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Live Commentary: Liverpool vs. Chelsea

:Headline: Live Commentary: Liverpool vs. Chelsea: ID:26680: from db_amp
Follow live updates of tonight's Premier League encounter between Liverpool and Chelsea, courtesy of Sports Mole

Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of tonight's Premier League encounter between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield.

The pair met just three days ago in the FA Cup final, with Chelsea emerging as 2-1 winners in a tight affair at Wembley.

The Blues must claim victory to have any chance of securing Champions League football via their league position, while Liverpool will be keen to gain ground on Merseyside rivals Everton, who sit four points above them in seventh position.

However, Liverpool's home form has been poor all season with a total of five wins - their poorest tally in the top flight since 1949.

Chelsea's away form has also suffered in recent weeks, with Roberto Di Matteo's side claiming just one win in their last eight away matches.

>Full team news for the match

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So there we have it, Liverpool have moved to within a point of Everton in the Premier League table after an emphatic 4-1 win over Chelsea. In truth, Liverpool dominated the encounter since the word go, with Carroll enjoying arguably his best performance in a Liverpool shirt. Chelsea, meanwhile, can no longer make the top four this season, with sixth spot their best possible finish. Our full report of the match can be found here. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the coverage.

FULL-TIME: Liverpool 4-1 Chelsea

90 min+2: Chance for Agger to grab his second of the match, but he heads a Carroll cross just wide.

90 min: We will play an additional three minutes at the end of the match.

89 min: Chance for Liverpool as Kuyt finds Suarez in the box, but referee Friend blows for a foul. Henderson comes close with a chance of his own, but it is deflected wide.

87 min: Liverpool controlling the ball as we approach the latter stages of the match.

84 min: It's an immediate chance for Sterling to get on the scoresheet after a header from Suarez, but the teenager fires high of the bar.

84 min: It's a double change for Liverpool as Dirk Kuyt and Raheem Sterling are introduced in place of Maxi and Downing.

82 min: Liverpool continue to keep possession as we approach the latter stages of the match. It's ever so comfortable for the home side.

80 min: So nearly five as Downing finds Suarez in the box, but Terry is on hand to clear the danger.

78 min: Ivanovic is clearly unhappy at a challenge from Suarez as he holds his face on the ground. However, the Chelsea defender is back on his feet.

77 min: It's yet another waste from Malouda, however, as his strike is easily blocked by the Liverpool defence.

76 min: Torres chants ring out around Anfield as the striker is felled by Agger. Free kick for Chelsea in an advanced position.

74 min: Carroll so nearly adds a fifth for Liverpool as he is found in the box by Glen Johnson, but he slices his effort wide.

73 min: It's a glorious chance for Lukaku to score with his first touch as he is found in the box by Malouda, but Reina denies the Belgian at close range.

72 min: It's a waste from Chelsea with Malouda's effort headed away by Skrtel. 20 minutes remaining at Anfield.

71 min: Free kick for Chelsea in a dangerous position as Agger fells Ramires. The Brazilian looks hurt.

70 min: It's smart work from Chelsea with Malouda and Torres involved, but the Spaniard's cross is collected by Jose Reina between the Liverpool posts.

68 min: Change for Chelsea as Sturridge is replaced by Romelu Lukaku.

68 min: It's all gone a bit stale since Liverpool's fourth. The match as a contest is over, and Chelsea know it.

67 min: Liverpool legends Robbie Fowler and John Barnes have been spotted in the crowd. They will be enjoying this performance this evening.

64 min: It might have been five for Liverpool as Carroll attempts a volley in the box, but referee Friend blows for a foul.

63 min: That goal has well and truly killed any hopes of a Chelsea comeback. The Blues have improved in the second period, but Liverpool have had too much.

Jonjo Shelvey extends Liverpool's lead with a smart finish from distance after he was presented with the ball by Chelsea stopper Turnbull.

61 min: GOAL! Liverpool 4-1 Chelsea (Shelvey)

59 min: So nearly a chance for the away side as Sturridge searches out Torres in the box, but Agger heads the ball to safety. It's been a much better showing from Chelsea thus far.

57 min: It's a chance for Chelsea as Ivanovic looks for Torres with a long ball, but Jamie Carragher heads the ball to safety.

56 min: Chelsea's passing is certainly a lot tighter in this second period, with Ramires beginning to have a say.

54 min: It's poor from Torres as he loses the ball with Chelsea on the attack. It hasn't quite happened for him this evening.

53 min: Chance for Liverpool to extend their lead as Martin Skrtel drifts into the box, but his effort is beaten away by Turnbull.

52 min: Suddenly every Chelsea player wants the ball - it is amazing what a goal can do for confidence. The next strike in this match is crucial.

Chelsea have an early goal in the second period as Ramires turns a Malouda cross home from close range. Is the comeback on?

50 min: GOAL! Liverpool 3-1 Chelsea (Ramires)

49 min: I'm not entirely sure what Carroll had for breakfast this morning, but I certainly want some. The powerful forward is winning every header in advanced areas.

48 min: Chance for Liverpool's fourth as Downing floats a ball towards Carroll, but his header across the face of goal is cleared by Terry.

48 min: It certainly looks as if Chelsea have been asked to quicken the pace in the early stages of the second period. However, if they are to mount a comeback, they need an early goal.

46 min: We are underway in the second period. Can Chelsea respond, or will it be more goals for Liverpool?

So there we have it, Liverpool lead Chelsea 3-0 at the break after some torrid defending from the away side. In truth, Blues skipper Terry has had a horror show in the opening 45 minutes, but surely the Champions League finalists will respond after the interval - they have to. Our report of the opening 45 minutes can be found here.

