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Liverpool slumped to a fifth consecutive home defeat for the first time in the club’s history, with Mason Mount’s strike securing a 1-0 win for Chelsea at Anfield on Thursday night.

Timo Werner was unfortunate to have his early goal ruled out following a marginal offside, but the visitors didn’t have to wait long to take the lead, with Mount cutting inside before wrapping his foot around the ball and curling a superb effort into the far corner.

Liverpool started the second half much the brighter, but with the Chelsea backline standing strong, the Reds’ frustration started to show as they began to take speculative potshots from range.

Diogo Jota’s introduction did little to spark Jurgen Klopp’s side into life, as they suffered yet another damaging defeat in their quest for Champions League qualification.

That’s the match highlights done with, now to those all important Liverpool and Chelsea player ratings.

Alisson Becker (GK) – 6/10 – Lucky not to concede early on when he charged out of his goal and missed the ball, only for Werner to be adjudged offside. Produced some big saves, from Werner in particular, to keep his side in the game.

Trent Alexander-Arnold (RB) – 5/10 – Was pushed back by Ben Chilwell and seemed nervous to step forward having been caught out of position for the Mount’s goal.

Ozan Kabak (CB) – 6/10 – Was the better of the two Liverpool centre backs, though that’s hardly a compliment. Did look steadier than some of his previous displays in fairness to the recent arrival.

Fabinho (CB) – 4/10 – Struggled with the pace of Werner and the German constantly looked to isolate the makeshift centre back. Allowed Mount to cut inside too easily as the youngster opened the scoring.

Andy Robertson (LB) – 6/10 – Did his best to bomb down the Liverpool left but couldn’t find any real quality whenever he got into the final third.

Curtis Jones (CM) – 4/10 – Retained his place in the midfield having scored his first Premier League goal of the season last time out. Struggled throughout and was guilty of conceding possession on a number of occasions.

Georginio Wijnaldum (CM) – 4/10 – Looked lively early on as he tried to carry the ball through midfield but his influence on the game began to wane. Just seemed to let the match pass him by, failing to track runners and showing no desire.

Thiago Alcantara (CM) – 6/10 – His pass completion stats for the evening will no doubt be impressive, but he did little to suggest he could forge an opening for his side.

Mohamed Salah (RW) – 4/10 – Evidently desperate to influence play as he dropped deeper and deeper in a bid to get on the ball. Found himself shooting on sight which, erm, didn’t go well. Withdrawn midway through the second half.

Roberto Firmino (ST) – 5/10 – Just seemed to be swamped by the Chelsea backline and couldn’t get hold of the ball. With N’Golo Kante also marshalling him it proved to be a frustrating night.

Sadio Mane (LW) – 5/10 – Had a glorious opportunity in the opening 25 minutes but showed a lack of composure as he missed his kick. Clearly suffering from a lack of confidence and was on the fringes of the action for much of the game.

Diogo Jota – 6/10

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 5/10

James Milner – N/A

Edouard Mendy (GK) – 6/10 – Given very little to do throughout the game but hshowed superb composure and skill to deal with a tricky back-pass in the first half which could have caused him problems.

Cesar Azpilicueta (CB) – 7/10 – Offered an outlet on the right of the Chelsea back three and tucked inside to good effect whenever Liverpool were in possession.

Antonio Rudiger (CB) – 7/10 – Used his pace well whenever Mohamed Salah looked to run in behind. Repelled the majority of the crosses Liverpool swung into the box as the game wore on.

Andreas Christensen (CB) – 8/10 – Showed defensive nous in covering his fellow centre backs whenever they were caught out of position. Took the responsibility of collecting the ball and playing out of Liverpool’s press – a role he performed brilliantly.

Reece James (RWB) – 7/10 – Looked off the pace early on and was lucky to avoid a booking for a poor challenge on Sadio Mane. Grew into the game and looked a threat going forward as well as being solid defensively.

N’Golo Kante (CM) – 8/10 – Picked out Werner on a number of occasions with some brilliant long balls over the Liverpool backline. Grabbed himself an assist with one of said balls over the top for Mount.

Jorginho (CM) – 6/10 – *Copy and paste every Jorginho performance you’ve ever seen*. Was neat and tidy in possession and kept things moving without doing anything that got you off your seat.

Ben Chilwell (LWB) – 7/10 – Tasked with hugging the touchline and pushing back Trent Alexander-Arnold. Didn’t neglect his defensive duties and tracked back well whenever he was needed.

Hakim Ziyech (RW) – 5/10 – Looked lost at times with even his trusty left foot letting him down on occasions. Unfortunate to see a second-half effort cleared off the line, but his all-round performance wasn’t good enough.

