EPL as it happened: Liverpool 0-2 Chelsea

CLICK HERE for live updates if you are accessing this page on your phone. Preview: It takes something pretty special to overshadow Ryan Giggs’ first game as manager of Manchester United. And with that match done and dusted, attention now shifts to the title-defining match between Liverpool and Chelsea. Liverpool will eliminate Chelsea from the title race — and move to the brink of a first English championship in 24 years — with a win at Anfield on Sunday in a contest that will capture the world’s attention. The Reds hold a five-point lead over Chelsea with three games remaining, with Manchester City a point further back in third but with a match in hand. [caption id=“attachment_1499077” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Liverpool will eliminate Chelsea from the title race — and move to the brink of a first English championship in 24 years — with a win at Anfield. Getty Images[/caption] MIND GAMES Perhaps Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was just trying to lull Liverpool into a false sense of security by saying this week that the Champions League was his priority and he’d prefer to pick a weakened team for the Liverpool match. All will be discovered in lineup on Sunday. The timing of the match is unfortunate for Chelsea, coming between the two legs of the Champions League semifinals against Atletico Madrid. Mourinho is sure to make changes to give several players a breather, but how many? Captain John Terry and goalkeeper Petr Cech will definitely miss out after being hurt in Tuesday’s first leg. It all puts Liverpool in a very strong position as Brendan Rodgers’ team goes for a 12th straight league win. A victory for Liverpool and a slip-up by Manchester City at Crystal Palace later Sunday would mean the Reds having a chance to clinch the title with a match to spare. NO ROOM FOR ERROR Aside from maybe Liverpool, was there any team Man City would prefer not to play against this weekend than Crystal Palace? Probably not. Under the wily stewardship of manager Tony Pulis, Palace has won its last five games to climb away from the relegation zone and secure Premier League football for another season. It’s a remarkable feat, given that the promoted team had only four points when Pulis was hired in November. City stayed in realistic title contention by beating West Bromwich Albion 3-1 on Monday but it came at a cost, with David Silva injuring his right ankle. The absence of the Spain playmaker for this weekend would be a huge blow as he makes City’s attack tick. Key midfielder Yaya Toure could return for City, though, and striker Sergio Aguero is slowly getting his match fitness back after a long lay-off. City realistically needs to win all four of its remaining matches to stand a chance of winning a second league title in three years. Preview: AP