Liverpool delivered a stunning performance to beat Chelsea 4-1 at Anfield and extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table. The Reds were dominant from the start, with Diogo Jota, Conor Bradley, Dominik Szoboszlai and Brahim Diaz all finding the net. Chelsea, who had won two of their previous four games, were outclassed and outplayed by the hosts, who showed no mercy in their ruthless display.
First half: Liverpool Dominates
Liverpool started the game strongly, pushing Chelsea to the wall, with Nunez firing shots from different angles. The Uruguayan striker was unlucky not to score in the 18th minute, when his volley was parried onto the post by Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic. He became the first player to hit the woodwork FOUR TIMES in a premier league game since Opta records began
The pressure finally paid off in the 23rd minute, when a mistake from Ben Chilwell was punished by Liverpool. The left-back lost the ball to Bradley, who played a quick pass to Jota, who magically whisked his way between Benoit Badiashile and Thiago Silva to slot the ball past Petrovic.
Liverpool continued to create chances, with Curtis Jones forcing a fine save from Petrovic in the 30th minute with a curling shot from the edge of the box. Chelsea had a rare opportunity in the 35th minute, when Chilwell went down in the box after a slight contact with Ibrahima Konate. The referee waved away the penalty appeals, much to the frustration of the visitors.
Liverpool doubled their lead in the 39th minute, thanks to a brilliant counter-attack. Diaz intercepted a pass from Noni Madueke in the midfield and released Bradley, who sprinted down the right flank and fired a low shot into the far corner. The young right-back, who was filling in for the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold, scored his first goal for the club and celebrated with the jubilant fans.
Liverpool could’ve made it 3-0 in the 44th minute, after a cross to Virgil van Dijk caused havoc in the Chelsea box. The ball bounced off Axel Disasi and fell to Jota, who was then brought down by Badiashile. The referee pointed to the spot and Nunez stepped up to take the penalty. The striker sent Petrovic the wrong way, but his shot hit the bar and bounced out. It was the second time in the game that the post had come to Chelsea’s rescue.
Chelsea had their first shot of the game in the 45+3 minute, when Enzo Fernandez tested Alisson Becker with a low drive from outside the box. The Brazilian keeper made a comfortable save and launched a quick counter for Liverpool. Conor Gallagher, who had a poor game, slipped at the edge of the box and lost the ball to Liverpool. The Reds broke forward with pace and Nunez had a chance to make amends for his penalty miss, but his shot was blocked by Thiago Silva.
The referee blew the whistle for half-time, with Liverpool leading 2-0 and Chelsea looking shell-shocked.
Second half: Liverpool Add More Goals
Chelsea made triple change at half-time, bringing on Malo Gusto for Ben Chilwell, who had a torrid time in the first half. The substitute made an immediate impact, setting up Mudryk for a chance in the 50th minute. The winger sprinted down the left wing and received a pass from Gusto, but he skied his shot over the bar.
Liverpool added a fourth goal in the 65th minute, with Bradley involved again. The right-back easily sprinted past Badiashile and whipped a cross into the box. Szoboszlai rose highest to head the ball past Petrovic. The 20-years-old Irish midfielder, who is an academy graduate from Liverpool, scored his first goal for the club and provided two assists in the same game.
Bradley’s stats were impressive, as he had provided five assists and scored one since he replaced Alexander-Arnold in the last four games. He also had more assists than any Manchester United player (3) in the Premier League this season. The young and promising player was definitely the man of the match.
Also, at age 20 years and 206 days, Conor Bradley became the youngest Liverpool FC player to score and assist a goal in a premier league match since Raheem Sterling (19yrs 252days) in August 2014 vs Southampton
Liverpool made four substitutions in the 68th minute, bringing on Trent Alexander-Arnold, Cody Gakpo, Harvey Elliott and Andy Robertson for Bradley, Diogo Jota, Dominik Szoboszlai and Joe Gomez. The changes did not affect their rhythm, as they continued to dominate the game.
Chelsea pulled one back in the 71st minute, with Carney Chukwuemeka and Nkuku combining well. The midfielder sprinted from the centre and played a pass to Nkuku, who did all the work, magically escaping three defenders before finding the corner of the net. It was a consolation goal for Chelsea, who had been outplayed by Liverpool.
Liverpool restored their three-goal lead in the 79th minute, with Diaz finally getting his goal. Darwin Nunez shrugged off Thiago Silva, before squaring the ball to Diaz for a tap-in, at the expense of shaky Badiashile who couldn’t track Diaz.
The referee ended the game, with Liverpool winning 4-1 and taking the three points. It was a comprehensive victory for the Reds, who extended their lead at the top of the table to five points. It was also Jurgen Klopp’s 200th Premier League win, taking just 318 games. Only Pep Guardiola (269 games) had reached the milestone faster.
Image source: Official Premier League
Chelsea, on the other hand, suffered another defeat under Mauricio Potchettino, who had won two of his previous four games. The Blues dropped to tenth place, behind Manchester United and Brighton. They will need to bounce back quickly from this humiliating loss, as they face Wolves in their next game.
