It marked five straight home losses for the first time in the Reds' 128-year history and more than 10 hours since a goal from open play was scored at Anfield.

The stadium that was once a fortress for Liverpool is now the scene of a scarcely believable implosion by the soon-to-be-deposed English champions.

Liverpool's loss continued a staggering run of home form that came after Juergen Klopp's team went 68 games in a row unbeaten at Anfield.

Formerly the owner of one of Europe's most devastating attacks, Liverpool only managed one effort on goal against Chelsea. Mohamed Salah was substituted after barely an hour; Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino barely threatened either.

Mason Mount scored the winner in the 42nd minute, cutting in from the left and curling home from the edge of the area for a goal that sent Chelsea into the top four and dropped Liverpool to seventh place.

It was Chelsea's first win at Anfield since 2014.

Qualifying for the Champions League looks to be increasingly unlikely for Liverpool, who are now four points adrift of Chelsea and even behind Merseyside rivals Everton.

"It's a massive blow," Klopp said. "If you lose that many games, you don't have the right to go to the Champions League."

Eight months after winning the Premier League by 18 points, Liverpool are 22 points behind first-place Manchester City.

"To get back to where you get these moments, you have to work, be stubborn and fight hard," Klopp added. "We will get there again because it is still in the boys."

Tottenham Hotspur are also in the Champions League qualifying race after beating Fulham 1-0.

Spurs started with attacking quartet Harry Kane, Son Heung-min, Gareth Bale and Dele Alli together for the first time this season but relied on an own-goal to secure the win at Craven Cottage.

A flicked effort from Alli deflected into the net off the leg of Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo in the 19th minute, proving enough to earn eighth-place Spurs a second straight victory.

A win on Thursday would have lifted the hosts out of the relegation zone but they were denied an equaliser in the 62nd after Josh Maja fired a low strike into the bottom corner from just inside the area.

However, VAR spotted the ball rebounded into the path of Maja off the arm of Mario Lemina and a handball was awarded.

At the Arena Stadium, Richarlison continued Everton's Champions League charge in a 1-0 win at West Brom.

The striker's second-half header gave the Toffees a third straight win and ended the plucky Baggies' mini-revival to keep them nine points from safety as they slipped further towards the trapdoor.

Mbaye Diagne's stoppage-time goal was ruled out for offside as Sam Allardyce's side remained second bottom.

Australian Associated Press