Liverpool confirmed Chelsea nonetheless have far to go to problem the champions for the Premier League title as Sadio Mane took benefit of a first-half purple card proven to Andreas Christensen to attain each objectives in a 2-Zero win at Stamford Bridge. Mane provoked the Dane’s dismissal after which headed the Reds into the lead earlier than pouncing on one other horrible error from the Blues’ goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. On the different finish, Alisson Becker additionally proved the worth of an excellent goalkeeper as he saved Jorginho’s penalty 15 minutes from time to disclaim the Blues a lifeline.
Victory takes Liverpool stage on factors with Everton, Arsenal and Crystal Palace on the prime of the desk as the one sides with most factors from their opening two video games.
Chelsea have spent $260 million within the switch market to attempt to shut the 33-point hole between the perimeters final season, however the choice to take a position most of that in forwards somewhat than addressing extra pressing defensive wants was badly uncovered.
An absence of defensive reinforcements with Thiago Silva nonetheless not match match was apparent in Frank Lampard’s gameplan, because the Chelsea boss tried to guard a backline that conceded 54 league objectives final season in a cagey first-half.
Christensen bailed out Kepa from one other embarrassing error as he was caught in no man’s land early on however the defender acquired again to stop Roberto Firmino changing Mohamed Salah’s cross.
Regardless of Liverpool dominating possession, Chelsea had the very best sight of objective within the first half when Timo Werner dragged huge from the sting of the field.
However the hosts’ good defensive work was undone seconds earlier than the break as Mane raced onto Jordan Henderson’s ball and was hauled down by Christensen.
Referee Paul Tierney initially solely confirmed a yellow card, however overturned his choice after viewing the incident on a pitchside monitor and Christensen was dismissed.
Jurgen Klopp irked Lampard when he stated the Reds couldn’t behave like golf equipment owned by oil-rich states or oligarchs reminiscent of Manchester Metropolis and Chelsea within the switch market.
However Liverpool have been busy this week with Thiago Alcantara and Diogo Jota changing into their first main signings for 2 years.
Klopp immediately referred to as for Thiago to make his debut at half-time rather than the injured Henderson, and it took simply 5 minutes within the second-half to make the breakthrough.
Mane once more did the harm as he met Firmino’s cross with a agency header into the far nook.
Chelsea’s spending spree shouldn’t be but over with Edouard Mendy set to affix from Rennes as Lampard’s endurance with Kepa, who price a world document £72 million for a goalkeeper two years in the past, exhausted.
Liverpool’s second will solely have confirmed the previous England midfielder’s choice as Kepa’s informal cross was intercepted by Mane, who then turned the ball into an empty web.
Alisson’s document because the world’s most costly goalkeeper lasted simply three weeks in 2018 between his transfer from Roma and Chelsea paying Kepa’s buyout clause from Athletic Bilbao.
However the Brazilian has greater than justified his £67 million price ticket in wining the Champions League and Premier League over the previous two seasons and produced a giant save when Liverpool wanted it.
Promoted
Thiago didn’t have a dream debut as he was the offender for clipping Werner’s legs as he burst into the realm.
Jorginho’s stutter-step run up has fooled many a goalkeeper prior to now, however Alisson held his floor earlier than diving low to his left to save lots of.
Subjects talked about on this article
Source link
