Liverpool re-established their one-point lead at the top of the Premier League after a hard-fought win over Chelsea at Anfield.
Arne Slot’s men slipped behind Manchester City earlier in the day following the defending champions’ controversial, last-gasp 2-1 victory at Wolves but moved back to the summit two hours later.
The impressive Curtis Jones was the matchwinner, netting Liverpool’s second goal six minutes into the second half after Nicolas Jackson had cancelled out Mohamed Salah’s opener.
GET IN THERE REDS!!!!! 💪🔴 pic.twitter.com/RZVZn6guP9
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 20, 2024
Liverpool just about deserved it but Chelsea’s progress under Enzo Maresca was evident and the west Londoners showed enough to indicate they will be in the mix for a top-four finish come season’s end.
Chelsea had a scare after just six minutes, however, when Tosin Adarabioyo got underneath a long punt forward and dragged down Diogo Jota. It looked similar to the challenge that saw Arsenal’s William Saliba red-carded yesterday but referee John Brooks deemed the challenge worthy only of a yellow.
Cole Palmer had a chance at the other end after 24 minutes but, following good work from Noni Madueke, couldn’t get his shot away and Jones made a fine block.
It was a cagey start from both sides but it was Liverpool who edged in front from the spot. The penalty was given after Salah’s shot was partially blocked and the rebound fell at the feet of Jones who had his ankle clipped by Levi Colwill.
Salah stepped up and made no mistake, blasting a powerful effort past Robert Sanchez.
Salah converts the penalty! 🏹 pic.twitter.com/jS2TQ7P5Wh
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 20, 2024
Cody Gakpo had a goal ruled out for offside, given against Salah in the build-up, before VAR came to Chelsea’s rescue in first-half injury time.
Sanchez clattered into Jones as he strode on to substitute Darwin Nunez’s pass with referee Brooks pointing to the spot. However, VAR ruled Sanchez had got to the ball before taking the man and the decision was overturned.
Chelsea made the most of their fortune and equalised within three minutes of the restart. Moises Caicedo played in Jackson and the Senegal striker fired past Caoimhin Kelleher. The offside flag went up but the goal was given with replays showing Jackson had been played on by Ibrahima Konate’s outstretched left leg.
Parity lasted for a little over two minutes as Salah’s brilliant cross from the right picked out the deep run of Jones and the midfielder took a touch before poking it past Sanchez.
Curtis Jones RESPONDS immediately for Liverpool! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/v3urTHUgNU
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 20, 2024
That was the prompt for Maresca to make a triple change with captain Reece James among those to depart having made his first start of the season at right-back.
Palmer, who this week spoke of his desire to one day lift the Ballon d’Or, had been on the periphery but finally got into the game after the hour mark.
His first effort was a tantalisingly placed free-kick that he struck into the wall while he was then denied by the outstretched leg of Dominik Szoboszlai after finding space in the area to get on the end of Pedro Neto’s pass.
Renato Veiga nodded over Palmer’s free-kick in stoppage time with Christopher Nkunku then failing to get on the end of Neto’s cross at the far post as Liverpool held on.
