ball inside to Bakayoko, who scuffs his left footed shot which is easy pickings for Karius.
Salah has arguably his best opening of the match so far, a chance to run at Rudiger one-on-one, but the Chelsea defender stands tall to make the tackle, and Moses relieves the pressure on his defence with a lung-busting 60-yard dash upfield which is only halted by the last man.
STAT: Over two thirds of the way through this game and Chelsea continue to stifle Salah, who at 22 touches has had the fewest of any player on the pitch today. Firmino is the next lowest with 29 which goes to show that Chelsea's set up has been very effective.
© Offside
UPDATE: Arsenal have a fourth against Burnley, and a fourth different goalscorer in Alex Iwobi. For old time's sake, the Gunners are putting in the type of performance that Wenger should be remembered for.
Robertson could have done with a shout from Karius there, as he chests a cross from Alonso behind for a corner under no pressure. The corner comes to nothing because of a foul by Giroud.
Nervy moments in the Chelsea area as Salah and Firmino try to squeeze a pass through a congested penalty area, with Cahill on hand to make one particularly vital tackle on Salah. Chelsea counter rapidly but Giroud's return cross to Hazard is just out of reach of the sprawling Belgian.
Not so convincing frm Cahill this time as he is spun by Firmino, who gets a really good cross away from the left byline, but nobody had filled in for him in the centre of goal.
SUBSTITUTION: Klopp makes a very attacking change, taking off Robertson and replacing him with Dominic Solanke, who made one senior appearance for Chelsea before leaving for first-team opportunities. Firmino appears to have dropped into the three-man midfield.
Solanke is straight into the action, taking the ball into feet and backing into Cahill only for the experienced defender to poke the ball away from the substitute as he spun to shoot.
CLOSE! Alonso, who has just been booked for apparent time-wasting for taking a refreshment while preparing for a throw-in, nearly comes up with a late contender for goal of the season as he meets a Moses cross with a terrific left-footed volley which whistles just past the post.
YELLOW! Moses quickly follows his fellow wing-back into the book for a tangle with Milner.
LATEST: As Liverpool strive for just one goal, Arsenal have a fifth against the Clarets whose superb defensive performances across the season appears to have abandoned them this afternoon. Aubameyang has a second to bag me some crucial Fantasy Premier League points.
Stamford Bridge breathes a collective sigh of relief as Azpilicueta's attempted interception from an Alexander-Arnold cross, which was accidentally diverted back towards his own goal, is safely collected by Courtois. This could be a nervy 10 minutes or so for Chelsea, including stoppage time.
SUBSTITUTION: Conte finally makes his first change of the afternoon, replacing Hazard with the fresh legs of Willian. Stamford Bridge rises to the Belgian who has been excellent again this afternoon.
Liverpool fail to punish a rushed clearance by Cahill as Alexander-Arnold knocks a cross down the throat of Courtois.
CHANCE!: Lovren brings the ball out from defence and delivers a decent cross from the right, which Solanke meets with a header which lands on the roof of the net.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Klopp makes his final change as Alberto Moreno replaces Milner, and Conte responds by swapping Moses for Zappacosta so that the rapid Spanish full-back is not up against tired legs.
There will be FOUR minutes of additional time here. Klopp's changes have had little affect on the game so far which shows one of the things they have to do in the transfer market to rival Manchester City next season - add more quality depth in attacking areas.
Alonso keeps his cool at the back post to control and clear a cross from Moreno, which bounced up at a difficult height for the Spaniard who had Firmino lurking on his shoulder.
SUBSTITUTION: Conte winds down the clock a little more by bringing on Pedro for Fabregas.
CHANCE! Zappacosta too easily allows Mane to cut back and get in a cross which Solanke rises to meet, but Rudiger does enough to pressurise the striker into sending his header wide.
FULL TIME: CHELSEA 1-0 LIVERPOOL
A Champions League hangover for Liverpool potentially jeopardises their place in next year's competition as Chelsea keep their top-four hopes alive with a hard-earned 1-0 win. There will be some nerves jangling in the Tottenham camp as well as Chelsea move to within two points of Spurs.
Victory for the Reds against Brighton next weekend will be enough for them to guarantee a top-four finish, but anything else leaves the door open for both Chelsea and Spurs to sneak in.
That's it from me at Stamford Bridge. You can read our match report on the action here, and here catch up on the action at the Emirates, where Arsenal put on a show for Arsene Wenger's final home match in charge by thrashing Burnley 5-0. Thanks for joining us today. Until next time, goodbye!
Written by
Joe Fish
Joe Fish
