There was no slip this time.
Liverpool are back on the top of the Premier League table with four games to go after an impressive 2-0 victory over Chelsea at Anfield.
Five years ago, this fixture ended Liverpool’s title challenge. Steven Gerrard slipped as Brendan Rodgers’ team played right into Jose Mourinho’s hands and received two sucker-punches from a patched-up side.
However, there was no slip on Sunday, no error in approach and no bad luck. Liverpool outplayed Chelsea and fully deserved their win. They are now just four games from glory.
The match started at a frantic pace, with Liverpool swarming all over the visitors. Jurgen Klopp’s team pressed Chelsea high up the pitch and aimed to disrupt their passing.
Jordan Henderson’s renaissance continued in his more advanced midfield position. The Liverpool captain excelled against Southampton and Napoli over the last week and started brightly against Chelsea, breaking from midfield to put pressure on the opposition and win second balls for his team. Behind him, Fabinho was ultra-composed and played the deep-lying midfield position to a tee.
The Brazilian won more tackles than any other player and broke the lines with intelligent passes forward. Roberto Firmino was bright and clever, working hard off the ball and attempting to link play when he came into possession. Trent Alexander-Arnold was also impressive in the first half, playing several dangerous balls forward,
In fact, it was hard to find fault with any Liverpool player’s performance in the opening period and they carried it their momentum into the second half, bursting into life in a dizzying three-minute spell just after the break.
After a one-two between Salah and Firmino, the ball landed to Henderson in the Chelsea penalty area. The Liverpool skipper chipped the ball to the back post where Mane was ready to head the ball home.
Then, two minutes later, Salah scored a belter. Virgil van Dijk switched the ball out to Salah on the right wing. The Egyptian drifted infield, past Emerson Palmieri, and struck an unstoppable shot 25-yards from goal, smashing the ball beyond Kepa Arrizabalaga before Jorginho could block the attempt. It was a stunning goal and one that will be replayed over and over if Liverpool clinch the Premier League title.
Maybe if Liverpool had played this Chelsea side in that famous game five years ago, they wouldn’t be still waiting to win their first league title since 1990. Maurizio Sarri’s team are talented but predictable. They did not have a shot on target in the first half and, despite going close twice through Eden Hazard, rarely looked like scoring.
Liverpool’s midfield are often cited as the weakest part of their team, but they had a great afternoon. N’Golo Kante caused trouble in the first half by breaking through the middle of the pitch, but Klopp’s team comfortably dealt with the other two Chelsea midfielders, Reuben Loftus-Cheek and particularly Jorginho.
As almost every other side in the Premier League have realised, Liverpool knew if they put pressure on Jorginho, Chelsea would struggle. The Italian midfielder had just 34 touches in the first half, a famine for a player who hogs the ball and fewer than any Liverpool midfielder. At the full-time whistle, Jorginho’s pass completion rate was just 82 per cent – his average this season has been 89 per cent.
Klopp has found the balance in his midfield – with Fabinho holding, Henderson pressing and Keita carrying the ball from deep. The Liverpool manager took long enough to find the right blend in the engine room, but he used it to steamroll Chelsea and set up an unforgettable final month of the season.
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