LIVERPOOL, England — A recreation which introduced collectively two sides constructing for the long run was determined by a participant whose legacy has lengthy since been established. There wasn’t a lot between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday however the residence aspect prevailed with a 2-1 victory which took them again to the Premier League summit courtesy of Mohamed Salah‘s enduring potential to ship match-defining moments.
Salah was not at his devastating finest — midfielder Curtis Jones produced a memorable all-action show en path to netting the successful aim on 51 minutes — however the 32-year-old ahead produced a chic cross to help him after earlier opening the scoring from the penalty spot.
It’s the thirty fourth time he has registered a aim and help in a Premier League recreation — solely Wayne Rooney (36) has accomplished it extra usually. And, after Chelsea had appeared the higher aspect early on, his emphatically transformed Twenty ninth-minute penalty wrestled management of the sport in Liverpool’s favour and took his league tally to 162, tied with Jermain Defoe at ninth on the all-time goal-scorers record. His 232 aim involvements additionally places him tied sixth together with Manchester Metropolis legend Sergio Aguero on that measure.
This continuation of Salah’s finish product has helped new supervisor Arne Slot settle in easily to the daunting activity of changing Jurgen Klopp on Merseyside, with seven wins from his first eight league video games to prime the desk. The Egypt worldwide has seven targets in 11 video games throughout all competitions this season and maybe benefitted from a freshness engineered by the choice to not play for his nation in Mauritania a number of days earlier as a result of a heightened danger of harm from that match going down on a plastic pitch.
Slot is aware of he wants that buy-in from Liverpool’s talisman — with new contract talks looming as his present deal approaches the ultimate six months — additionally explaining why he highlighted his work off the ball as the house aspect held on to their lead.
“He’s vital for us, for the numbers he has but it surely was a little bit of a humorous comment after the sport, I mentioned to Trent [Alexander-Arnold] ‘you’ve got some competitors now’ as a result of I noticed right now that Mo can play with no consideration full-back as effectively,” Slot mentioned afterwards. “So the defensive effort he put in right now to assist the staff in that half is what happy me simply as a lot as his aim and help.”
Liverpool wanted to place in a defensive shift as Chelsea put in a efficiency which can encourage Blues boss Enzo Maresca that they’re heading in the right direction: the Blues had extra touches within the opposition field within the first half of a league recreation than some other staff in 4 years, registered 57% possession, and had constant spells the place they appeared extra threatening.
Cole Palmer is a wondrous expertise however, in distinction to Salah, he wasn’t fairly in a position to affect proceedings as he would have appreciated, firing over simply earlier than the interval and losing a few taking pictures alternatives within the second half. The 22-year-old is rapidly establishing himself as one of many Premier League’s best match winners, however Salah has held that standing for years.
In latest occasions, Chelsea have intentionally pursued a coverage of predominantly signing gamers aged 24 and underneath. However for all their lavish spending, they do not possess a battle-hardened expertise of Salah’s pedigree to assist polish tough performances throughout a interval of transition. (The enduring irony, after all, is that Chelsea signed Salah aged 21 again in 2014 however that was throughout an period when younger gamers discovered the path to the exit door a lot simpler than the first-team dressing room.)
Salah’s penalty — received by Jones after a foul by Levi Colwill — stopped Chelsea of their tracks and on one other afternoon the place VAR checks have been frequent and prolonged, they required a evaluate of their favour to keep away from conceding a second penalty as replays confirmed goalkeeper Robert Sánchez simply obtained the ball forward of Jones earlier than taking him out.
Chelsea equalised three minutes after the restart as Nicolas Jackson collected Moisés Caicedo‘s cross and completed beautifully previous CaoimhÃn Kelleher, deputising for the injured Alisson. However after Salah fed Jones, with Reece James caught fractionally deep and taking part in him onside, the England midfielder steered a high-quality effort previous Sanchez to revive Liverpool’s lead inside moments.
The Blues, to their credit score, have been undeterred. They have been crushed 4-1 right here again in January underneath Mauricio Pochettino, but they completed the sport the stronger aspect this time. It simply wasn’t sufficient.
Within the remaining section we noticed maybe the clearest distinction between Slot’s Liverpool aspect and the Klopp period. Liverpool’s full-backs stopped going ahead; Slot changed Trent Alexander-Arnold with the extra defensive-minded Joe Gomez for the ultimate 9 minutes; and Jones, who had been marauding ahead from midfield, was changed on the identical time by Alexis Mac Allister.
The Argentina worldwide sat deep alongside Ryan Gravenberch and tried to disclaim Chelsea any area wherein to play. It contributed to a nervy finale, however Slot just isn’t Klopp, whose inclination would been to go for the kill when Chelsea wavered after falling behind at 1-0 and, briefly, at 2-1.
Each side are attempting to implement recent concepts and constructing perception. Slot is trying tweaks moderately than wholesale adjustments and that more-settled atmosphere gave Liverpool the sting over Chelsea, who began life underneath their new supervisor with one other aggressive overhaul of their squad.
“We do not like shedding video games, dropping factors but when it’s important to determine the best way, then that is most likely the best way,” Maresca mentioned afterwards. “I have been within the stadium many occasions and have seen Liverpool for a very long time — it is not straightforward. I believe total, we managed the sport and for many elements of the sport we dominated the sport, however we misplaced.”
Chelsea’s defending should enhance after simply two clear sheets in eight league video games; Liverpool can look forward with better optimism.
“The higher the groups you face the extra you want [fight],” Slot mentioned. “Within the Premier League, there are such a lot of good groups so if you wish to win at the least you should battle after which hopefully the people could make the distinction.”
Salah continues to just do that.