Juventus were looking to leapfrog Roma into pole position in Serie A until Monday at least with victory over Livorno away from home.
Antonio Conte's side were just a point behind the Rome outfit in the league standings and with Napoli having lost to Parma on Saturday, the Bianconeri could take an important step in clinching the Scudetto for the third successive season on Sunday afternoon..
On the other hand, Livorno were struggling in 15th place with 12 points from as many matches, just three points above the relegation zone.
In the end, Juve's persistence and class came out on top as goals from Fernando Llorente and Carlos Tevez in the second half earned them a 2-0 win at the Armando Picchi.
Livorno showed good defensive prowess in the first 45 minutes, but failed to maintain the discipline in the second period and collapsed under the Bianconeri pressure.
Read how it all unfolded in our minute-by minute live commentary below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole’s live coverage of the Serie A clash between Livorno and Juventus. This promises to be an exciting and intriguing encounter at the Armando Picchi and you can follow all the action live as it unfolds on this page.
Heading into the contest this afternoon, Antonio Conte’s Juventus find themselves second in the league table with 31 points from 12 matches. They have lost just once in Serie A so far this campaign and are a point behind leaders Roma. A win today will see the Bianconeri go top of the table as Roma are not playing until tomorrow.
On the other hand, hosts Livorno are struggling in the bottom half of the table. Davide Nicola’s side are currently 15th in the standings with 12 points from as many matches, just three points above the drop zone.
The teamsheet has been released now and I will type the names shortly. But I can now tell you for certain that Arturo Vidal, who is one of the best midfielders in Europe, starts at centre-back for Juventus today.
LIVORNO XI: Bardi; Coda, Rinaudo, Ceccherini; Schiattarella, Luci, Mbaye, Emerson, Greco; Siligardi, Emeghara
Subs: Aldegani, Anania, Lambrughi, Piccini, Gemiti, Biagianti, Valentini, Belinghieri, Decarli, Mosquera, Benassi, Borja
JUVENTUS XI: Buffon; Caceres, Vidal, Chiellini; Padoin, Pogba, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah; Tevez, Llorente
Subs: Storari, Rubinho, De Ceglie, Peluso, Motta, Quagliarella, Vucinic
So Juventus coach Conte is forced to play Vidal at centre-back today. It’s a three-man defence that the Bianconeri will feature this afternoon, with Martin Caceres and Giorgio Chiellini playing alongside the Chilean at the back. Fernando Llorente and Carlos Tevez start up front for Juve, who will have goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon making his 500th Serie A appearance.
Like Juve, Livorno are also struggling with injuries and suspensions, the key of which sees top scorer Paulinho sit out with a ban. This means that Innocent Emeghara starts alongside Luca Siligardi in attack for the hosts.
It will be a massive task for Livorno to pick up a win against one of Europe’s strongest teams whom they have not beaten in Tuscany since 1940-41!
Juve are also on a four-match winning streak in Serie A and on paper are a very, very formidable side indeed. Paul Pogba has already become one of the best midfielders in the world, let alone the best young midfielder on the planet, and with Andrea Pirlo still looking class, Livorno will be the underdogs today.
In their last Serie A fixture, Juventus dispatched Scudetto challengers Napoli 3-0 in Turin in what was their 10th win in 12 league matches and maintained their 100% record at home. On the other hand, Livorno have won just one of their last nine Serie A matches and went down 2-0 to Inter Milan in their last match.
Having said all that, Juve will be distracted by their Champions League clash against Copenhagen on Wednesday. The Italian champions will need to win that match to maintain their chances of progressing to the last 16 of the competition, and that will provide Livorno a huge incentive to come out at them.
Livorno will also be boosted by the return of defenders Andrea Coda and Leandro Rinaudo to the starting lineup. Midfielder Leandro Greco also makes his comeback.
Just around four minutes to go before the Serie A clash between Livorno and Juventus get underway. Juve are the huge favourites, but can the hosts spring a surprise?
The players are out on the pitch now and pre-match formalities are taking place.
