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Olivier Giroud the match-winner as Chelsea blunt Liverpool to keep Champions League hopes alive

Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool: The Frenchman's first-half header was enough for all three points

Nick Szczepanik

Stamford Bridge

Sunday 06 May 2018 18:19 BST

Giroud's first-half header earned the Blues a precious three points (AFP)

Chelsea kept the race for the Champions League places open with a narrow but deserved victory, Olivier Giroud nodding the only goal of the game after 32 minutes.

Liverpool had a chance to clinch a top-four finish but looked nothing like the dynamic attacking outfit of recent weeks, Jurgen Klopp tasting defeat by Chelsea for the first time in six league meetings. Mohamed Salah, expected to impress against the club for whom he made 19 appearances between January 2014 and July 2016, was instead booked for a dive after a challenge from Gary Cahill and might have seen a second one for the same offence.

The Reds’superior goal difference means that they remain favourites to finish above Chelsea, but they cannot afford any slip-ups in their final game at home to Brighton next Sunday. But Chelsea also have Tottenham Hotspur in their sights after their North London neighbours’ unexpected defeat away to West Bromwich Albion yesterday.

Chelsea vs Liverpool Player Ratings

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1/24Chelsea vs Liverpool Player Ratings

Chelsea vs Liverpool Player Ratings

CHELSEA: Asmir Begovic - 6 out of 10

Made several fine stops to deny Liverpool but couldn’t prevent Coutinho’s superb effort from squeezing past him just before the break. Was let down by his defence for the visitors’ two second-half goals.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool Player Ratings

Kurt Zouma - 5 out of 10

Did well to stop the threat of Lallana and Moreno on the left flank in the first half - putting his body on the line to prevent Lucas’ near-post header from going in - but began to be put under more pressure from Coutinho in the second period and began to struggle at right back.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool Player Ratings

Cesar Azpilicueta - 7 out of 10

Set up Ramires’ opener with a superb cross that came after he had outrun Milner. Had his work cut out with Clyne regularly pushing forwards but defended well enough.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool Player Ratings

Gary Cahill - 5 out of 10

Combined well with Terry to protect Begovic and stop the threat of Firmino in the first half but should have done more to close in on Coutinho and Benteke when they went for goal in the second.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool Player Ratings

John Terry - 4 out of 10

The Chelsea captain was back to his best against the Reds with some solid defending in the first half, but then let himself down when he didn’t do enough to stop Coutinho from his getting his shot at goal before allowing Benteke the space and time to fire in Liverpool’s third goal.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool Player Ratings

Ramires - 7 out of 10

Headed in Chelsea’s opener to give the home side the lead, but was beaten too easily by Coutinho in the build-up to Liverpool’s equaliser and should have done more to close him down.

Chelsea vs Liverpool Player Ratings

John Obi Mikel - 6 out of 10

Helped provide cover for Chelsea’s defence in the first half, but was later brought off after picking up a yellow card.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool Player Ratings

Oscar - 5 out of 10

Spent the first half largely on the left flank and while he didn’t get involved in Chelsea’s attacking play as much, he did his job at helping to keep Milner at bay while dealing with Clyne’s runs forwards. But the second half saw him struggle to replicate his first-half showing with Liverpool pressing well.

Chelsea vs Liverpool Player Ratings

Willian - 6 out of 10

Was so often the driving force of Chelsea’s attacking play with his pace and tricky runs but had less of an impact in the second period.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool Player Ratings

Eden Hazard - 4 out of 10

Played largely down the middle and despite a bright start, saw his impact wane and was eventually brought off in the 58th minute for Kenedy.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool Player Ratings

Diego Costa - 5 out of 10

Was controlled by Skrtel and Sakho throughout the game and rarely proved a threat for the home side. He did well to head the ball off the line in second half but disappointed up front for Chelsea.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool Player Ratings

From the bench: Kenedy - 5 out of 10

Within seconds of coming on, he threatened to score but hit his shot into the side netting. Didn't do much else of note

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Chelsea vs Liverpool Player Ratings

LIVERPOOL: Simon Mignolet - 6 out of 10

May feel he could have done more to keep out Ramires’ opener but dealt with the rest of his tests well.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool Player Ratings

Nathaniel Clyne - 7 out of 10

Was one of Liverpool’s best sources of attacking play in the first half down the right flank, and was unlucky not to have been given a first-half penalty when his shot hit Terry’s arm. Defended well at right-back and was one of Liverpool’s best players on the pitch.

