Chelsea vs Liverpool: Five things we learned from Liverpool’s set pieces to Chelsea’s defensive troubles

Goals from Trent Alexander-Arnold and Roberto Firmino made six wins out of six for the Reds

Callum Rice-Coates

Sunday 22 September 2019 18:31 BST

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Louise Thomas

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1) Alexander-Arnold getting better and better

If Trent Alexander-Arnold starts regularly adding goals to his game, he will be a truly formidable opponent. His crossing ability is well-known by now, but he is equally adept at picking out a corner of the net with ease too.

He proved that on Sunday afternoon, planting the ball into the top corner from a free kick just outside the box. And he was typically reliable throughout the game, covering ground up and down the right flank, doing his defensive duties well and causing problems, as ever, in attack.

And at 20, there should still be far more to come from Alexander-Arnold. That is a daunting prospect for the rest of the division.

2) Liverpool's set piece potency continues

Since the start of last season, according to Opta, Liverpool have scored 34 goals from set pieces. That is seven more than any other side in the division. And it’s hardly surprising, given the quality of delivery regularly put into the box by both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson.

Chelsea vs Liverpool player ratings

Show all 24

1/24Chelsea vs Liverpool player ratings

Chelsea vs Liverpool player ratings

CHELSEA: Asmir Begovic - 6 out of 10

Made several fine stops to deny Liverpool but couldn’t prevent Coutinho’s superb effort from squeezing past him just before the break. Was let down by his defence for the visitors’ two second-half goals.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool player ratings

Kurt Zouma - 5 out of 10

Did well to stop the threat of Lallana and Moreno on the left flank in the first half - putting his body on the line to prevent Lucas’ near-post header from going in - but began to be put under more pressure from Coutinho in the second period and began to struggle at right back.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool player ratings

Cesar Azpilicueta - 7 out of 10

Set up Ramires’ opener with a superb cross that came after he had outrun Milner. Had his work cut out with Clyne regularly pushing forwards but defended well enough.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool player ratings

Gary Cahill - 5 out of 10

Combined well with Terry to protect Begovic and stop the threat of Firmino in the first half but should have done more to close in on Coutinho and Benteke when they went for goal in the second.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool player ratings

John Terry - 4 out of 10

The Chelsea captain was back to his best against the Reds with some solid defending in the first half, but then let himself down when he didn’t do enough to stop Coutinho from his getting his shot at goal before allowing Benteke the space and time to fire in Liverpool’s third goal.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool player ratings

Ramires - 7 out of 10

Headed in Chelsea’s opener to give the home side the lead, but was beaten too easily by Coutinho in the build-up to Liverpool’s equaliser and should have done more to close him down.

Chelsea vs Liverpool player ratings

John Obi Mikel - 6 out of 10

Helped provide cover for Chelsea’s defence in the first half, but was later brought off after picking up a yellow card.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool player ratings

Oscar - 5 out of 10

Spent the first half largely on the left flank and while he didn’t get involved in Chelsea’s attacking play as much, he did his job at helping to keep Milner at bay while dealing with Clyne’s runs forwards. But the second half saw him struggle to replicate his first-half showing with Liverpool pressing well.

Chelsea vs Liverpool player ratings

Willian - 6 out of 10

Was so often the driving force of Chelsea’s attacking play with his pace and tricky runs but had less of an impact in the second period.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool player ratings

Eden Hazard - 4 out of 10

Played largely down the middle and despite a bright start, saw his impact wane and was eventually brought off in the 58th minute for Kenedy.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool player ratings

Diego Costa - 5 out of 10

Was controlled by Skrtel and Sakho throughout the game and rarely proved a threat for the home side. He did well to head the ball off the line in second half but disappointed up front for Chelsea.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool player ratings

From the bench: Kenedy - 5 out of 10

Within seconds of coming on, he threatened to score but hit his shot into the side netting. Didn't do much else of note

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Chelsea vs Liverpool player ratings

LIVERPOOL: Simon Mignolet - 6 out of 10

May feel he could have done more to keep out Ramires’ opener but dealt with the rest of his tests well.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool player ratings

Nathaniel Clyne - 7 out of 10

Was one of Liverpool’s best sources of attacking play in the first half down the right flank, and was unlucky not to have been given a first-half penalty when his shot hit Terry’s arm. Defended well at right-back and was one of Liverpool’s best players on the pitch.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool player ratings

Martin Skrtel - 6 out of 10

llowed Azpilicueta to get his shot in to set up Ramires for the opener but, aside from that mistake, was superb to ensure Costa did not prove a threat for the home side.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool player ratings

Mamadou Sakho - 7 out of 10

Like Skrtel, the centre-back used his physical presence to shackle Costa throughout the game.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool player ratings

