Agency :
Chelsea secured a crucial win in the race for Champions League qualification as they beat Liverpool to move into the Premier League top four.
Mason Mount was the hero on the night, scoring the game’s only goal with a terrific finish from the edge of the box after a superb pass from N’Golo Kante.
Prior to that, the Blues had been denied an opener by more VAR controversy, Timo Werner’s effort ruled out for offside by virtue of his arm being outstretched beyond the last defender.
No matter, it was Thomas Tuchel’s side who were by far and away the better side in the first half, and then defended well when required against a blunt Liverpool attack.
The defending champions have now lost five home league games in a row – the first such run in their illustrious history.
Victory at the home of the champions moved Chelsea up to fourth. But the nature of the win at Anfield and this enthralling race for Champions League qualification means Thomas Tuchel’s side can set their sights even higher.
It is a matter of when, not if, Manchester City are crowned champions, with Pep Guardiola’s side a class apart from the rest of the Premier League.
But who can say with any confidence who their closest rivals will be, come the end of the season?
Chelsea might have ended Thursday night as low as seventh. But Mason Mount’s brilliant first-half strike crowned a comprehensive win over Liverpool to outline their case to be considered the best of the rest.
Fellow Sky pundit Jamie Redknapp concurred with Ashley Cole’s assessment that Mason Mount is a Chelsea captain in waiting…
“He can play in a two in midfield, he can player as a number 10, he can play wide left, wide right,” said Redknapp, who called Mount the ‘ultimate modern-day player’.
“He has that much quality you could play him, the way the modern game is, as a false nine if you had to.
“He starts the press, his touch, he’s got finesse. I think he’s got everything to be the next Chelsea captain.”
