Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea: Player ratings as Reds reclaim top spot

Liverpool reclaimed top spot in the Premier League as they claimed a hard-fought 2-1 win over Chelsea at Anfield.

The Reds took the lead through a first half Mohamed Salah penalty but were pegged back early in the second by Nicolas Jackson.

However, they quickly restored their advantage thanks to Curtis Jones and held out under pressure to secure an important three points.

How the game unfolded

Chelsea's chances almost received a decisive early blow when Tosin Adarabioyo dragged down Diogo Jota as the last man, but escaped a red card thanks to Levi Colwill's proximity on the cover.

The visiting fans' hearts were in their mouths again moments later as a Robert Sanchez pass was intercepted by Cody Gakpo but bounced fortuitously back into the grateful goalkeeper's hands.

To their credit, Chelsea responded well after a slow start, and only a desperate Curtis Jones block prevented Cole Palmer from getting a shot off in the area.

The Scouse midfielder then played a crucial role at the other end, forcing Colwill into a clumsy challenge that secured a penalty for Salah to convert.

Liverpool thought they had another spot-kick late in the half only for a VAR review to show Sanchez getting an important touch on the ball before upending Jones.

And Chelsea went into the break threatening again, their best effort seeing Palmer shoot just over inside the 18-yard box.

If late opportunity served as a warning, then Liverpool did not heed it, with the visitors getting back on terms almost immediately after the restart.

An offside call had originally been signalled after Jackson coolly slotted home one-on-one, but a VAR intervention ensured the goal stood.

Unfortunately for Chelsea, they were level for just three minutes, with Jones catching the Chelsea defence sleeping to latch onto a Salah dink in behind before poking the ball home.

From there, the visitors continued to dominate possession, but Liverpool's doggedness was preventing them from doing much with it.

Arguably the closest they came was when Renato Veiga headed a free-kick over just inside the box, ensuring his side came away with nothing from an impressive performance on the road.

FCIQ

The decision to draft in Curtis Jones for the not-fully-fit Alexis Mac Allister proved to be the difference between the two sides on Sunday.

The Scouse midfielder provided the Reds with cutting edge in the final third - winning a penalty and scoring the winning goal - and also worked his socks off in the defensive third too - making a stunning block to deny Cole Palmer what looked like a certain goal in the first half.

Jones' ability to keep Palmer quiet was perhaps the main reason why Liverpool ran out winners.

Liverpool player ratings (4-2-3-1)

GK: Caoimhin Kelleher - 6/10 - Liverpool restricted the amount of shots the Irishman had to face and he was generally strong in his handling and use of the ball.

RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold - 7/10 - Nowhere near as influential as usual on the ball but this was an outstanding defensive performance from a player who rarely gets credit for that part of his game.

CB: Ibrahima Konate - 6/10 - A little shakier than his centre-half partner, as evidenced by the rash foul that saw him earn a yellow card.

CB: Virgil van Dijk - 7/10 - Won every battle when Chelsea's attackers dared come near him and kept Liverpool solid throughout.

LB: Andy Robertson - 6/10 - Looked in for a tough afternoon when Madueke skinned him early doors but battled back to put on a solid showing.

DM: Ryan Gravenberch - 6/10 - Did not reach the heights of his excellent recent performances but grew into things and was important in keeping the ball late on.

DM: Curtis Jones - 8/10 - Liverpool's most influential midfielder on both sides of the ball by far and took his goal brilliantly.

AM: Dominik Szoboszlai - 6/10 - An up and down performance from the Hungarian, who worked hard but was let down by his decision-making on occasion.

RW: Mohamed Salah - 7/10 - Scored his penalty and set up Jones for the winner with a fabulous ball. He always delivers against Chelsea.

ST: Diogo Jota - 6/10 - Look a real menace in the early stages, forcing Tosin into a foul that could have seen him sent off, but was forced off by injury after half an hour.

LW: Cody Gakpo - 5/10 - Failed to make the most of potential rustiness from James and was a peripheral figure before being hooked just after the hour.

Substitutes

SUB: Darwin Nunez (30 for Jota) - 7/10 - Gave Liverpool the outlet they needed after replacing Jota early in the game.

SUB: Luis Diaz (65 for Gakpo) - 6/10

SUB: Alexis Mac Allister (81 for Jones) - 6/10

SUB: Joe Gomez (81 for Alexander-Arnold) - 7/10

Subs not used: Vitezslav Jaros, Wataru Endo, Jarell Quansah, Kostas Tsimikas, Tyler Morton.

Manager

Arne Slot - 7/10 - Won't want to see his team suffer out of possession as much as that, but they are certainly strong defensively on his watch.

Chelsea player ratings (4-2-3-1)

GK: Robert Sanchez - 5/10 - Fortunate to get away with a number of poor passes out from the back and could perhaps have been quicker out to Jones for the winner.

RB: Reece James - 6/10 - Looked surprisingly sharp on his first start in some time, keeping Gakpo quiet and using the ball well.

CB: Tosin Adarabioyo - 5/10 - Saved from a red card early doors by Colwill's positioning and the subject of a rare centre-back substitution in the second half.

CB: Levi Colwill - 5/10 - Could have few complaints about the penalty and never really looked comfortable.

LB: Malo Gusto - 7/10 - Liverpool never got to grips with him popping up in midfield and he was a key factor in Chelsea controlling the game.

DM: Moises Caicedo - 7/10 - Grabbed an assist and won many of his battles - showed Liverpool what they missed in failing to sign him.

DM: Romeo Lavia - 7/10 - A solid presence in midfield, winning his duels and barely giving the ball away as Chelsea dominated the centre of the park.

AM: Cole Palmer - 5/10 - Nowhere near his best, with Liverpool's midfielders doing an excellent job in shutting him down.

RW: Noni Madueke - 6/10 - Had the beating of Robertson in the first half but faded in the second before being replaced.

ST: Nicolas Jackson - 7/10 - Took his goal well and was always a handful, often turning punts upfield into more.

LW: Jadon Sancho - 5/10 - Stuck to the unusual task of man-marking Alexander-Arnold but didn't do enough to threaten the defender in possession.

Substitutes

SUB: Pedro Neto (46 for Sancho) - 6/10 - Looked threatening when he came on but perhaps didn't do enough with it.

SUB: Renato Veiga (53 for James) - 7/10 - Helped Chelsea continue outnumbering Liverpool in the middle.

SUB: Benoit Badiashile (53 for Tosin) - 6/10

SUB: Endo Fernandez (53 for Lavia) - 6/10

SUB: Christopher Nkunku (76 for Madueke) - 6/10

Subs not used: Marcus Bettinelli, Axel Disasi, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Joao Felix.

Manager

Enzo Maresca - 7/10 - Got things spot on in terms of ensuring Chelsea were set up to control the game, but could he have found a way to produce more cutting edge?

Player of the match: Curtis Jones (Liverpool)

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