Salah and Jones give Liverpool win over Chelsea to return to top

Curtis Jones’ close-range finish proved decisive as Liverpool beat Chelsea 2-1 to return to the summit of the Premier League.

Jones was the star of the show at Anfield on Sunday, and grabbed the goal his performance deserved in the 51st minute.

Liverpool’s winner came just after Nicolas Jackson had restored parity for Chelsea – who had fallen behind to Mohamed Salah’s penalty – with a goal that was initially disallowed for offside before the intervention of VAR.

The technology had come to Chelsea’s rescue in first-half stoppage time, with referee John Brooks changing his decision to award Liverpool a second penalty after Robert Sanchez had clattered into Jones, with the goalkeeper having just got a toe to the ball first.

A scrappy start failed to produce much in the way of goalmouth action until, in the 24th minute, Noni Madueke got the better of Andrew Robertson and teed up Cole Palmer, whose shot was blocked brilliantly by Jones.

Less than a minute later, Salah saw a penalty appeal turned down at the other end following a tussle with Levi Colwill.

But Colwill was not so lucky soon after, as he clumsily lashed out at Jones. Salah slammed home the resulting spot-kick, and he would have had a second chance from 12 yards had referee Brooks not changed his mind on Sanchez’s tackle on Jones in first-half stoppage time.

Chelsea made that good fortune count when Jackson beat Liverpool’s offside trap and slotted in just after the restart – Brooks going to the screen again before awarding that goal.

Parity was short-lived. From Salah’s delicious cross, Jones took an excellent touch before prodding beyond Sanchez.

Chelsea substitute Renato Veiga could have rescued a point deep into stoppage time, only to head over from Palmer’s free-kick, as Arne Slot won his 10th game out of 11 matches in charge of Liverpool across all competitions.

Talking Point – Palmer kept quiet

No Premier League player has contributed to more goals in the competition since the start of last season than Palmer, but Chelsea’s talisman was kept under lock and key this time out.

Deployed as a No. 10, Palmer could not find space unless he drifted wide. He did go close with a dipping attempt in the first half, and provided a teasing cross for Veiga’s chance towards the end, but overall he could just not get going.

While Liverpool can feel they have passed their first true test in the league under Slot, Enzo Maresca’s team will have to bounce back from what was only their second top-flight defeat of the campaign.

Player of the Match – Curtis Jones (Liverpool)

It was a top-tier performance from boyhood Red Jones, who set the tone and tempo at the heart of Liverpool’s midfield.

Not only did he score the winner, but just after making that fantastic block to deny Palmer at one end, he then drew the foul from Colwill at the other, which led to Salah’s opener from the penalty spot.

Of course, Jones also won a second spot-kick, only for VAR to intervene, but it was a display to remember for the Liverpool academy graduate.

Player Ratings

Liverpool: Kelleher 6, Alexander-Arnold 6, Konate 7, Van Dijk 7, Robertson 5, Szoboszlai 6, Gravenberch 6, Jones 9*, Salah 8, Jota 6, Gakpo. Subs: Gomez 6, Diaz 7, Nunez 6, Mac Allister 6.

Chelsea: Sanchez 4, James 6, Tosin 5, Colwill 5, Gusto 6, Lavia 7, Caicedo 7, Madueke 7, Palmer 5, Sancho 5, Jackson 7. Subs: Badiashile 6, Veiga 5, Fernandez 6, Neto 7, Nkunku 6.

Match Highlights

26’ – Penalty to Liverpool! Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea: That will be a spot-kick! Colwill is again involved and this time doesn’t get away with it as he kicks out at Jones. He may have just got a toe to the ball, but he took the player first, and referee Jones points straight to the spot.

29’ – Goal! Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea (Salah): What a penalty! