Liverpool vs Chelsea LIVE: Premier League result and reaction as Curtis Jones sends Reds back to the top
Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea: The Reds return to the top of the table after they take a deserved three points from a tense encounter at Anfield
Liverpool beat Chelsea 2-1 at Anfield on Sunday afternoon as Arne Slot’s side returned to the top of the Premier League table.
An end-to-end first half failed to create any real chances of note before Curtis Jones produced a brilliant block on Cole Palmer, and then raced into the Chelsea box to win a penalty.
Salah converted from the spot and Liverpool were in the ascendancy from there, with Cody Gakpo having a goal ruled out before half-time.
The second half started in a similarly frantic fashion, though Chelsea landed the first blow, equakising quickly after Nicolas Jackson latched onto a brilliant through ball from Moises Caicedo.
But parity was short-lived, as Curtis Jones got to the end of a Salah cross to poke past Sanchez for 2-1 in the 51st minute.
The rest of the half was far less eventful, with neither side managing to fashion a chance of note before seven minutes were added on.
The home side looked to close out the game as the Blues tried to mount some final attacks, and the Reds’ defence stood firm to confirm the three points.
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FULL-TIME! Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea
On Sky, Jamie Carragher has hailed Jones’ performance, calling it a “throwback”.
“Curtis Jones was brilliant, he was outstanding,” said Carragher.
“He’s still at that stage where he doesn’t know for certain if he is first choice, when you have got Gravenberch and Mac Allister.
“But what a performance that was, when you think of the quality on the pitch and the money that has been spent. For a local lad to be player of the match.
“I wonder if Arne Slot is going to go back in for Zubimendi in January, but when you see how he played today you think ‘no’.
“He has to now do it on a consistent basis.”
FULL-TIME! Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea
Matchwinner Curtis Jones is first to speak to Sky.
“We came away with a win, it’s the most important thing obviously,” he says.
“I had it in my mind, if I can keep Cole [Palmer] quiet then that’s a large part of the game.
On the penalties, he says: “I never dive, I felt the contact, so I went down”.
“If you want to play in this team, you’ve got to run, you’ve got to have energy, you’ve got to help out.
On his goal, he adds: “There’s been times when I’ve arrived in the box and it’s been a first-time one. I thought it was going to come and it did, and I was fortunate enough. I got the goal.” He finishes by calling his newborn daughter “a little dream”.
Premier League table
That result means Liverpool return to the top of the league table. The Reds sit on 21 points, one above Manchester City and four above Arsenal.
Chelsea miss the chance to enter the top three, and they stay sixth, on 14 points.
FULL-TIME! Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea
So, an entertaining match comes to an end at Anfield and Liverpool return to the top of the Premier League table.
The Reds probably deserved the win in the end, though Chelsea produced a good performance to take them all the way. However, in attack, Chelsea couldn’t create enough and paid the price for a couple of defensive lapses.
Arne Slot’s side have answered yet another question thrown at them, and if they carry on like this, they may work themselves into the title conversation.
FULL-TIME! Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea
FULL-TIME!
The referee brings the match to an end and Liverpool return to the top of the table!
Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea
96 mins
Whisltes around Anfield as Chelsea come forward, but the attack breaks down after a foul from Nunez. That one was harsh.
Chelsea mount what must be a final attack...the ball is squared to Gusto but his shot is blocked!
Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea
95 mins
Liverpool have a rare attack and Salah threads it to the overlapping Diaz, but he’s flagged for offside.
From the Chelsea counter, Gomez slides in brilliantly to cut the pass out, and Liverpool come forward again. The attack is led by Diaz, who weaves into the box before cutting outside and curling an effort past the far post.
Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea
94 mins
Chelsea are in possession but it’s a little too pedestrian to threaten the home side. They do fashion a half-chance though, as Neto clips a ball towards the back post. Nkunku is running in but he has to stretch too much as he gets a foot to it, and he can only direct it behind.
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