Mason Mount (ST) – 8/10 – Played as part of a fluid front three, filling in at centre forward but dropping back into midfield at times. Made Fabinho look foolish by skipping past him and opening the scoring with a great effort.

Timo Werner (LW) – 7/10 – Could have had two in the opening 15 minutes and was unlucky to have a goal chalked off after finally finding the net. Didn’t get himself on the scoresheet but his constant runs terrorised the Liverpool defence all game.

Christian Pulisic – 6/10

Mateo Kovacic – N/A

Kai Havertz – N/A

Goals from Ousmane Dembele and Gerard Pique before an extra time strike from Martin Braithwaite overturned a 2-0 first leg deficit to put Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final, with a 3-2 aggregate win over Sevilla.

La Blaugrana dominated the first half and, as they needed to, shot out of the blocks. It took Ronald Koeman’s side just 12 minutes to open the scoring when Dembele fired a stunner from around 20 yards out into the top corner after the ball broke his way.

The hosts continued to press for the all important second after the interval, but things looked bleak after 72 minutes as the referee awarded a very soft penalty when Oscar Mingueza was adjudged to have fouled Lucas Ocampos in the area. The Argentine stepped up and had his spot kick brilliantly saved by Marc-Andre ter Stegen, though.

La Blaugrana threw the kitchen sink (and any other other fitting you can think of) for the remainder of the game and, after Sevilla’s Fernando saw red in the last minutes of the game, Pique levelled the tie with a deft header from an Antoine Griezmann cross in the 94th minute to take the game to extra time.

Koeman’s side wasted no time and, after just five minutes of extra time, made it 3-0. Jordi Alba’s cross was met by the head of substitute Braithwaite, who found the back of the net through the legs of Tomas Vaclik. Barca held on for their second win over Sevilla in the space of five days to secure their place in the Cope del Rey final.

Phew, now let’s get to the Barcelona player ratings…

Marc-Andre ter Stegen (GK) – 9/10 – Was the hero of the hour as he saved and held onto Ocampos’ penalty to keep the score 1-0. Did everything he was tasked with to perfection – no mucking around.

Oscar Mingueza (CB) – 7/10 – Had a good game on the right of the back three. Very composed, making several brilliant interceptions as Sevilla broke out while also playing a couple of forward balls that found their way through the visitors’ defensive lines. Conceded a penalty, but it was a poor decision from the referee more than anything.

Gerard Pique (CB) – 9/10 – A classic performance from the veteran. Always on hand to cover for either of his centre back colleagues and commanded the back line with his usual assurance. Dramatically grabbed Barca’s second in the 94th minute.

Clement Lenglet (CB) – 6/10 – Had a tough job against the pace and trickery down Sevilla’s right, but did well to nullify the threat when Jordi Alba was caught upfield.

Sergino Dest (RWB) – 5/10 – Absolutely tireless but struggled to get the better of Marcos Acuna down the right and often relied on teammates covering him on the defensive. Hooked off after an hour.

Frenkie de Jong (CM) – 7/10 – Made some effortlessly lovely touches in midfield to get his side up the pitch, as well as driving and surging into the final third to support attacks.

Sergio Busquets (CM) – 6/10 – Played a couple of excellent through balls in the first 45, before bizarrely seeming to avoid any sort of searching pass after the break. Did well as the screen to the defence, however, crucially breaking down a couple of counters.

Pedri (CM) – 6/10 – Was dogged in midfield, constantly making a nuisance of himself. Despite some good phases and attacking touches on the ball, the youngster couldn’t find a cutting edge to impact the game.

Jordi Alba (LWB) – 8/10 – Fantastic energy down the left. Constantly pressed and won the ball high up the field, as well as contributing well to Barcelona’s attack – including a ferocious volley that cannoned off the bar at 1-0 and the assist for the winner.

Ousmane Dembele (ST) – 8/10 – Showed fantastic work rate with his pressing and tracking back, while also looking sharp and dangerous on the ball. Deservedly got on the scoresheet.

Lionel Messi (ST) – 7/10 – Started to pull the strings with quick fire passing and picking out pockets of space in the final third. Was unlucky to see a chipped effort cleared off the line but was a key creator for his side as they got desperate in the second half.

Antoine Griezmann (ST) – 8/10 – Added quality to Barcelona’s forward line with his link up play and movement, and crossed brilliantly for Pique’s late goal.

Junior Firpo (RB) – 6/10

Ilaix Moriba (CM) – 6/10

Martin Braithwaite (ST) – 7/10 – Headed well from Alba’s cross to secure his side’s passage to the final.

Francisco Trincao (RW) – 6/10