Liverpool came to Anfield with the job of maintaining their lead at the top of the Premier League and extending their number of matches unbeaten in the league to 15. By the end of the 90 minutes, Liverpool had cruised past the struggling Chelsea outfit with a 4-1 victory to continue their unbeaten run at Anfield.
Liverpool started the game the stronger of the two teams in the early minutes. Darwin Nunez had the first chance of the game as the in-form Conor Bradley played in Darwin Nunez over the top, but the Uruguayan just didn’t get enough power to lift the ball over Djordje Petrovic in the Chelsea goal.
Nunez tried again from long range with a swerving effort that had to be helped onto the crossbar and out for a Liverpool corner moments later, showing that the home side were not afraid to try their luck from range.
Nunez had been getting the majority of Liverpool’s chances in the first 20 minutes, but it was the in-form Diogo Jota who opened the scoring after good positive play from Bradley and a fortunate bounce, the Portuguese fired the ball into the bottom corner for 1-0.
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In the 40th minute, the young northern Irishman made it two to the good with a composed finish after some good counter-pressing from the Reds and Luis Diaz played the right back in on goal from the left-hand side.
The home side continued to dominate and with half time looming Liverpool were given the chance to make it 3-0 from the penalty spot when a poor challenge from Benoit Badiashille brought Jota down inside the six-yard box. However, Chelsea’s blushes were saved as Nunez clattered the post from the spot and the home side went into half-time 2-0 up and left Chelsea with some work to do.
Mauricio Pochettino made two changes at the break by bringing on Christopher Nkunku, Mykhailo Mudryk and Malo Gusto. They replaced Noni Madueke, Ben Chilwell, and Conor Gallagher.
Chelsea finally got a clear-cut chance shortly after the restart when former red Raheem Sterling got in behind and squared the ball across the penalty area only for the substitute Mudryk to blaze the ball over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
The visitors kept growing into the game but failed to threaten Alisson Becker in the Liverpool goal. Liverpool went up the gears again on the hour mark and in the 65th minute, Bradley’s clipped cross was firmly planted into the back of the Chelsea net for 3-0 from the head of Dominik Szoboszlai.
WE ARE SO GOOD!
After the goal, Liverpool and their counterparts in blue decided to switch things up. Chelsea brought on Carney Chukwuemeka for Moises Caicedo in an attempt to bring themselves back into the game. Klopp himself made four changes of his own as he brought off Jota, Bradley, Szoboszlai and Joe Gomez. Chukwuemeka took six minutes to make an impact on the game as he set up fellow substitute Nkunku to make it 3-1.
The belief did not last long as Nunez showed great strength to see off Disasi after being played through by Curtis Jones for the former Benfica man to put the ball across the box for Diaz to poke home at the far post for 4-1 with just 10 minutes of the 90 to play.
Bradley now has a goal and four assists in his last five games and after, yet another outstanding performance picked up the Man of the Match award for his contributions against the London Blues. Klopp’s Reds now look to the weekend when they travel south to face Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
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Player Ratings – Alisson 7, Bradley 9, Konate 7, Van Dijk 7, Gomez 8; Mac Allister 8, Szoboszlai 8, Jones 7; Jota 8, Nunez 8, Diaz 8.
Redmen Reacts
A thoroughly enjoyable night’s work as Liverpool purred at their irresistible best. Say what you will about Chelsea’s deficiencies, this was more about The Reds being utterly thrilling and uncontainable.
To a man Klopp’s charges were exceptional with the standout performances coming from the combative Mac Allister, a relentless Diaz, brilliant Jota and of course, Bradley.
With the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson, Harvey Elliott, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo on the bench, plus Thiago, Stefan Bajcetic, Kostas Tsimikas, Wataru Endo and Mohamed Salah still all to come back, anything is well and truly possible.
WE WILL HAVE EVERY ANGLE COVERED OF THE REDS’ TRANSFER BUSINESS HERE!
