Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images

A look back at the key moments in Liverpool’s chaotic win against Chelsea in Premier League action.

Liverpool 2 - 1 Chelsea

Liverpool: Salah 29’ (pen), Jones 51’
Chelsea: Jackson 48’

---

Pre-Match

The international break is finally over, we have returned to Anfield, and are hosting Chelsea to kick off what can only be described as a bonkers stretch of games. Thankfully no one came back with new injuries, and the excitement for this return is at a fever pitch. Liverpool are working on retaking their spot at the top of the table, and after yesterday’s Arsenal loss, things are optimistic on that front.

Arne Slot has made a considerable amount of changes to the lineup, with Alexis Mac Allister being the notable omission from the starting XI, as the Argentinian may be nursing some kind of knock. Luis Diaz is also named to the bench, with Diogo Jota taking his space and Cody Gakpo up top.

There is a moment of applause for recently passed former Liverpool player Peter Cormack, and the crowd is full of their mandated inhalers, ready to give Chelsea hell.

First Half

Anfield is full of sound for another matchup of this rivalry, and the return of men’s football. Both teams try to take control early, but it is Liverpool that gets into the final third first with their first effort of the match that is thwarted by a potential handball. Chelsea is playing aggressively, and manages to win the ball more often, as the Reds are slower to react. Diogo Jota is taken down around the 7th minute after Tosin Adarabioyo puts an arm around him and then falls on top of him when he’s clear on goal, and after a brief stop where it looks like Arne Slot is going to bring on Darwin Núñez, is able to play on.

So it’s going to be one of those matches, I guess. Chelsea is maintaining possession despite our best efforts, but thankfully at least our defensive duo of Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk have been able to thwart their goal scoring attempts. We are spending far too much time in our own areas defending. Reese James simulates a tackle after Cody Gakpo wins the ball and though Jota is open on goal again, the play is called off for the “foul”, giving Chelsea the advantage. After a dangerous moment in which even Salah goes down and doesn’t win a penalty, Roberston purely hoofs the ball down the pitch to start the counterattack. In Chelsea’s desperation, they foul Curtis Jones in the box, winning Liverpool a penalty! LIVERPOOL LEAD THROUGH MOHAMED SALAH! After a cute dancey dance that threw off Chelsea’s keeper, it is 1-0!

It’s not all celebrations though, as Jota is unable to keep going, and Arne Slot brings on Núñez to build on the lead and the chaos of this match. As much as this writer loves Jota (unpopular opinion I guess?), Núñez’s work rate and creativity might be more beneficial against the way Chelsea are playing at the moment. He has already reinvigorated the Reds, as they push forward and Cody Gakpo scores, only to have it ruled offside. A lucky pass gets Nicholas Jackson into a scoring position for Chelsea, but Kelleher saves it well to deny the Blues a goal. It is Jackson again that misses the ball after Gravenberch wins it back and falls on his back. He gets up, starts walking, but can’t go on and holds up the play in these dying minutes of the first half. After the pure mayhem of the last ten minutes, things have settled, and Liverpool are just looking to keep their lead safe before the break.

There are five minutes of added time to this half thanks to the various injury breaks, and Chelsea win a corner that is dealt with easily for Liverpool, leading to another beautiful counterattack but the Chelsea ‘keeper comes out and plants himself against Curtis Jones, earning a yellow card but no second penalty after VAR and the referee look it over.

Second Half

Liverpool don’t make any changes in the second half, but Chelsea take off Jadon Sancho and bring on Pedro Neto in his stead. Chelsea win the ball early on in the second half, and catch the Reds sleeping, with Jackson beating van Dijk and Robertson to score what originally looked offside. Liverpool are not going to go down without a fight, as they move towards the Kop end and CURTIS JONES GETS HIS GOAL! LIVERPOOL LEAD AGAIN!

The celebrations are once again short lived as Chelsea win back possession, pushing back, but Liverpool join the party. We are back to mayhem as both teams fight for this match. Chelsea made some changes shortly after Jones’ goal and it has helped add some energy into their squad early on in the half. Gakpo picks up on a peach of a pass that goes unnoticed by Chelsea and is clear on goal but sends his effort over the net. Chelsea win a free kick in an advantageous spot in the 63rd minute after Enzo Fernandez tangles with Ryan Gravenberch, but Cole Palmer’s shot goes right into the wall and ending in a corner, which the visitors take short.

Liverpool make another change, bringing off Cody Gakpo for Luis Diaz, earning a much deserved rest for the Dutchman. Things are getting spicy here between the two teams, as a Chelsea player pushes over Darwin, and he responds in kind by clipping the player from behind and winning himself a yellow card. The distractions prove just enough to catch Liverpool on the back foot again, giving the visitors an opportunity but their efforts go over the bar. Darwin gets pushed over again, only this time it was right in front of the linesman, winning Liverpool a free kick that doesn’t go anywhere.

Liverpool make a double change at the 80th minute, with one of the players of the match Curtis Jones coming off for Alexis Mac Allister, and Trent Alexander-Arnold making way for Joe Gomez. Even as Chelsea resort to desperate measures, Liverpool have remained collected enough to keep them at bay. They just have to hold on in these last few minutes of the match - although another goal for the Reds won’t hurt. There are seven minutes of added time for the second half, plenty of time. Diaz does his best to find that elusive third goal, sending a worldie towards the goal but it ends up going wide. Both teams are fighting hard, but the time is quickly coming to an end.

Final Thoughts

Things got real heated there and though no punches were thrown, Liverpool did the thing and came away with the win!