KICKOFF And we are underway now...
The Livorno supports are in full voice now, cheering their team to what would be a historic win if they can beat Juve this afternoon, which is very sunny, by the way.
Livorno have actually made a positive start to the match and are coming out to attack. They have just earned their first corner. Can they go ahead?
No, they cannot as Innocent Emeghara is penalised for committing a foul inside the Juve penalty area.
The Bianconeri are now getting into their element as they are pushing forward and stretching the Livorno defence with Tevez, Marchisio and Pogba all getting involved. It will be fascinating to see how Vidal plays at centre-back today – he has played in that position before, though.
The match has yet to kick into life, to be honest. It’s been pretty bland all around so far, with the two sides cancelling each other out.
Ten minutes gone and it is still goalless between Livorno and Juventus at the Armando Picchi. There has not been a single chance created so far, but hopefully the encounter will pick up momentum soon.
Livorno are growing into the game and are looking to break into the Juve defence. However, the visitors are staving off the attacks with gusto and ease, and not letting them come anywhere near their penalty area.
Juve are forced to play the ball wide to Marchisio as Livorno are making it very congested centrally and putting men all around their penalty area when the Bianconeri run at them with the ball.
Pasquale Schiattarella is down holding his right leg at the moment following a challenge from Giorgio Chiellini. The Livorno supporters are whistling, while Chiellini is shouting at the midfielder to get up and get going.
The match has been largely scrappy really and has hardly provided any moment to be excited about. Pogba earns the first corner for Juve but Livorno clear it away with ease. It is a lovely sunny afternoon in Tuscany, but it’s a shame that the football is not living up to expectations.
Having said that, this was to be expected at the start of the match – Livorno defending deep and making it tough for Juventus to play their passing football. After all, the hosts are struggling near the relegation zone and a point today will be huge for them.
CHANCE! Fernando Llorente gets the first real of the afternoon for Juventus but he cannot keep his header on target. Simone Padoin floats in a brilliant cross from the right that the Spain international striker connects with his head, but his effort goes just wide.
There are four other Serie A matches going on this afternoon, but I have not heard of any goal in any of them.
Padoin is proving to be a handful for Livorno down the right flank as he earns a corner for Juve, which they fail to capitalise on. Still goalless in what has largely been a low-key affair.
CHANCE! More of a half-chance really as Innocent Emeghara tries to curl one home from outside the Juve box, but Gianluigi Buffon in the visitors’ goal is not troubled at all as the ball flies high and wide.
Poor ball from Pogba this time from the right that is too close to Livorno goalkeeper Francesco Bardi, who collects it with ease.
Good ball from the right from Pirlo for Llorente, who commits a foul while reaching to the ball. The Spanish striker could not collect the ball anyway.
Juve pass the ball around patiently in and around the Livorno penalty box and then Giorgio Chiellini comes in and takes a shoot from the edge of the area. His attempt goes wide, but the Bianconeri may have to take shots like this as the home side are making it really tough for them to get inside the box.
Poor, poor pass from Emeghara as Livorno go on the counter-attack but the forward fails to give the ball to Schiattarella at the right time!
CHANCE! Pogba shoots from around 30 yards with his right foot and with venom that Bardi can do just enough to tip over the bar for a corner. Sensational shot from the French youngster.
Juventus earn two corners in quick succession, but on both occasion Livorno do well to clear the ball away.
Innocent Emeghara tries to chip the ball over Buffon after latching onto a through-ball from Andrea Luci, but the referee already has the offside flag up. Livorno seem to have resorted to playing on the counter-attack.
Every time Giorgio Chiellini is touching the ball, the home fans are whistling. The reason? He is a former Livorno player, developed at the club’s youth academy and featured for the first team from 2000 to 2004.
CHANCE! Brilliant play from Kwadwo Asamoah, who gets the better of his marker inside the Livorno area on the left and then shoots with his left foot. Fortunately for the home side, goalkeeper Bardi makes a good save at his near post.
