LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 20: Curtis Jones of Liverpool celebrates scoring his teams second goal with teammate Darwin Nunez during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield on October 20, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Liverpool ended the weekend top of the Premier League after defeating Chelsea 2-1 at Anfield on Sunday evening.
Premier League
Result: Liverpool 1-2 Chelsea
Date: 20 October 2024
Venue: Anfield
The Reds were without first choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker due to injury, with Caoimhin Kelleher getting the start while Andrew Robertson was also recalled to Arne Slot’s starting line-up.
For the Blues, club captain Reece James made his first start of the league season, coming in for Marc Cucurella who was ruled out through suspension while Enzo Fernandez was only named on the bench.
After a lively opening, the visitors went close to taking the lead on 24 minutes when the ball dropped kindly for Cole Palmer in the box, but Curtis Jones popped up with a vital block to save a certain goal.
Three minutes later, the hosts were awarded a penalty for Levi Colwill’s foul on Curtis Jones in the 18-yard area. Mohamed Salah stepped up and slammed home the spot-kick to hand his side the lead.
The Reds thought they had been awarded a second penalty just before the break after Jones went down under the challenge of goalkeeper Robert Sanchez but after a review on the monitor, the referee decided to reverse his initial decision.
Chelsea, however, got back on level terms two minutes after the break when Nicolas Jackson broke free and calmly slotted past Kelleher after being played in Moises Caicedo, with VAR confirming the goal after it was initially called for offside.
The visitors’ joy did not last too long as Salah turned provider to pick out the run of Jones, who controlled before poking the ball beyond the on-rushing Sanchez for his first league goal of the campaign.
Blues coach Enzo Maresca responded with three changes for the final 30 minutes, as Fernandez, Benoit Badiashile and Renato Veiga replaced Romeo Lavia, Tosin Adarabioyo and James.
The visitors had a couple chances to pull themselves level late on, but the likes of Veiga and Christopher Nkunku were unable to capitlise as the Reds held on to move one point clear of second-place Manchester City.
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