Chelsea vs Liverpool LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction from thrilling match
Chelsea welcomed Liverpool to Stamford Bridge for a massive game in the Premier League title race
Chelsea and Liverpool played out one of the games of the Premier League season with a pulsating draw at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon.
Thomas Tuchel's decision to drop Romelu Lukaku following the airing of a controversial interview this week dominated pre-match discussions before it was revealed Alisson, Roberto Firmino and Joel Matip had joined Jurgen Klopp in being ruled out of the contest with suspected positive Covid tests.
Sadio Mane gave the visitors the perfect start, however, with a well-taken opening goal before Mohamed Salah doubled the Reds' lead with a fine run and finish.
Mateo Kovacic went one better, though, finding the net with a sumptuous volley from the edge of the area before Christian Pulisic netted what proved to be the equaliser just before half-time.
Both teams pushed for winners in the second period but it wasn't to be with the main beneficiaries proving to be title rivals Manchester City, who now sit 10 points clear at the top of the table.
Thiago and Minamino also out
Two Liverpool players who are definitely out of today’s game are midfielders Thiago Alcantara and Takumi Minamino.
Klopp said: “Taki is closer, running outside, Thiago not – it’s a hip issue. We have to be patient.”
Meanwhile, Sky Sports reported earlier today they believe Alisson and Roberto Firmino may be two of the three Covid positives within the Liverpool squad. This has not been confirmed by the club.
Liverpool hit by three Covid cases
Liverpool have been hit by three new Covid-19 cases among the playing squad ahead of their crucial trip to Chelsea on Sunday.
Manager Jurgen Klopp - who will also not be at the game - did not reveal who had tested positive but hinted the cases would affect his first XI for the game at Stamford Bridge.
He said: “It’s not so cool at the moment. I’m not able to say who it is but it’ll be pretty clear on the team sheet.”
Other Chelsea team news
Aside from Romelu Lukaku, there are a number of other fitness issues surrounding Thomas Tuchel’s squad heading into today’s game.
Chelsea will be without injured England wing-backs Reece James and Ben Chilwell for Liverpool’s west London visit.
But Timo Werner has been back in training after Covid-19 and defender Thiago Silva should also be able to return to ease the Blues’ defensive injury issues.
Tuchel on Lukaku situtation
When asked about Lukaku’s comments, Chelsea manager Tuchel responded by saying: “We don’t like it, of course, because it brings noise that we don’t need and is not helpful,” said Tuchel. “But on the other side, we don’t want to make more out of it than it actually is.
“You know very well how it is, it’s very easy to take lines out of context, to shorten lines to make headlines, then realise later it’s not so bad or what he meant.
“If you ask me yesterday morning, I would say he is absolutely fine. If there is something to discuss it’s behind closed doors, for sure.”
Three 2pm kick-offs
Before the main event later on between Chelsea and Liverpool there are three 2pm kick-offs in the Premier League.
They are:
- Brentford vs Aston Villa
- Everton vs Brighton
- Leeds vs Burnley
Lukaku set to be left out of Chelsea squad
Romelu Lukaku is expected to be omitted from Chelsea’s match squad to face Liverpool at Stamford Bridge this afternoon.
Club-record signing Lukaku has hit two goals in as many games but fell foul of manager Thomas Tuchel this week, after revealing unhappiness in an interview released on Thursday but conducted three weeks ago.
A surprised Blues boss Tuchel admitted his frustrations with Lukaku’s comments on Friday, insisting he would seek talks with the £98million star and handle the matter in-house.
Lukaku is now expected to miss the pivotal Premier League clash, however, amid the fallout from telling Sky Sport Italy: “I’m not happy with the situation and that’s only natural.”
Chelsea vs Liverpool
Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent's live coverage as Chelsea play Liverpool in a massive game in the Premier League title race this afternoon.
The Blues have dropped off the pace at the top of the table in recent weeks and now sit 11 points behind league leaders Manchester City after the champions came back to beat Arsenal yesterday.
Manager Thomas Tuchel has Covid and injury problems to address with Reece James the latest first-team star to be forced onto the sidelines.
A bigger concern is Romelu Lukaku with the emergence of the striker’s controversial interview this week set to cost him his place in the side.
Jurgen Klopp has Covid problems of his own and won’t be present at Stamford Bridge having tested positive himself.
The Reds will be desperate to get back on track after defeat at Leicester last time out with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane set to feature for the final time before jetting off to the Africa Cup of Nations later this week.
Stick with us to follow all the latest updates and analysis throughout the afternoon.
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