Live Commentary: Liverpool 2-0 Chelsea - as it happened

Liverpool returned to the top of the Premier League table courtesy of a 2-0 win over Chelsea in Sunday afternoon's entertaining clash at Anfield.

Manchester City had moved to the summit with a 3-1 victory at Crystal Palace earlier in the afternoon, but the Reds regained first position with a two-goal success over the Blues.

Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's live minute-by-minute commentary of the action below.

6.22pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with goals from Mane and Salah seeing Liverpool record a 2-0 win over Chelsea, returning to the top of the Premier League table in the process. City won earlier; this title race is incredible! Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live minute-by-minute commentary once again. Until next time!

FULL TIME:

90+4 minLIVERPOOL 2-0 CHELSEA

SAVE!

90+3 minComfortable for Alisson to keep out a header from Kante.

90+1 minWe are into the first of three additional minutes here.

90 minLIVERPOOL SUB! Shaqiri replaces Salah for Liverpool.

SAVE!

90 minKepa has to keep out a powerful strike from Mane!

88 minPoor moment for Kepa as the Chelsea goalkeeper loses the ball to Mane, but the Senegal international runs out of room and the Blues are fortunate. Still 2-0 to the home side.

86 minNothing much from Chelsea in the last few minutes as Liverpool continue to dominate.

84 minWijnaldum attempts to find Firmino with a flick inside the box, but Christensen clears behind for a corner as we head for the final five minutes of football at Anfield.

SAVE!

82 minDecent save from Kepa to keep out a strike from Firmino.

81 minChristensen has to come across to clear ahead of Firmino as Liverpool threaten to score a third, which would make sure of the points at this stage of the contest.

79 minLittle over 10 minutes of the second period remaining at Anfield.

77 minLIVERPOOL SUB! Milner replaces Henderson for the home side.

76 minCHELSEA SUB! Barkley replaces Loftus-Cheek for the away side.

75 minHenderson again breaks into a crossing position before lifting the ball into the Chelsea box, but there are no takers. Still 2-0 as we head into the final 15 minutes of normal time here.

73 minPossession football for Chelsea at the moment as they look to work some space in the final third. Barkley will soon become the away side's second change at Anfield.

71 minA win for Liverpool puts them two points clear of City, who would then have a game in hand once again. Luiz has just had to clear a deep free kick from Henderson.

69 minLittle over 20 minutes of the second period remaining and Chelsea are still causing problems on the break, although Higuain has not seen too much of the ball thus far here.

67 minLIVERPOOL SUB! Wijnaldum replaces Keita for the home side.

SAVE!

66 minKepa is on hand to keep out a curling strike from Salah.

64 minLittle over 25 minutes of the second period remaining, and it is a huge final 25 minutes.

62 minHow Chelsea have not scored is incredible, with the Blues having some serious chances. Liverpool want a third, but they have to be very careful down the other end of the field.

CHANCE!

60 minAnother big chance for Hazard, but Alisson keeps out the attacker's close-range effort!

OFF THE POST!

59 minHuge moment for Chelsea as Hazard breaks into the Liverpool box, but the Belgium international hits the post! Little over 30 minutes of this clash remaining at Anfield.

58 minFirmino just misses the Chelsea post with a low strike!

56 minCHELSEA SUB! Higuain replaces Hudson-Odoi for the away side.

54 minLiverpool double their lead in the 53rd minute as Salah finds space outside the Chelsea box before firing a stunner into the top corner of the net. Big moment in this game!

GOAL!

53 minLIVERPOOL 2-0 CHELSEA (SALAH)

52 minChelsea's resistance is broken as Mane rises high to head a Henderson cross into the back of the net! Not sure about the defending, but the home side take the lead at Anfield.

GOAL!

51 minLIVERPOOL 1-0 CHELSEA (MANE)

SHOT!

49 minKeita strikes over the Chelsea crossbar from a dangerous position.

49 minAll Liverpool in terms of possession in the early stages of the second period, with the Reds looking for space in the final third. Chelsea, though, are defending really well here.

47 min... no changes from either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise. However, I suspect that both managers will have alterations in mind as the second period develops.

KICKOFF:

46 minChelsea resume the action here...

5.28pmBENCH WATCH! Chelsea have already been forced into change, with Christensen taking the place of Rudiger late in the first period. Barkley, Giroud, Higuain, Kovacic and Pedro, though, are still all in reserve for the visitors. As for Liverpool, head coach Klopp has options in the shape of Milner, Origi, Shaqiri, Sturridge and Wijnaldum. Plenty of talent on the sidelines!

5.23pmSTATISTICS! Liverpool had 63% of the possession in the first period, while they managed four attempts, but just one of those was on target. Chelsea had three attempts, hitting the target just once. Just the one yellow card to report here, with Azpilicueta in the book for the visitors.

5.18pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with the two teams level at 0-0. That far from tells the full story, though, with both sides having chances to make the breakthrough. It has been a brilliant first 45 minutes of Premier League football at Anfield.

HALF TIME:

45+3 minLIVERPOOL 0-0 CHELSEA

45+2 minWe are into the second of three additional minutes at the end of the first period.

45+1 minKepa makes a huge save with his feet to deny Firmino, but the flag had been raised.

YELLOW CARD!

44 minAzpilicueta (Chelsea) is booked for a foul on Mane.

44 minChelsea are on the front foot as we approach the half-time break.

42 minAlisson clears straight to Loftus-Cheek and the shot looks to be on for the midfielder, but Liverpool have enough bodies back to make the clearance. Still goalless here.