YELLOW CARD Ibrahima Mbaye gets the first yellow card of the afternoon for his two-footed challenge on Padoin. Free kick to Juve which Pirlo will take...
Pirlo floats the free kick inside the area from the right, but it is comfortably headed out by Leandro Rinaudo.
Three minutes to half time at the Armando Picchi. It is still goalless between Livorno and Juventus but the match has certainly picked up some momentum after the opening 20 minutes. Juve are taking the initiative to launch attacks, while the home side are looking to sneak a goal in on the counter.
Free kick to Livorno now from a good position in the middle. It appears that Luca Siligardi, who has been quiet for much of the contest, will take it and strike it hard...
Indeed the Livorno forward does so, but it goes high over the Juve crossbar. Buffon has yet to make a save in this, his 500th Serie A appearance.
CHANCE! Marchisio picks up a loose ball on the edge of the Livorno area and shoots on goal, but the power on the shot is tempered by a deflection, making it an easy catch for Bardi.
HALF TIME: Livorno 0-0 Juventus
The referee blows the half-time whistle and signals the end of the first 45 minutes. It is goalless between Livorno and Juventus at the Armando Picchi in the Serie A encounter that has left much to be desired.
The opening stages of the match were largely scrappy and uneventful, with Fernando Llorente’s headed effort in the 21st minute the first real chance of the contest. Thereafter, the momentum picked up slightly with the visitors making the running and home team Livorno appearing happy to soak up the pressure.
Paul Pogba and Kwadwo Asamoah came the closest for the Bianconeri as the first half progressed, but on both occasions Livorno goalkeeper Francesco Bardi made the saves.
The stats from the first half prove how defensive-minded struggling Livorno have been. None of their three shots were actually on target, they earned one corner kick, had 27% of the possession and Bardi had to make three saves.
On the other hand, Antonio Conte’s Juventus had three of their nine shots on target, even corner kicks and 73% of the possession. However, to the credit of Livorno, they defended well in the first 45 minutes and made it extremely difficult and frustrating for the Italian champions to play their slick, passing football.
The second half will begin shortly. Juventus will have to do much better than they did in the first 45 minutes to earn a win. They will have to devise a way to make inroads into the Livorno citadel and find a goal. I suspect that a goal for the visitors in the opening stages of the second half could just make it much, much easier for them.
The two sets of players are now coming out onto the pitch for the second-half action.
KICKOFF Livorno get the second period underway. It is 0-0 from the first half.
The home side earn a corner kick in the opening minutes of the second half. Can they surge ahead?
No, they cannot... The corner kick is played short as Livorno try to pass their way into the Juve penalty box. They fail. As simple as that.
I have to say that Juventus’s back-three has not really been challenged so far this afternoon. Vidal has made one or two clearances, but other than that, the midfielder has been having it easy in defence.
YELLOW CARD Luca Siligardi is shown the yellow card by the referee for his challenge on Kwadwo Asamoah. Free kick to Juventus from around 30 yards.
Andrea Pirlo takes the free kick and tries to curl the ball through the wall rather than over it from 30 yards, but fails to go anywhere near the target. The veteran Italian deep-lying playmaker has had a quiet match so far.
YELLOW CARD Leandro Greco goes down inside the Juve area when surrounded by a number of players and is shown the yellow card for diving.
In the last couple of minutes, Livorno have actually taken the initiative in going forward and trying to carve out a goal. They seem to be overrunning Juve in midfield and are showing more urgency and aggression.
Could Livorno sneak in a goal and then sit back and defend their lead to eventually win 1-0? I would say that that scenario can certainly happen!
Terrible, terrible play from Simone Padoin and even worse by Emerson! Padoin loses the ball to his Livorno midfield counterpart, who runs with it from the centre line and tries to go all the way on his own. Both Emeghara and Siligardi are free and screaming for the ball, but Emerson goes solo and eventually loses possession.
