Mason Mount scored a brilliant solo-goal and moved Chelsea into the top-four after the Blues overcame Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield.
The 22-year-old’s goal was enough to seal all three points for the visitors and the victory inflicted the Reds to a fifth consecutive league defeat at home for the first time in their 129-year history.
Chelsea moved four points clear of Liverpool with the victory and the result means the hosts fall to seventh position having lost four of their last five matches in the Premier League.
Ten Unbeaten for Thomas Tuchel
Since the arrival of Thomas Tuchel as manager, Chelsea have gone ten matches unbeaten in all competitions despite having played the likes of Tottenham, Manchester United, Atletico Madrid and Liverpool.
Post-match Tuchel explained his side knew the importance of the match and continuing their form.
He said: “We knew before arriving here that they were just one point behind us and that we would need our top level.
“Overall, it was a top performance and that was the key because everybody was sharp, everybody played with a lot of courage defensively and offensively so it was a well-deserved win in my opinion.”
On Mount, Tuchel added: “He has fulfilled the expectations so far because everybody told me about him.
“He has stepped up, he has no fear and is brave. Mount is ready to suffer every game for the team and today it was a top performance from a top guy.
“He is a super nice guy, super hungry to learn in training with a big heart and he cares a lot about Chelsea and these are the best ingredients to improve.”
Jurgen Klopp uncertain of Champions League football next season
Along with the five-game losing streak, Jurgen Klopp’s men are yet to score at Anfield from open-play in 2021.
Their dip in form leaves them four points adrift of the Champions League spots with just 11 matches remaining and Klopp admitted that playing European football next season is not guaranteed.
He said: “It’s a massive blow, it is not done yet but if you lose that many games you do not have the right to play in the Champions League.
“The individual quality of Mason made the difference tonight, it was a tight game.
“We had situations like the one with Sadio and others too where we were in really good positions but we didn’t score.”
“The details are what decide these types of games and we are on the wrong side of them at the moment and only we are responsible for that.”
Chelsea invited high-press from Liverpool but were confident enough to play through the pressure and look for the space in-behind to feed Timo Werner.
The German was at the centre of the Blues’ attacks early on and could have given the visitors the lead but his lobbed effort from six-yards out was comfortably caught by Alisson Becker.
Werner then won a foot-race between the pair to run through on goal and tap the ball into an empty net but VAR intervened to rule the striker fractionally offside and keep the scores level.
The Reds almost capitalised on the decision by taking the lead themselves after Mohamed Salah found partner Sadio Mane, but the Senagalese forward miscued his volley when one-on-one with Edouard Mendy.
Deserved lead
However, Chelsea took a deserved lead into the break after Mount drove down the left wing from his own half before cutting inside and burying the ball into the bottom right corner in the 42nd minute.
Shortly after the break Liverpool had a strong claim for a penalty turned down by VAR after N’Golo Kante blocked Roberto Firmino’s cross from close range with his arm.
The visitors were happy to play on the counter-attack and remained a threat in the second half despite their lack of possession and Hakim ZIyech had his shot cleared off the line by Andy Robertson and Werner’s shot was well saved by Alisson to keep the hosts within touching distance.
Meanwhile, The Reds failed to mount any type of pressure on Chelsea’s goal and only recorded their first shot on target of the match in the 85th minute when Georginio Wijnaldum’s header was easily caught by Mendy.
The Blues will face more Merseyside competition on Monday when they host Everton in another clash for the Champions League places.
While, Liverpool host another West London club, Fulham on Sunday as they look to stop the rot at home and push for the top-four.