40 minCHELSEA SUB! Christensen replaces Rudiger for the away side here.

39 minRudiger again goes down holding his knee.

CHANCE!

38 minHuge chance for the home side as Salah finds Mane inside the Chelsea box, but the attacker's strike misses the post. It was super work from Salah once again there.

37 minChelsea are using the ball well under pressure here, but Liverpool only need one mistake. It must be said that the first 37 minutes of this football match have flown past.

35 minLoftus-Cheek finds space outside the Liverpool box, but the midfielder is crowded out and Van Dijk can smash clear. Again Hazard was dangerous on the counter-attack there.

33 minThe counter-attack looks to be Chelsea's best chance of scoring this afternoon, and they have had some positive moments on the break. Hudson-Odoi and Willian both have real pace, while there are few better dribblers in world football than Hazard. Still all square at Anfield.

CHANCE!

31 minWillian has a super chance for Chelsea after breaking into a dangerous position, but the Brazil international fires wide of the post after Hazard's run had taken Robertson away.

29 minLittle over 15 minutes of the first period remaining and Liverpool are still on the front foot, but Chelsea continue to cause problems on the counter-attack. You do get the feeling that the first goal - if there indeed is one - could be huge. It has been a very, very good game at Anfield.

CLOSE!

27 minHenderson has a powerful strike deflected wide of the Chelsea post!

27 minJorginho attempts to find Hudson-Odoi with a high pass into the Liverpool box, but Alisson makes the claim and the home side build from the back again. Still goalless at Anfield.

25 minRobertson again delivers a dangerous cross into Firmino, but the Brazilian cannot gather the ball under his spell and Chelsea have a goal kick with 25 minutes on the clock here.

23 minRudiger actually seems fine to continue, which is great news for Chelsea.

23 minRuiger looks in trouble here after grabbing his knee and falling to the ground.

SAVE!

22 minEasy enough save from Alisson to keep out Hazard's effort.

22 minI would be astounded if there were not goals in this match with both teams showing their attacking intent in the opening 22 minutes. Keita has again just broken into a dangerous position, but crosses into the arms of Kepa. Wonderful atmosphere inside the stadium here.

20 minThe referee is letting every 50/50 challenge go at the moment, which is making it a very open game. Mane has just threatened to break into space, but Rudiger was across to challenge.

18 minDecent little spell for Chelsea here as Loftus-Cheek takes the ball away from Van Dijk before Emerson makes a smart break down the left. This is a very, very good game of football.

16 minSalah goes down inside the Chelsea box, but the referee is not interested. It was good defending from Luiz who came across to make the challenge there.

15 minSmart goalkeeping from Kepa to claim ahead of Mane, who had threatened to meet a cross from Salah. Salah then feeds Firmino moments later, but Kante is back to make the header.

14 minHudson-Odoi delivers a dangerous cross into the Liverpool box, but Alisson makes a flying punch and Liverpool can clear their lines. Smart break from Kante in that move.

12 minHazard goes down for Chelsea as the visitors look to break, but Fabinho is adjudged to have won the ball. Azpilicueta comes across to make his point to the referee, Chelsea aren't pleased.

10 minHudson-Odoi is the target as Jorginho sends a long pass down the right, but Robertson does well to usher it behind for a goal kick. Liverpool can then build from the back once again.

8 minMane again delivers into the Chelsea box, but Willian manages to gather before the away side win a throw-in. All of the early pressure, as expected, is coming from the home team here.

SAVE!

6 minBig save from Kepa to gather a strike from Salah, who had met a cross from Mane!

4 minBit of possession for Chelsea in the last couple of minutes, but they cannot advance past the half-way line with Keita biting into the challenge and Fabinho looking forward with the pass.

2 min... there is a wonderful atmosphere inside the stadium in these early moments, which is not a surprise. Liverpool have already had the chance to break into a wide position, but Keita was challenged by Rudiger and Chelsea have the throw. This really is a huge football match.

KICKOFF:

0 minLiverpool kick things off here...

4.28pmAs for Chelsea, the big news is that Eden Hazard will play as the false nine. Gonzalo Higuain and Olivier Giroud are both on the bench, as is Pedro with Callum Hudson-Odoi given the nod in attack. Ruben Loftus-Cheek also starts ahead of both Ross Barkley and Mateo Kovacic in midfield with Maurizio Sarri making some big decisions here. Kickoff is next!

4.27pmLiverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has made two changes to the team that started against Porto in the Champions League during the week, with Andrew Robertson and Joel Matip coming in for James Milner and Dejan Lovren. Fabinho, Naby Keita and Jordan Henderson are the midfield three, with Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane in the final third.

4.26pmTEAMS! LIVERPOOL: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Keita, Henderson; Mane, Firmino, Salah CHELSEA: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Emerson; Kante, Jorginho, Loftus-Cheek; Hudson-Odoi, Hazard, Willian

4.25pmGood afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of the Premier League clash between Liverpool and Chelsea from Anfield. Manchester City's 3-1 win at Crystal Palace earlier this afternoon means that the pressure is back on Liverpool, who have dropped to second spot in the table once again. Chelsea, meanwhile, currently sit fourth in the table, just one point off third-placed Tottenham Hotspur and two points clear of fifth-placed Manchester United. Stay tuned!

Live Commentary: Liverpool 2-0 Chelsea - as it happened

Teams mentioned in this article :

Liverpool

Chelsea