LIVERPOOL

who had an excellent game, chipped over a cross from the right and, as Liverpool lost concentration, Giroud rose above his marker to glance the ball into the corner.

The Frenchman then ran across the pitch to embrace the out-offavour David Luiz, sitting several rows back on the Chelsea bench.

“David is a good friend,” Giroud said later. “I dedicated this goal to him because he is going through a tough period.”

Chelsea were suddenly buzzing, as Hazard fed a lovely ball in to Cesc Fabregas, whose drive from a narrow angle barely missed the far post.

Salah had one of his quietest games of the season, shackled well by Antonio Rudiger, and just before half-time the Egyptian was booked by referee Anthony Taylor for diving, summing up his day.

Klopp slammed the 43-goal forward for the dive, saying: “That is not what I want to see, that is not what he wants to do.

“I think it was a dive. He has to be much better, he can do much better and he will score again.”

Liverpool could not quite manage to do so, enjoying plenty of the ball but being unable to penetrate a Chelsea defence that Conte must have wished had played like this for most of the season. Whenever Klopp’s team did create a yard of space, they found the excellent N’Golo Kante in the way.

Hazard, another player returning to form as the FA Cup final beckons, beat four men with one mazy run, but Karius stopped his shot.

Chelsea then could and should have added to their tally as Alonso’s brilliant volley flew just wide.

Klopp threw on former Chelsea striker Dominic Solanke late but the youngster headed over from six yards when he should have done better.

It was that kind of day for Liverpool. For Chelsea, the light at the end of the tunnel still

flickers.

CHELSEA (3-5-2):