Report: Champions defeat Chelsea in 8-aim thriller just before PL trophy raise

The champions’ final household sport of an historic year proved to be a thriller, with Naby Keita’s spectacular blast added to by a trademark, exquisite Trent Alexander-Arnold cost-free-kick and Georginio Wijnaldum’s high-quality volley.

Frank Lampard’s facet pulled one back in initial-fifty percent stoppage time via Olivier Giroud, but Roberto Firmino’s header designed it 4-1 early in the 2nd time period.

Tammy Abraham and Christian Pulisic then struck to hand the site visitors a route to an not likely point, but Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain accomplished a elegant counter-attack late on to secure a club-history 31st Premier League victory of the marketing campaign.

Staff information

Keita came in for Oxlade-Chamberlain in the only alter to Liverpool’s beginning XI.

James Milner returned to the bench, although Adam Lallana was named in the Reds’ matchday squad for the final time.

Initial 50 %

Amid a frenetic opening to the sport, Chelsea spurned the to start with clear-slice likelihood with 8 minutes on the clock when Mason Mount miscued his header from Reece James’ cross.

The champions responded by knitting together a lengthy passing sequence that concluded with Mohamed Salah attempting a a person-two with Wijnaldum. The No.11 appeared to be impeded by Antonio Rudiger as he darted into the box, but no penalty was forthcoming.

James then whistled a shot above as the substantial tempo showed no signal of abating, prior to Keita crashed the Reds into the lead halfway through the half.

Having combined with Wijnaldum to dispossess Willian, the midfielder strode forward with reason and hammered a vicious, rising push in off the crossbar from just exterior the location.

Buoyed, the Reds continued making use of pressure on Chelsea’s intention and surged more forward ahead of the split many thanks to Alexander-Arnold and Wijnaldum.

To start with, the correct-back arced house a elegant set-piece – a near-carbon duplicate of his effort from Crystal Palace last thirty day period – immediately after Sadio Mane’s established dribble was abruptly finished by a foul by Mateo Kovacic. 

And, 5 minutes afterwards, Wijnaldum reacted quickest to smartly volley the loose ball into the roof of the net when the site visitors unsuccessful to deal with Andy Robertson’s corner.

Giroud diminished Chelsea’s arrears in stoppage time by sliding in the rebound immediately after Alisson Becker experienced denied Willian, but the 1st 50 percent unquestionably belonged to the champions.

Next half

Sensational hyperlink-up involving Salah and Firmino prised the visitors’ defence apart 5 minutes into the 2nd period of time, but an uncharacteristically wayward end by the Egyptian meant it remained 3-1.

Not for prolonged, while.

The Reds’ a few-aim cushion was restored as Firmino run in Alexander-Arnold’s pinpoint cross with his head, but Chelsea promptly pulled on their own again to in just two as Giroud squared for Abraham to slot in.

And, with 17 minutes remaining, Pulisic produced it 4-3 by swivelling and firing superior into the net next a move down the visitors’ suitable.

With their sights set on a top-4 complete, Chelsea pushed for an equaliser that experienced appeared vastly unlikely when Firmino nodded in. 

But a counter-assault of the optimum buy place paid out to any hopes Lampard’s group experienced of remaining only the next aspect to deny Liverpool all three factors at Anfield this year.

From a Chelsea no cost-kick deep in residence territory, the Reds introduced a immediate breakaway that saw Robertson cost down the still left and deliver a very low cross that Curtis Jones dummied to make it possible for Oxlade-Chamberlain to side-foot a controlled first-time shot past Kepa Arrizabalaga. 

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