Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool Jacob Steinberg has already tabled his report from Stamford Bridge, bless him, so I'll leave you with that. Thank you for your company – good evening.
Peep Peep! This is an important victory for Liverpool, their first outing in one of the big six for over a year. It's also their 15th consecutive win in the league. It's an incredible feat, especially since they have scored at least twice in 15 games. They were far from their best today, especially in the second half, but they defended themselves with determination and tried their luck to restore their lead by five points at the top.
90 min: Mount misses a good opportunity! It was a nice gesture of Chelsea. Willian led a cross pass to Alonso, who picked it up and spun a low pass in the Mount area. He had to take the shot the first time, as the ball bounced, and he gave a wide spanking with his left foot.
Mason Mount looks frustrated. Photography: Javier García / BPI / REX / Shutterstock
88 min Batshuayi gives a head right next to Alonso's center. It was a decent chance at 12 meters, but there was not much rhythm on the ball and he could not really guide it in the far post.
87 min Liverpool breaks dangerously, Firmino passing Salah to the last defender. The problem is that the last defender is N'Golo Kante and he easily wins the ball. What a truly magnificent footballer he is! I retain this comment on a Premier League XI – Kante would enter, and probably a World XI too.
It was all his work. He turned away from Fabinho and rushed to the edge of the area. Then, when three Liverpool players converged, he moved the ball slightly to the right and forced a high shot that beat pioneer Adrian and flew to the top corner. It was a magnificent goal.
69 min A dangerous rupture of Liverpool. Mane makes a pass over the defense towards Salah, whose chest control is too heavy, allowing Chelsea's defenders to make a round and intercept.
67 min The dangerous center of Azpilicueta in the direction of the mount is very badly manhandled by Alexander-Arnold. If it had been off the surface, a foul would certainly have been given for dangerous play. I have no idea, I'll be honest.
63 min "Has he ever had a greater concentration of first class players in two clubs than now, Rob?" Says Gary Naylor. "Or are the big groups of C + and C players (relatively speaking of course – they are all brilliant compared to our people) who have always populated the majority of clubs now slipped to C and C-? a little old firmish, right?
Well, it's only been that for a year; and while it's hard to see anyone getting closer to the top two in the foreseeable future, the experience tells us that something will change in the next two years. But yes, with Hazard gone, you could argue that a Premier League XI would only include City and Liverpool players.
59 min Chelsea has a decent spell. The center of the Azpilicueta cross is passed behind Abraham by a right foot. Matip touches slightly before taking the corner. Chelsea throws a call for handball from the corner, then Kante gives off a low shot, but away from the inside of the D.
Jorginho de Chelsea goes for the ball. Photography: Frank Augstein / AP
58 min "The problem with the VAR as it is currently used is that it seems to be more concerned with the motes than the boards," says Felix Wood. "Even if that's right, who cares about differences in millimeters? But a goalkeeper who is five meters from his penalty line with three players who encroach as in the Barca-Dortmund match is missed. "
They should bring the VAR logic to justice. Steal a dime = life in the jug. Enter the Bank of England = a slap on the wrist.
51 min It's all Liverpool since halftime. Kepa made a spectacular reaction after a rebound on Azpilicueta, although she would not have counted because of a wrong decision from offside against Alexander-Arnold in the preparations.
50 min "I'm in Eugene, Oregon, and I'm trying to explain to an American friend what this team is to a CFL fan," said Paul Quigley. "I started supporting the CFL in '86 and I think it's the best team I've ever seen in the CFL. Which of the best sides do you think is the best or is it the best?
If they win the championship, they will sit alongside teams from 1978-1979, 1983-1984 and 1987-1988. You can really defend each of them. The 1987-88 team is the best I've ever seen, although the Manchester United fan was a big fan of Roy Hodgson's Liverpool.
47 min: Kepa makes a good save! Chelsea is in shambles. A corner on the right went to Alexander-Arnold, the original taker. Beyond the last post, he passed the post to find Firmino in a scandalous space. Firmino cushioned a volley and Kepa dipped to his left to push him past the far post. It's a good backup.
"Are you claiming that he was not offside?" says Mary Waltz. "I just saw the replay on the US wire and it looked like offside. I am open to counter arguments. "
No, I think Mount was offside. But I'm not sure that Son was yesterday in the Leicester-Spurs match, and that's not enough. My main problem with VAR, apart from the fact that it turns football into reality, is that it was introduced at least a decade too early. It should have been properly tested, so that various unpredictable scenarios could be envisaged, rather than being quickly adopted, so that it could make fun of an otherwise brilliant World Cup.
"Is it important if the technology is very slightly inaccurate?" said Niall Mullen. "In the end, he acts as an irreproachable external arbiter, less prone to errors than the previous system. A bit like ball tracking on DRS. Would the ball really cut the top? Who knows, but as we all agreed to accept his decision, we do not discuss it anymore. "
I think so, because once you've introduced technology, you're expecting a lot more equity. I would have a margin of error in offside, much like the call of a cricket umpire, to cover the imperfections of the system when it comes to accurately determining when the ball leaves the foot of the player.
Peep Peep! Liverpool is on track to win its 15th consecutive league victory. There was not much difference between the two camps, but Liverpool just had a little too much for Chelsea: too much of us, too much authority, too much self-confidence and too much class.
45 + 2 min Alonso's center is trapped by diving Adrian, but he has every interest in grabbing the ball against Willian. Chelsea had a little joy in the lower left.
45 min A chance for Abraham, who gives a wide header to the center of Azpilicueta. It was a decent opportunity, although it may have been a bit unnoticed.
45 min "Some VAR things are ridiculous, especially that's a negative synergy with the laws of handball," says Niall Mullen. "But at least the offside VAR is totally right. This is an objective that applies equally to everyone. "
This assumes the technology is 100% accurate, but it is not.
39 min Salah almost made 3-0, easily crossing Tomori on the right before hitting a deep shot from the superbly blocked Christensen goal. He hurt himself and Kurt Zouma warms up.
