Premier League: Liverpool Defeats Chelsea 2-1 (Salah 29, Jones 51; Jackson 48)
Potential challengers or merely pretentious contenders? Liverpool, under Arne Slot’s management, started brilliantly in the Premier League, teetering on perfection. But the question of their validity arose due to the absence of substantial Premier League competition they had faced. Chelsea was the first major test; a test Liverpool successfully passed, ranking them back on top of the table, after a taxing yet captivating triumph over the budding team of Enzo Maresco.
Liverpool owes their victory – the seventh in eight league matches under Slot – to the phenomenal Curtis Jones and Mohamed Salah, despite Nicolas Jackson’s equalising effort in the second half. The match also saw significant presence of VAR and referee, John Brooks, not always in a positive light. Chelsea held their ground with an assured play but lacked fervour on the offensive front. Showing tenacity, strategic planning, and effective aggression when required, Liverpool reestablished themselves as a potent challenge to Manchester City’s rule over the season.
The dynamics of the match took a turn after Liverpool claimed the lead, despite Chelsea’s assured and composed kick-off. Chelsea maintained control of the match but failed to cause trouble for Caoimhín Kelleher, Liverpool’s goalkeeper who was covering for an injured Alisson. Meanwhile, the home crowd was further irked by Liverpool’s tendency to squander possession. John Brooks, the referee, also contributed to the charged atmosphere, disrupting Slot’s usual placid sideline behaviour.
A contentious moment came early, with just six minutes on the clock when Tosin Adarabioyo of Chelsea dragged down Diogo Jota, as both chased Salah’s long ball into the Chelsea half. A precedent had been set a day prior when William Saliba received a red card for a similar offence against Bournemouth striker Evanilson. In this case, the Chelsea defender was given a yellow card, a decision upheld by VAR, Michael Oliver. A notable distinction, possibly leading to Adarabioyo’s lenient punishment, was the close presence of his defensive team mate, Levi Colwill, providing additional cover.
Jota’s issues on the day were not solely related to the card’s colour. A severe, unintentional hit from a sturdy centre-half after the foul caused the Liverpool striker visible distress for the following 20 minutes. Eventually, Darwin Núñez took his place on the field.
Chelsea found themselves in another close-call as Cody Gakpo intercepted a shoddy clear by Robert Sánchez, the goalie who was noticeably fortunate to catch the ball as it bounced back into his hands. However, Sánchez’s performance remained highly dubious from start to finish, as his careless tosses and uncertainty consistently left his own team in a lurch. Both these shortcomings would be exploited by Jones.
With influential Alexis Mac Allister benched due to international duties and recent muscle issues, Jones found himself in the midfield for Liverpool in only his second league start this season. He didn’t just rise to the occasion and lessen the effect of Mac Allister’s absence, he orchestrated the victory for Liverpool.
A sequence of events that occurred midway through the opening half perfectly highlighted Jones’s impact. Initially, a splendid block by Jones who was down on the ground stopped Cole Palmer from converting Noni Madueke’s cross, right after Chelsea’s winger beat Andy Robertson yet again to the byline. Seconds after, Jones appeared in the opposition’s box to receive Salah’s diverted cross amidst loud protests in Slot and Anfield against Brook’s decision to deny Salah a penalty following a touch by Colwill. When Jones was noticeably tripped from the rear by Colwill while planning to shoot, Brooks immediately pointed to the penalty spot without any reluctance. Salah confidently drove the penalty home, which brought out a small fist pump from Slot.
Jones nearly created a second goal for Liverpool, demonstrating higher determination and vitality after securing the lead. Dispossessing Moisés Caicedo masterfully, he set up Salah for a ground cross which Gakpo finished at the back post. Yet, an offside against Salah halted the celebrations. Right before half time, Jones raced to receive Núñez’s precise defence-splitting pass. Sánchez, who attempted to obstruct him, caused Jones to tumble and earned himself a booking for antagonising the penalty award which inevitably followed. Both the penalty and yellow card were subsequently annulled after Brooks, having been advised to regurgitate the pitchside monitor, noticed that Sánchez had touched the ball.
Liverpool’s irritation with VAR was exacerbated a few minutes after play resumed. An impressive pass from Caicedo allowed Jackson to charge forward and past Kelleher with a swift, low shot that was instantly disallowed due to an offside ruling. A substantial review period showed that the Chelsea forward was actually level, thanks to Ibrahima Konaté’s toes, resulting in a United celebration from everyone in blue when the equalising goal was eventually granted. However, their happiness was short-lived, lasting less than three minutes.
A beautifully delivered cross from the left flank by Salah sliced straight through the entire Chelsea back line. Adarabioyo, Colwill and Sánchez found themselves standstill, reacting too late. Right on cue, Jones found an opening to get the ball past Sánchez at close proximity. It was his first goal in the Premier League since the first day of the new year and it turned out to be the deciding score, regardless of missed opportunities by Palmer and substitute Christopher Nkunku in the late stages of the match as Chelsea strived for a second equaliser. – Guardian