HALF-TIME: Liverpool 3-0 Chelsea

45 min+3: Downing passes up the opportunity from the spot as he smashes his penalty off the post.

45 min+2: Penalty to Liverpool as Ivanovic fells Carroll in the box!

45 min+1: Carroll rises powerfully to head a Chelsea corner away with moments of the half remaining. He has been really good in this first half.

45 min: We will play an additional two minutes at the end of the half.

43 min: It's a wonderful hit from Downing as he volleys it from the edge of the box, but it smashes off the crossbar and behind.

42 min: I'm still trying to work out whether Liverpool have been superb, or Chelsea have been dreadful. I think it's a bit of both.

40 min: We have five minutes remaining in the half with Liverpool in total control. This opening period has just flown by.

38 min: Yet another Chelsea player hits the deck as Torres slips over. Surely a few of the Blues must be looking for a change of boots at the break.

37 min: It's a chance for Chelsea with Malouda and Torres both involved. The ball eventually found Sturridge, but Henderson made a smart challenge to deny his fellow England international.

36 min: It's more good work from Liverpool as Stewart Downing beats Sturridge before advancing into the box, but his effort is wide of the post.

35 min: Chelsea so nearly cut the score to 3-1 as Torres evades Agger in the box, but his effort from a tight angle smashes the crossbar. It's brilliant play from Torres.

34 min: Yet another mistake from Terry as he allows Carroll into the box, but Turnbull makes a smart stop to keep the score at 3-0. Carroll looks a real player this evening.

32 min: Another chance for Liverpool as Suarez finds Maxi, but Turnbull turns the ball wide. I know they have players missing, but it just has not been good enough from Chelsea thus far. If they play like this against Bayern Munich in the Champions League final on May 19, then it could be a thrashing.

30 min: What an opening 30 minutes of football it has been from the home side. Chelsea, meanwhile, simply have not got going.

Liverpool move into a 3-0 lead at Anfield as Carroll finds Daniel Agger in the box with a header, and the defender stoops low to head the ball into the top corner.

29 min: GOAL! Liverpool 3-0 Chelsea (Agger)

28 min: It's more torrid defending from Chelsea as Ferreira gives possession away, but Turnbull is on hand to make smart save.

27 min: What a horrific 25 minutes it has been for the Chelsea skipper. He's having an absolute nightmare.

It's a horror show from Terry who slips outside the box, allowing Henderson to nip in and stroke the ball past Turnbull and into the net.

25 min: GOAL! Liverpool 2-0 Chelsea (Henderson)

24 min: It's nervy from Turnbull who just meets the ball before Suarez. The home side look on a mission this evening.

22 min: Carroll really is giving the Chelsea defence a torrid time this evening, with Terry and Ivanovic both fouling the striker on more than one occasion.

21 min: It's been a really bright start from the home side, and they deserve their opening goal.

Liverpool take the lead after wonderful work from Suarez. The Uruguayan advanced into the Chelsea box, and his cross was turned into his own net by Michael Essien.

19 min: GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea (Essien OG)

17 min: Chance for Chelsea! Branislav Ivanovic so nearly sends the away side into the lead as he rises from a corner, but his header smashes off the post.

16 min: Chelsea's first real shot of the match as Daniel Sturridge strikes from the edge of the box, but the ball is deflected behind.

16 min: It's a clever effort from Carroll who looks for the chip outside the box, but his effort is just high of Turnbull's goal.

15 min: It's poor from Malouda who floats a free kick straight onto the head of Carroll, Suarez brings the ball away, but he was fouled by Paulo Ferreira.

14 min: There's a strangely subdued atmosphere inside Anfield in the early stages, as Liverpool continue to advance into forward positions.

12 min: Liverpool's attack is cut short with Maxi Rodriguez straying into an offside position. However, the home side have certainly started the better.

11 min: It's a big night for Ross Turnbull between the Chelsea posts, he has hardly had a look in this season, but he has been given a chance to impress this evening.

9 min: Carroll looks in the mood tonight, he has already won two aerial battles with Terry, as Liverpool begin to control possession.

8 min: It's really nice work from Luis Suarez who easily evades Terry, but his shot is just wide of the post. Best opening of the match so far.

6 min: Couple of challenges for Friend to deal with in the early stages, with Florent Malouda and Andy Carroll both on the end of late tackles.

5 min: The Liverpool fans are giving Torres a lot of stick in the early exchanges, as both sides share possession.

4 min: Liverpool are enjoying their first real spell with the ball in the early stages, with Jordan Henderson and Andy Carroll both enjoying early touches. It might have been a chance for the home side as Glen Johnson found a cross, but Andy Carroll fouled John Terry in the box.

3 min: What a big night this is for Fernando Torres. It would be so typical of the Spaniard to pop up with a goal tonight of all nights.

2 min: It's Chelsea with early possession of the ball here at Anfield.

1 min: Here we go then, it is Chelsea who will get us underway this evening. Surely Liverpool can't afford another loss in front of their home fans?

19.55: Tonight's referee is Kevin Friend, he may have a task on his hands to contain the atmosphere between the players tonight.

19.45: Although the Chelsea lineup is strong they are missing key players, and it begs the question whether they have given up the race for fourth in the table.

19.40: We are just 20 minutes from kick off in this evening's Premier League encounter. Both sides have made numerous changes from Saturday's FA Cup final, and it will be fascinating to see how both teams approach the match.

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