A handball offence? Probably not. The ball certainly touched Federico Ceccherini’s left hand inside the area, but the Livorno defender knew nothing about it and the referee allowed play to go on. It was ball to hand, and not hand to ball.
The first 15 minutes of the second half have certainly been more entertaining than the whole of the first period. Both teams are genuinely keen on scoring the all-important opening goal of the contest, and at the moment Livorno look the likelier side to get it. Sounds strange, doesn’t it!?
Juve coach Antonio Conte is screaming at his players from the touchline. He looks frustrated at the moment!
GOAL! Livorno 0-1 Juventus (Fernando Llorente)
Juventus finally break the deadlock and do so just as Livorno were looking to make an impression on the match. It is Fernando Llorente who gives the Bianconeri fans some relief, as he side-foots Paul Pogba’s right-wing cross with ease and finesse from inside the box.
Livorno go on the attack rightaway and Vidal is forced to make a good clearance from deep inside the Juve box.
CHANCE! Now Emerson goes for a shot but his attempt just flashes wide of Buffon’s post. Livorno are not down or out yet.
It’s game on at the Armando Picchi as Livorno are coming out in full force at Juventus to find the equaliser.
CHANCE! Carlos Tevez’s frustrating afternoon continues as he fires his shot from the edge of the area over the Livorno crossbar. Pogba tees up the Argentine striker in a good position, but he squanders away the chance.
CHANCE! Wonderful play from Tevez, who creates a good chance for his himself by running round the Livorno defence and going to the right side of the area, but his shot just goes wide of the far post.
Livorno are leaving lots of space at the back, mainly because they are committing men forward in search of the equaliser. A second goal for Juve could just about kill this game as a contest.
YELLOW CARD Kwadwo Asamoah becomes the first Juve player this afternoon to be cautioned for his challenge on Schiattarella.
SUBSTITUTION Livorno make their first change of the match. Innocent Emeghara goes off for Miguel Borja.
GOAL! Livorno 0-2 Juventus (Carlos Tevez)
Carlos Tevez turns on the style and makes it 2-0 to Juventus, setting up the Bianconeri for their fifth victory in a row in Serie A. Once again, it is Pogba’s ball into the Livorno box that makes the difference. It is collected by Llorente, who holds off his defender and tees up the Argentine to slot home from close range.
YELLOW CARD Another yellow card to a Livorno player. This time it is captain Andrea Luci who is cautioned for his cynical challenge on Pogba.
SUBSTITUTION Juventus make a double-change now. Tevez and Llorente are taken off and in their places come Fabio Quagliarella and Mirko Vucinic.
SUBSTITUTION Livorno also make a substitution. Cristiano Piccini comes on for Ibrahima Mbaye.
OFF THE POST! The ball comes off the right upright and Livorno manage to stay 2-0 down! It is Padoin who floats in a cross from the right that Pogba attacks, forcing his marker to head it against his own post and then away.
SUBSTITUTION Livorno make their final change of the afternoon. Federico Ceccherini is replaced by Giuseppe Gemiti.
SUBSTITUTION Conte allows Federico Peluso to get some playing time under his best. he comes on in place of Asamoah.
Just around two minutes left for full time. By this point, it would be safe to say that Juventus have wrapped up the victory and are going to the top of the Serie A table until tomorrow at least when Roma take to the pitch.
Three minutes of injury time have been added...
FULL TIME: Livorno 0-2 Juventus
It’s all over at the Armando Picchi where Juventus have defeated Livorno 2-0 to go to the top of the Serie A table for until Monday at least. It was not a vintage performance by any stretch of the imagination, but the Bianconeri’s persistence and belief in their own system eventually paid off.
Fernando Llorente opened the scoring for the Italian champions on 63 minutes when he side-footed Paul Pogba’s cross from the right flank. The Spanish striker then teed up Carlos Tevez to slot home the Bianconeri’s second on 75 minutes.
Thank you very much for joining me here on Sports Mole for our live coverage of the Serie A clash between Livorno and Juventus. I hope that you enjoyed it. Have a good evening, it’s goodbye from me for now.
