Five key observations from Liverpool’s win against Chelsea at Anfield

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Mohamed Salah and Curtis Jones scored for Liverpool in their 2-1 Premier League win over Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday.

Jones found the net in the 51st minute to restore Liverpool’s advantage after Nicolas Jackson had equalised Salah’s opener.

Following the result, Liverpool are at the top of the league standings, one point clear of rivals Manchester City.

Here are five key things we observed during the match.

1. Slot passes first ‘big’ test in the Premier League

Chelsea posed to be the first real test for Arne Slot’s Liverpool side as they had been high-flying in the Premier League this season, the only blemish being a shocking home loss to Nottingham Forest on matchday four.

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Slot had easy wins against Ipswich, Brentford and Manchester United in his first three leagues games, also without conceding a goal. After the loss to Forest, the Reds then responded with another emphatic 3-0 victory over Bournemouth.

Narrow away wins against Wolves and Palace took Liverpool to the table summit and Sunday’s victory ensures they remain there.

Although they were dominated on home ground against the Blues, a trait uncharacteristic of the conventional Liverpool of the past few years and under Slot, they got one better off Chelsea.

Slot must be commended for his great start to life at Liverpool.

2. Maresca’s bold changes raised eyebrows

When Chelsea’s lineup was released, the two players that drew most attention in the starting XI were Reece James and Romeo Lavia.

Both players have been hampered by injury setbacks over the year and were surprisingly thrown into the lineup.

James had not started a Chelsea game in over 325 days and while Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella were suspended for the game, Tosin Adarabioyo (who started) and Renato Veiga were expected to be direct replacements.

However, manager Enzo Maresca opted to deploy Malo Gusto on the left, much to the surprise of many.

For Lavia, who impressed during his time on the pitch, Maresca started the Belgian ahead of Enzo, his regular starter.

Managers are known to make certain unpredictable changes to their starting lineups especially ahead of big games, sometimes due to tactical reasons, which may not work out eventually. That said, Maresca’s was a big gamble.

3. Sanchez’s inconsistency puts Chelsea on edge

Robert Sanchez’s inconsistency has been his greatest undoing. He makes miraculous saves today, proving to be messiah and the next game, his errors prove just costly.

On his day, you could easily name him the best goalkeeper in the world. However, his blunders are just as clear as his strong performances.

He made some wrong passes and created fidgety moments against the Reds. His slowness in coming off his line to deny Curtis Jones an avoidable winner has seen Chelsea fans calling for the Spaniard’s head again.

Meanwhile, summer signing Filip Jorgensen has been representing the club in the Conference League and will surely be ready to displace the ex-Brighton goalkeeper if manager Enzo Maresca deems it necessary.

4. Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch outstanding

Tasked with marking the in-form Cole Palmer, Jones’ energy was unmatched throughout the game.

He denied Palmer a clear chance at goal, then moments later won a penalty that Salah converted. Jones continued to drive forward, winning another penalty, though it was later overturned by VAR.

The England midfielder capped off an impressive display with a well-taken goal, calmly finishing Salah’s cross past Sanchez. It was the perfect ending to a memorable week for Jones who dedicated his goal to his new born baby.

On his part, Ryan Gravenberch has adapted brilliantly to his deeper midfield role at Liverpool. He thrived without Alexis Mac Allister beside him from the start on Sunday. Against Chelsea, Gravenberch showcased his excellent distribution, drive, and defensive awareness.

He seamlessly filled gaps left by Curtis Jones, proving his ability to excel independently, even in Mac Allister’s absence. Liverpool’s September Player of the Month continues to impress under Slot.

5. Caicedo continues to shine for Chelsea

Ecuadorian midfielder Moises Caicedo was all over the pitch defending and attacking with much energy and brilliance. Since arriving at Stamford Bridge, questions have always been about how much he would go ahead to justify the hefty price paid for his services.

In truth, the former Brighton man made a slow start to life in his first season at Chelsea, especially with a debut to forget against West Ham United.

However, his recent performances have been impressive and maybe his naysayers just need to watch more of his games to appreciate how beautiful he handles his game with or without the ball.

Tags: Chelsea, Liverpool, Anfield, Curtis Jones, Arne Slot, Enzo Maresca, Enzo Fernandez, Reece James, Ryan Gravenberch, Mohamed Salah, Moises Caicedo, Robert Sanchez, Nicolas Jackson, #YNWA, #LIVCHE, #CFC, #PremierLeague, #NewsRoundTheClock, #nrtcnewsnigeria, #nrtcnews, #nrtcnigeria, #nrtcsports.