Alberto Moreno - 7 out of 10

Was outmuscled by Ramires in build-up to opener and will feel he could have done better, but he defended well at left-back while nearly getting a shot at goal in the second half following a fine run forwards.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool player ratings

Lucas Leiva - 7 out of 10

Received a yellow for a challenge on Mikel, but the Brazilian worked tirelessly in the middle of the park to snuff out attacks and try and create some for the visitors. Saw an effort at goal cleared by Begovic.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool player ratings

Emre Can - 6 out of 10

Looked frustrated by not being able to control the game in the first half and found himself escaping a yellow although he eventually got one for pulling back Willian. Despite an up-and-down first period marked by some sloppy passing, the midfielder came out from the break in better form and worked hard to keep a lid on the likes of Hazard and Willian.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool player ratings

James Milner - 6 out of 10

Should have done more to stop Azpilicueta from getting past him and setting up Ramires for the opening goal, but he grew into the game and began giving Chelsea problems with his forays forwards.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool player ratings

Adam Lallana - 6 out of 10

Tested Begovic with a few shots in the first half with his pace proving crucial in helping the visitors build up attacks from the right flank and also carried out his defensive duties well – making a superb clearance to deny Zouma in the second half.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool player ratings

Philippe Coutinho - 9 out of 10

Scored both of Liverpool’s goals –the first after weaving his way into space and getting past Ramires to net a brilliant solo effort before then scoring the winner in the 73rd minute. Was Liverpool’s star man.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool player ratings

Roberto Firmino - 7 out of 10

After a relatively quiet opening period in which he kept dropping deep to try and find the ball, the forward provided the assist for Coutinho’s opener in the dying seconds of the first half. He was brought off for Benteke in the latter stages of the game, but Klopp will see the Brazilian’s showing as positive going forwards.

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Chelsea vs Liverpool player ratings

From the bench: Christian Benteke - 8 out of 10

Secured the win with his well-taken goal from Ibe’s cross after being brought on as a second-half substitute. Proved the impact change from Klopp.

The full backs were again responsible for Liverpool’s two goals, both from set pieces, in the first half. Alexander-Arnold’s opener was a stunning strike from the edge of the box, immaculately placed past Kepa into the top corner. And Robertson provided the dipping, curled ball into the box that was met by Roberto Firmino for the second.

Chelsea’s defending was questionable, but Liverpool, as the statistics show, are difficult to stop from dead ball situations.

3) Chelsea showing few signs of fixing defensive problems

Only Norwich and bottom of the league Watford have conceded more goals in the Premier League than Chelsea this season. That is hugely concerning for a team with aspirations of a top four finish.

Frank Lampard’s side have now let in 13 goals, and the manager does not appear to have an obvious solution to their defensive woes. It will not help that Andreas Christensen was forced off injured in the first half, replaced by the out of form Kurt Zouma.

It was far too easy for Liverpool to put balls into the box, and Chelsea looked particularly susceptible from set pieces. The second goal, headed in by an open Firmino, demonstrated the hosts’ severe defensive deficiencies.

Goal scoring has not been a problem for the Blues, but they will need to stem the flow at the other end, and soon, if they are to challenge at the top of the Premier League.

Van Dijk had the better of Abraham — Van Dijk had the better of Abraham (REUTERS)

4) Abraham not complete forward yet

It has, unquestionably, been an excellent start to the season for Tammy Abraham, making the step up from the Championship to the Premier League. He has scored seven goals already, including a ruthless, clinical hat-trick away at Wolves.

And it would be easy to get carried away with such a start. It must be remembered that he is just 21-years-old, still inexperienced at this level and still in the process of improving his game. He will have off days, and this was one of them. He missed a fairly simple one-on-one in the first half and failed to convert a couple of half chances after the break.

But his positional awareness, his ability to sniff out chances remained impressive. And he was not completely nullified by Virgil van Dijk, as some suspected he might be. Abraham still has plenty of room to improve, then, but he should take heart from this performance.

5) Chelsea show fight but still big gulf between top two and the rest

Chelsea were much improved in the second half, competing throughout and restricting Liverpool to relatively few chances. N’Golo Kante’s excellent goal gave the home side a route back into it and, to their credit, they pushed hard for an equaliser.

But it remains clear that there is a significant gap in quality between the newly established top two – Manchester City and Liverpool – and the rest. Chelsea, it seemed, had to work exceptionally hard to give themselves a chance of avoiding defeat.

This was not Liverpool at their free-flowing best. Chelsea might have rescued a point late on had they not squandered the chances they created. But victory at Stamford Bridge in such circumstances is testament to the level Jurgen Klopp’s side are now at. The top two, six games in, are already breaking away from the pack.

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