2015 AMA Sports Photo Agency

Chelsea vs Liverpool Player Ratings

Martin Skrtel - 6 out of 10

llowed Azpilicueta to get his shot in to set up Ramires for the opener but, aside from that mistake, was superb to ensure Costa did not prove a threat for the home side.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool Player Ratings

Mamadou Sakho - 7 out of 10

Like Skrtel, the centre-back used his physical presence to shackle Costa throughout the game.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool Player Ratings

Alberto Moreno - 7 out of 10

Was outmuscled by Ramires in build-up to opener and will feel he could have done better, but he defended well at left-back while nearly getting a shot at goal in the second half following a fine run forwards.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool Player Ratings

Lucas Leiva - 7 out of 10

Received a yellow for a challenge on Mikel, but the Brazilian worked tirelessly in the middle of the park to snuff out attacks and try and create some for the visitors. Saw an effort at goal cleared by Begovic.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool Player Ratings

Emre Can - 6 out of 10

Looked frustrated by not being able to control the game in the first half and found himself escaping a yellow although he eventually got one for pulling back Willian. Despite an up-and-down first period marked by some sloppy passing, the midfielder came out from the break in better form and worked hard to keep a lid on the likes of Hazard and Willian.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool Player Ratings

James Milner - 6 out of 10

Should have done more to stop Azpilicueta from getting past him and setting up Ramires for the opening goal, but he grew into the game and began giving Chelsea problems with his forays forwards.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool Player Ratings

Adam Lallana - 6 out of 10

Tested Begovic with a few shots in the first half with his pace proving crucial in helping the visitors build up attacks from the right flank and also carried out his defensive duties well – making a superb clearance to deny Zouma in the second half.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool Player Ratings

Philippe Coutinho - 9 out of 10

Scored both of Liverpool’s goals –the first after weaving his way into space and getting past Ramires to net a brilliant solo effort before then scoring the winner in the 73rd minute. Was Liverpool’s star man.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool Player Ratings

Roberto Firmino - 7 out of 10

After a relatively quiet opening period in which he kept dropping deep to try and find the ball, the forward provided the assist for Coutinho’s opener in the dying seconds of the first half. He was brought off for Benteke in the latter stages of the game, but Klopp will see the Brazilian’s showing as positive going forwards.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool Player Ratings

From the bench: Christian Benteke - 8 out of 10

Secured the win with his well-taken goal from Ibe’s cross after being brought on as a second-half substitute. Proved the impact change from Klopp.

True, with Tottenham facing Newcastle United and Leicester City at Wembley while Chelsea host Huddersfield and visit Newcastle, Antonio Conte’s men are still more likely to compete in the Europa League next season. But stranger things have happened.

There were surprises in both starting elevens. Alvaro Morata was missing from the Chelsea matchday squad with a mystery injury, and Tiemoue Bakayoko appeared in a central midfield trio, with Willian on the bench.

Liverpool needed a win to guarantee Champions League football (Liverpool FC)

Jurgen Klopp appeared to have two right backs in his Liverpool starting line-up, although Trent Alexander-Arnold played in midfield with Nathaniel Clyne in a more orthodox full back position.

Any ideas that Liverpool might be relaxing ahead of the Champions League final were dispelled when Roberto Firmino outpaced Antonio Rudiger in the first minute but shot straight at Thibault Courtois. James Milner then brutally fouled Eden Hazard, somehow escaping a yellow card from Anthony Taylor. And Clyne was soon in on the act, stamping on Olivier Giroud’s ankle.

Giroud put Chelsea ahead in the first-half (AFP)

But Chelsea could also have done better at the other end when Bakayoko and Giroud got in each others’ way as they tried to profit from Victor Moses’ low cross from the right. And Marcos Alonso hit a fierce shot straight at Loris Karius after Bakayoko had dispossessed Alexander-Arnold.

But Chelsea had a reminder of Liverpool’s ability to strike quickly after 23 minutes when Milner found Sadio Mane 25 yards out and the Senegal striker unleashed a bullet of a shot that demanded a diving save low to his right from Courtois. Seven minutes later, put in by Andrew Robertson, he tried to curl the ball in from a similar distance, Courtois again equal to it.

Giroud's goal was enough for all three points (Getty)

But just as you thought a Liverpool opener was simply a matter of time, Chelsea went ahead. Moses created it, crossing unexpectedly with his left foot for Giroud to glance past Karius before rushing to the Chelsea bench to hug injured defender David Luiz. Liverpool’s old defensive frailty had been in evidence, neither Virgil van Dijk not Dejan Lovren marking the Chelsea striker, who outjumped Georginio Wijnaldum to get the header

Cesc Fabregas might have doubled the lead but shot across goal after a clever near-post run, and Moses did likewise early in the second half. Then Eden Hazard, quiet in the first half, dribbled down the left and drew a save from Karius from an almost impossible angle.

Klopp ended the Alexander-Arnold midfield experiment just short of the hour and sent on Jordan Henderson for Clyne, then took Robertson, his other full back off, in favour of former Chelsea youngster Dominic Solanke. But instead of a Liverpool equaliser, there was almost a late goal-of-the-season contender from Chelsea, Marcos Alonso volleying Moses’ deep cross back across Karius and just wide of the far post. Liverpool went for it late on but Solanke’s header from a cross by Mane went a yard too high and Van Dijk could only nod an even later effort gently into the hands of Courtois.

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