The Gunners, having completely outplayed the reigning champions and runaway leaders and taken a more than deserved 1-0 lead into half-time, then fell victim to some diabolical officiating that saw, after review, Arsenal concede a dubious penalty then have centre-back Gabriel sent off for two yellow cards, both equally innocuous.
As for today’s game, things got off to a bad start for Liverpool when it was announced that not only would manager Jurgen Klopp miss the game because of a positive Covid test but so would goalkeeper Alisson Becker, centre-half Joel Matip and forward Roberto Firmino.
But it wasn’t in these positions that Liverpool struggled today. It was in midfield, where both James Milner and Jordan Henderson started alongside Fabinho and it was Milner and Henderson who found it hardest to come to terms with their more dynamic and skilful Chelsea opposite numbers.
Still, it was Liverpool, on nine minutes, following some poor defending from Trevoh Chalobah, who scored first, when the Chelsea defender made a hash of a clearance, stooping to clear with his head rather than trusting his left foot, which left Sadio Mané one-on-one with the Chelsea keeper, Eduard Mendy, who he rounded before striking the ball firmly into the back of the net.
Liverpool managed to go two up on 26 minutes with a magnificent goal from Mo Salah, brilliantly found in the Chelsea area by Trent Alexander Arnold, before outpacing and outthinking Marcus Alonso, who didn’t know which way Salah wanted to go, the Egyptian eventually going the direct route then fooling Mendy into thinking he was aiming for the far post before firmly striking the ball the over the Chelsea keeper.
Chelsea continued to play well to get back into the game but Liverpool looked strong at the back and Kelleher was having a commanding game in goal; then Milner, just before half time, on 42 minutes, gave away a crazy free kick, unnecessarily bringing down Kai Havertz a yard outside the box, towards the corner flag, with the German striker losing control of the ball.
Kelleher dealt with the ensuing shot well, punching to the edge of the area, only for Matteo Kovacic to catch the ball superbly on the volley, which ended up beyond the keeper’s reach and in the top corner of his goal.
You would’ve hoped the Reds would’ve been able to hang on with the lead till half time; but in injury time some sloppy defensive play on Liverlpool’s right, Salah, Alexander Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate were all culpable, saw the ball break to Christian Pulicic who finished with aplomb, clipping the ball over Kellerher into the high part of the net.
Chelsea were ascendant in the second half, playing the more structured and composed football, but it was Liverpool who had the better chances, with Mendy pulling off a super save from a forty-yard attempted chip from Salah and another good stop from Mané, when in fact the Liverpool striker should’ve done better.
Kostas Tsimikas, playing his third straight game for the suspended Andy Roberston, also found himself in many good areas only for his final pass to let him down, not able to pick out a Red and having his crosses cut out, which is a surprise since this was the Greek defender’s strong suit in his early games for Liverpool and made many think that his delivery was better than Robertson’s and merited him getting in the side ahead of the Scotland captain.
That’s three games without a win for Liverpool – drawing against Spurs and Chelsea and losing to Leicester – and it was the same time last season that, having gone into Christmas top of the table, that the Reds’ form fell apart and they ended up fighting tooth and nail to get into the top four.
Cup games up for Liverpool next, two against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-final and Shrewsbury in the Third Round of the FA Cup. Mané, Salah, Naby Keita will all be missing at the Africa Cup of Nations. These cup games will be Liverpool’s best chance of silverware this season.
