Now Christian Pulisic is hauled over by Everton skipper Michael Keane and Chelsea have a free-kick 25 yards out, dead centre.

No real pattern yet to the game as Trent Alexander-Arnold volleys a cross over everyone.

In the next move, Jorginho almost ghosts in at the near post but flicks his effort wide.

One way traffic at Stamford Bridge.

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Hakim Ziyech tries to turn away on the edge of the area and is tripped.

Chelsea have a free-kick in a decent position which Reece James curls goalkeeper side and Jordan Pickford is again called into action, leaping high to push the ball to safety.

Since Virgil van Dijk's Premier League debut for Liverpool on 22 January 2018, the Reds have a W8 D3 L6 record in league games without him at Anfield.

Under way as the second best team in the Premier League face the second worst team.

How have Chelsea not scored yet??

It's Hakim Ziyech causing problems for Ben Godfrey again, the Chelsea man finding space and firing a drive towards the back post which Jordan Pickford tips away on the full stretch.

Nearly a goal of the season contender from Chelsea.

Moroccan Hakim Ziyech with a sublime turn to get away from Ben Godfrey, leaving the Everton defender to repay for his ticket to get back into the ground.

Ziyech gets into the box down the left edge and pulls the ball back for Christian Pulisic to attempt a cheeky flicked effort which Jordan Pickford manages to keep out.

Chelsea are finding all sorts of gaps in the Everton backline.

Reece James - in the number 10 position for some reason (?) - plays a delightful pass onto the run of Mason Mount, but the midfielder sends his effort wide of the far post.

Chelsea should be home and dry by now already.

Newcastle are 19th in the table, but only three points off safety.

Their solitary league victory in 16 attempts this season came against Burnley earlier this month.

Only one team have ever stayed up after winning one of their opening 17 Premier League games - West Bromwich Albion in 2004-05.

First real foray forward for Chelsea and it almost yields a goal, it should 1-0.

Passmaster Jorginho slides a defence-splitting pass into the box, Reece James has timed his run perfectly and is one-on-one with England team-mate Jordan Pickford, you expect him to find the net but the Chelsea full-back opens up his body and side-foots wide.

They were already celebrating in the stands.

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A first touch of the ball for Everton teenager Ellis Simm, making his debut up front for the Toffees tonight.

What an opportunity to make yourself a hero.

Newcastle United

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe says a transfer target's vaccination status "will be considered" when lining up possible moves in the January window.

"It's something we take very seriously and we will be considering," Howe said when asked about possible new signings.

"We are always in dialogue with all our players, making sure we educate them and follow the same guidelines."

Since the Saudi Arabia-backed takeover in October, Newcastle have been linked with a host of big name players and are likely to be active in January in a bid to ease their relegation concerns.

Howe, though, says he is comfortable with the vaccine situation in his current squad and is unaware of any plans to penalise unvaccinated players.

"I'm comfortable with everything we've delivered at the club," he said. "The players have been respectful and all the staff excellent.

"I'm not aware of that story [about punishments for unvaccinated players]. My focus is on coaching and managing the team."

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Off we go Stamford Bridge.

BBC Sounds

Newcastle have lost eight of their 16 Premier League games so far this season, but Callum Wilson believes it's important not to dwell on defeats.

Wilson told the BBC's Footballer's Football podcast he tries to switch off completely from football after a bad result.

He said: "Usually family time helps. Having the kids around takes your mind off football straight away. When they’re not around and you have games thick and fast like we do at the moment, you just have to switch off. Go for a little stroll, put some music on that makes you feel good and stay positive.

"You can’t start feeling negative when you have had a defeat because next week you could be winning and then you’re back into that rollercoaster of emotions that you don’t want to get into."

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Mike Hughes
Reporter, BBC Radio Merseyside Sport

Liverpool fans will be licking their lips at the prospect of what may well be served up at Anfield when struggling Newcastle come to town.

Even allowing for the season of goodwill to all men, the defending from Eddie Howe’s team tends to be generous in the extreme.

Their second-half collapse against Leicester on Sunday bore all the hallmarks of a team heading in the wrong direction. The January transfer window will give the manager an opportunity to bring in the type of talent that may yet keep them up.

Liverpool’s goalscoring yield has been off the scale in recent months. Consecutive solitary 1-0 wins against Wolves and Aston Villa may suggest that their “fine art” finishing is slowing down.

Don’t be taken in by that. What it really proves is that Liverpool also have the capacity to grind out results when necessary.

Newcastle’s defensive shortcomings means that to cause Jurgen Klopp’s men any trouble, they’ll rely on the potency that Alan Saint-Maximin and Callum Wilson possess in the final third.

At the other end of the pitch, expect Mohamed Salah to lead a full-throttle assault from the first whistle. If Liverpool do get amongst the goals from early on, there could be carnage. That’s the theory anyway.

However, football theories only get you part-way up the pitch and Newcastle have to believe they have a chance of getting something out of the game. This is, after all, the time of year when miracles do happen.

Liverpool

Mohamed Salah can equal Jamie Vardy's record of scoring or setting up a goal in 15 successive Premier League appearances.

In 2021, he has scored eight more Premier League goals (23) than the next man on the list - Tottenham's Harry Kane (15).

Read about Salah's amazing year in numbers here.

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Liverpool

Liverpool have won seven successive games in all competitions by an aggregate score of 18-2.

They have equalled the club record of scoring in 31 consecutive league and cup matches, set from April 1957 to January 1958.

The Reds are one short of becoming the first team to win 2,000 top-flight matches.

Jurgen Klopp's side are unbeaten in 12 home league fixtures since a run of six defeats in a row at Anfield between January and March.

Newcastle have failed to win any of the past 25 away meetings with Liverpool in all competitions.

The Magpies' most recent league victory at Anfield was in April 1994, and they subsequently won 1-0 away in the League Cup the following year.

Liverpool dropped points in both league encounters last season - 0-0 and 1-1 draws at St James' Park and Anfield respectively.

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