Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea (Salah pen 29′, Jones 51’| Jackson 48′)
Liverpool returned to the top of the Premier League table as Arne Slot got the better of Enzo Maresca and Chelsea in a vital acid test at Anfield.
In an odd game which was both cagey and open, Chelsea had more of the ball, but Liverpool had the better of it, with their maturity and unity the edge in an otherwise tight contest.
Mohamed Salah opened the scoring by thrashing in a penalty after Levi Colwill clumsily tripped Curtis Jones, before Nicolas Jackson restored parity just after half time.
But just three minutes later, Salah found Jones with a brilliant ball into the penalty area, and the 23-year-old took a touch before flicking past the onrushing Robert Sanchez.
Here’s how the players rated on both sides.
Liverpool player ratings
Caoimhin Kelleher: Didn’t have a save to make in the first half and did little more in the second. 5/10
Trent Alexander Arnold: Produced some good work defensively but didn’t add much creatively. Could have conceded a penalty for a foul on Sancho. 6/10
Ibrahima Konate: Solid and functional, didn’t have a huge amount to do bar a smart tactical foul on Nkunku late on. 6/10
Virgil van Dijk: As with his centre-back partner, he wasn’t overly tested but carries more blame for Jackson’s goal. 6/10
Andrew Robertson: Made a clear decision to stand off Noni Madueke and it didn’t really work, but made a vital late block. 5/10
Curtis Jones: Earned a penalty and scored the winner in a consummate midfield performance. 9/10
Ryan Gravenberch: Didn’t quite hit the heights he has of late but solid nonetheless. So vital to this Liverpool side. 6/10
Dominik Szoboszlai: Didn’t do well enough with a great chance on 37 minutes and was otherwise anonymous. 4/10
Mohamed Salah: Nailed his penalty and produced the perfect ball for Jones’ goal. Still the Premier League’s premier attacking threat. 8/10
Diogo Jota: Unlucky to be called back for a harsh foul when through on goal but didn’t have much to do in his 30 minutes on the pitch. 5/10
Cody Gakpo: Sharp and creative, did what he needed to do and finished his disallowed goal well. 7/10
Substitutes
Darwin Nunez: 6/10
Luis Diaz: 6/10
Joe Gomez:
Alexis Mac Allister: 6/10
Chelsea player ratings
Robert Sanchez: A goalkeeper should instil faith in his defenders, and Sanchez just doesn’t do that. A decent performance with a few notable shaky moments. 5/10
Reece James: Did well on his return, but was very lucky a foul was called after a sloppy first-half error put through Jota. 6/10
Tosin Adarabioyo: Could have been sent off within seven minutes and caught ball-watching for Jones’ goal. Did nothing to convince Maresca he should be a permanent first-choice. 3/10
Levi Colwill: Could have conceded two penalties in three minutes, and the second was awarded. Had a lot of work to do in a makeshift defence and improved throughout the game. 5/10
Malo Gusto: Solid defensively but slowed down the attack alongside fellow right-footer Sancho when deployed on the left. 6/10
Moises Caicedo: Developing an excellent partnership with Lavia and produced two clever passes for Jackson, the second of which he converted. 8/10
Romeo Lavia: An utterly baffling decision to substitute him early in the second half. Had been Chelsea’s best player up to that point; composed, slick and creative – also completed 96 per cent of his passes. 7/10
Noni Madueke: Some dangerous direct running but couldn’t do enough with the space he was afforded. 6/10
Cole Palmer: Largely marked out of the game bar a decent first-half chance. A reminder he still has room for improvement. 4/10
Jadon Sancho: Could and should have been awarded a penalty after being fouled by Alexander-Arnold, but lacked a change of speed and was hooked at half-time. 4/10
Nicolas Jackson: Had Chelsea’s best chance of the first half and did brilliantly to score early in the second. Produced the sort of clinical performance his detractors believe he isn’t capable of. 7/10
Substitutes
Pedro Neto: 7/10
Enzo Fernandez: 6/10
Benoit Badiashile: 6/10
Renato Veiga: 6/10
Christopher Nkunku : 6/10
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/kCS91Vo
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