LIVERPOOL regained their five-point cushion at the top of the Premier League after beating Chelsea 4-1 at Anfield.
Northern Ireland star Conor Bradley was the star man with his first Reds goal plus two assists.
Diogo Jota, Dominik Szoboszlai and Luis Diaz also scored for the Reds, while Christopher Nkunku pulled one back for the Blues.
- Liverpool XI: Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Gomez; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Jones; Jota, Nunez, Diaz
- Chelsea XI: Petrovic; Disasi, Thiago Silva, Badiashile, Chilwell; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Sterling; Palmer
That’s all from Anfield
Jurgen Klopp described it best when he said “What a performance. What a night.”
There won’t have been too many better displays among his 200 Premier League wins as Liverpool manager, and it’s a result that puts the Anfield club five points clear at the top of the table.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have plenty to ponder as they begin the long trip back to London.
It’s Arsenal next for the Reds in another match that could go a long way to deciding the eventual outcome of the title – and we’ll be at the Emirates on Sunday for every kick. You’d do well to join us.
Until then, thanks for reading and goodnight,
Poch: Penalty decisions not to blame
Mauricio Pochettino refused to hide behind decisions not going his side’s way after Chelsea fell to heavy defeat an Anfield.
The Blues had four penalty appeals turned down over the course of their 4-1 defeat, two of which looked pretty damning on replay.
However, the Chelsea boss admitted that his team were second best throughout the contest despite feeling aggrieved by VAR outcomes.
It’s not a final excuse. They deserved to win. They were better than us. I don’t want to talk about the [penalty decisions] because it’s part of football.
Mauricio Pochettino
Klopp delighted by Liverpool showing
Jurgen Klopp may just be the happiest he’s ever been after any of his 200 Premier League victories.
The Liverpool boss was all smiles in his post-match interview as he paid tribute to his players and the support they received throughout.
What a performance. You have to play outstandingly well to keep Chelsea calm, but the way we started was really strong. A great night. What an atmosphere. What a football game.
Jurgen Klopp
Extra! Read all about it!
If anybody thought Liverpool’s players and supporters were going to wallow following the news of Jurgen Klopp’s impending departure, then they have once again been proved wrong – as Phil Thomas points out in his match report of the Reds’ 4-1 win over Chelsea.
“They have always known how to party on Merseyside – but this is stretching the point even for them.
“Because at this rate, Jurgen Klopp’s Anfield farewell is going to turn into the longest leaving bash in living memory.
“All those Liverpool loyalists certainly weren’t joking when they said they’d make his final few months in town extra special.
If Liverpool carry on like this, Klopp will need a bigger suitcase to fit all his medals in when he heads back home.
Phil Thomas
Two hundred up for Klopp
With a 4-1 win at Anfield this evening, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has became the seventh manager to clock up 200 wins in the Premier League games.
Only Pep Guardiola (269) has made it to the milestone in fewer matches than the German coach (318).
Reds move five points clear
Liverpool’s victory this evening means that they are now five points clear of both Arsenal and Manchester City, who beat Burnley earlier tonight.
Reigning champions City do have a game in hand on the Reds, but their March meeting an Anfield may already be one to pencil in the diary.
- Liverpool 4-1 Chelsea
- Man City 3-1 Burnley
- Tottenham 3-2 Brentford
Credit: premierleague.com Match stats from Anfield
Liverpool’s 28 shots tonight is the joint-most on record (since 2003-04) that any side has had in a Premier League match against Chelsea.
Meanwhile, their 13 shots on target is the most that the Blues have faced in a league match in that time.
Full time – Liverpool 4-1 Chelsea
The final whistle is blown, and so ends another excellent Liverpool performance.
It’s been four more goals for Jurgen Klopp’s team, who go five points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Conor Bradley was the star of the show, scoring his first Liverpool goal and setting up another two for Diogo Jota and Dominik Szoboszlai.
Luis Diaz completed the scoring, but there was no such luck for Darwin Nunez, who became the first player in Premier League history to strike the woodwork four times in one game.
Christopher Nkunku bagged a consolation for a Chelsea side that were second-best throughout.
