Half-time: Liverpool 0 Chelsea 1

Eden Hazard scored another superb goal to give Chelsea the lead at Anfield.

Having struck a brilliant equaliser against Tottenham last Monday, the Belgian bettered it with a virtuoso solo effort on 31 minutes.

Showing dazzling close control as he skipped in from the left flank, he drifted past several static Liverpool players and a non-committal challenge from Roberto Firmino before clipping a low right-footed finish into the bottom corner.

Hazard had had Chelsea’s best chance prior to the goal with a fierce shot that Reds keeper Simon Mignolet was equal to.

Liverpool had been the brighter side in the first 20 minutes with Blues keeper Asmir Begovic called into a couple of early saves.

The Bosnian, brought into the side after Thibaut Courtois fell ill, dived to his right to beat away Adam Lallana’s shot on the edge of the box, before gathering a weaker effort from Phillipe Coutinho.

At the other end, Bertrand Traore – in for the injured Diego Costa – got away from Kolo Toure inside the penalty area but couldn’t find the power in his shot to trouble Mignolet.

After the goal, Liverpool tried to hit back but Begovic denied Coutinho and gathered in Daniel Sturridge’s weak low drive.