Chelsea vs Liverpool match report: Cesc Fabregas sent-off in pre-season friendly as Blues emerge triumphant

Chelsea 1 Liverpool 0: Fabregas was dismissed for a late challenge on new Liverpool signing Ragnar Klavan but Gary Cahill's early goal was enough to secure victory in Los Angeles

Cesc Fabregas is shown a red card during Chelsea's pre-season victory over Liverpool in Los Angeles (Getty)

Chelsea had Cesc Fabregas sent off as they beat Liverpool 1-0 in their International Champions Cup clash in Los Angeles.

The 29-year-old midfielder was dismissed with 20 minutes remaining at the Rose Bowl Stadium for a late challenge on the Reds' new signing Ragnar Klavan.

Gary Cahill got the only goal of the game in the 10th minute, heading in a Fabregas corner.

Gary Cahill heads in from a Fabregas corner (Getty)

Cahill celebrates with John Terry and Ruben Loftus-Cheek after scoring (Getty)

The England defender was also booked in the clash of the Premier League rivals, with Liverpool's Alberto Moreno, Ovie Ejaria, Marko Grujic, Dejan Lovren and Kevin Stewart also receiving yellow cards.

As well as Kavlan, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp gave starts to fellow recent arrivals Sadio Mane and Loris Karius in a match which was watched by more than 53,000 in California. However, there was no Mamadou Sakho in Liverpool’s line-up, with the defender sent home from the tour after repeatedly being late.

Liverpool players tend to Dejan Lovren after he suffered a head injury (Getty)

The closest his team came to a goal was in the 35th minute, when Roberto Firmino's effort was ruled out for offside.

PA