New Delhi: Liverpool hosted Chelsea in the marquee encounter of the Premier League’s Matchday eight at Anfield. Both teams headed into the game high on confidence after making solid starts to the season under new managers. Arne Slot was facing his biggest test yet as Liverpool manager and the Dutchman just managed to pass the test thanks to a narrow 2-1 win over a Chelsea side that showed a lot of zeal and spirit but couldn’t get a point.
The match started with a sense of urgency, particularly for Chelsea, who faced an early scare. Just minutes in, Tosin Adarabioyo’s challenge on Diogo Jota could have easily warranted a red card, but the referee only issued a yellow, much to the frustration of the Liverpool faithful. The hosts pressed for an early goal, and their efforts soon led to a significant moment when Mohamed Salah was brought down in the box, prompting loud appeals for a penalty. However, the referee waved away the calls, much to the ire of the Kop.
Liverpool’s persistence paid off shortly afterward when Curtis Jones was fouled by Levi Colwill, leading to a penalty kick. Salah stepped up and confidently converted, sending the Anfield crowd into raptures as the hosts gained the lead, against the run of play. The momentum seemed to be firmly with the Reds as they sought to double their advantage. However, their joy was short-lived when Cody Gakpo’s strike was ruled out for offside, keeping Chelsea in the game. Just before halftime, Liverpool was awarded another penalty, but this time VAR intervened and overturned the decision.
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After wins for both @ManCity and @LFC today, the top of the table looks like this 📊👇 pic.twitter.com/6EnPJjxj4R
— Premier League (@premierleague) October 20, 2024
As the second half commenced, Chelsea came out with renewed vigor and quickly equalized. Nicolas Jackson found the back of the net with a composed finish, briefly silencing the home crowd. However, the jubilation for the Blues was short-lived, as Curtis Jones responded almost immediately. Showing great skill and composure, Jones navigated through the Chelsea defense and fired home the winner just two minutes later, although the Chelsea keeper ought to have done better in that situation.
With the match winding down, Liverpool’s defense held firm against Chelsea’s attempts to claw back into the game. The final whistle confirmed a hard-fought victory for the home side, allowing them to reclaim their spot atop the Premier League table. This match showcased Liverpool’s resilience and attacking prowess, while Chelsea will need to regroup and address their defensive frailties as they look ahead to the rest of the season.
Player of the Match
✅ Won the penalty for Liverpool’s first goal
✅ Scored Liverpool’s second goalCurtis Jones is having himself a game vs. Chelsea 😤 pic.twitter.com/SceeJvD7iw
— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 20, 2024
It was a difficult one to choose between the two goal scorers but Curtis Jones deserves appreciation for his performance tonight. The 23-year-old has long been seen as a vital Liverpool player from the academy but has rarely had the spotlight shine on him, partly due to the arrival of Harvey Elliot. However, the Englishman was on fire tonight and was always a thorn in Chelsea’s behind. Before curtailing Chelsea’s celebrations with a quick finish to restore the hosts’ lead just three minutes after losing it, he won the first penalty and almost doubled the advantage at the stroke of half-time.
He cleverly enticed Robert Sanchez into making a challenge just at the stroke of halftime to win his second penalty of the game but that was then overturned by the referee following VAR’s intervention. In his 80 minutes on the field, he completed 90% of his passes and created two chances for the Reds, the joint-most of anyone in the game. He got 56 touches in the match, four of which came in Chelsea’s box. His defensive numbers impressed as well as he won 67% of his tackles, made six recoveries and won 75% of his duels.