It’s time for Klopp to head towards the Kop…
Liverpool 4-1 Chelsea
90+3. You’ll Never Walk Alone starts up again as the game enters its final moments.
If Liverpool were to reach the final of every competition they remain in, Jurgen Klopp has 29 games left as manager. He should savour every one.
Liverpool 4-1 Chelsea
90. There will be six minutes of additional time to be played at Anfield.
Enough time for Darwin Nunez to score twice, hit the woodwork three times and headbutt a streaker.
Liverpool 4-1 Chelsea
89. In perhaps the least surprising news of the night, Conor Bradley has been awarded Man of the Match by Ally McCoist.
Liverpool 4-1 Chelsea
87. Casadei is in the thick of the action immediately, crashing into Mac Allister in the middle of the pitch.
There’s no malice in the challenge, but the Liverpool man is certainly feeling the effects and will require treatment.
Liverpool 4-1 Chelsea – Chelsea substitution
85. Here’s another youngster getting some minutes.
Twenty-one-year-old Cesare Casadei is on for Chelsea, taking over from Cole Palmer.
Liverpool 4-1 Chelsea
83. Meanwhile, it has been confirmed by the Opta nerds that Darwin Nunez has become the first ever player to strike the woodwork four times in a single Premier League match.
One day it’s going to click for the chaotic forward and he’s going to end the season with 240 goals.
Liverpool 4-1 Chelsea – Liverpool substitution
81. With the points in the bag, it’s another runout for Liverpool youngster Bobby Clark.
The son of former Fulham and Newcastle star Lee replaced Curtis Jones.
Liverpool 4-1 Chelsea
79. Darwin Nunez may not have got his goal tonight, but he does have an assist to his name – and a fine one at that.
This time Liverpool open up Chelsea down the left, and their maverick striker whips in a peach of a cross between goalkeeper and defence.
At the far post, Luis Diaz takes the gamble in front of Benoit Badiashile to slam home from close range.
It’s the eighth of the season for the Colombian, and this Liverpool forward line are once again showing that they are not reliant on Mo Salah.
A fourth for Liverpool!
Liverpool 3-1 Chelsea
75. Nunez hits the woodwork again!!
This time it’s a thumping header at the back stick that leaves the goal frame shaking.
Astonishing stuff.
Liverpool 3-1 Chelsea
73. Chelsea have impetus and belief, and now they want a penalty!
Out of their four appeals tonight, this is the most convincing as Nkunku goes down on the edge of the box under pressure from Van Dijk.
Paul Tierney says no, and despite replays showing that the Dutch defender went through the Chelsea substitute, VAR John Brooks agrees.
Liverpool 3-1 Chelsea
71. Too little, too late or the start of a magnificent fightback?
Either way, it’s finally something for the Chelsea fans to cheer, and another glimpse of Christopher Nkunku’s immense talent.
The substitute shows off some lovely close control inside the Liverpool penalty area before poking a shot into the bottom corner of Alisson’s goal.
Consolation!
Liverpool 3-0 Chelsea – Liverpool quadruple substitution
68. Bear with me…
Right. On comes Andy Robertson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Harvey Elliott and Cody Gakpo.
Off goes Joe Gomez, Conor Bradley, Dominik Szoboszlai and Diogo Jota.
Note to Premier League managers: stop doing that.
Liverpool 3-0 Chelsea – Chelsea substitution
66. Mauricio Pochettino responds to the latest setback by making his fourth change.
As Anfield celebrates, Moises Caicedo sheepishly departs to be replaced by Carney Chukwuemeka.
Liverpool 3-0 Chelsea
65. If the game wasn’t over before, it is now.
It’s brilliant football from Liverpool in the build-up once again, pulling the Chelsea defence all over the pitch.
Eventually it’s worked to Conor Bradley on the right, who dinks over the perfect cross for Dominik Szoboszlai to thump a header beyond Djordje Petrovic.
It’s Bradley’s second assist of the evening, sandwiching his first Premier League goal, and will surely mean he is named man of the match.
It’s three!
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
