Share

Liverpool’s totally dominant first-half display dismantles Chelsea

They should have dealt better with Philippe Coutinho’s cross, which could have been put in by any one of four unmarked Liverpool players with Lovren doing the honours.

Advertisement

Two of Liverpool’s big summer buys made an impact, with Sadio Mane giving them real pace and menace and Georginio Wijnaldum a steadying presence in midfield.

Chelsea are second on table with 10 points two behind Manchester City, while Liverpool are sixth with seven points, three a-drift tonight’s opponent.

Lovren ran in from deep to volley home with the Chelsea defence static.

An attempted clearance from defender Gary Cahill fell to Henderson 30 metres out and the midfielder dipped a shot into the top corner of the net past the leaping Thibaut Courtois.

Joel Matip dived in and failed to stop Nemanja Matic reaching the byline, where he dug out a pass which the Spain global striker fired into the back of the net.

Costa then had the chance to level the score minutes later, but he could only send his shot from point-blank range straight at keeper Simon Mignolet.

That new-found energy quickly fizzled out, though, and Liverpool looked unsafe on the counter-attack, Courtois getting down to his left to keep out a header from substitute Divock Origi in the 81st minute.

The Reds skipper blasted home his team’s second strike in the first half to help the visitors to a second consecutive victory at Stamford Bridge.

Liverpool scored twice though, their first goal coming from a cross which found Dejan Lovren in space at the far post, and Carragher and Souness were in agreement after the match, which the Reds won 2-1, in their view that Terry will automatically come in for Luiz when fit.

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side have developed a reputation as away-day specialists, but their result on Friday night continues an impressive record at Stamford Bridge.

“It’s not important that it’s my first defeat, it’s our first defeat – a Chelsea defeat”.

Having been completely outplayed in the first half, Chelsea briefly came out fighting after the break and pulled themselves back into the game on 61 minutes when Costa grabbed his fifth Premier League goal of the season.

Are Liverpool potential Premier League champions?

Advertisement

London has been especially welcoming for Liverpool in the first month, with wins at Chelsea and Arsenal, and a draw at Tottenham.

Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.- AP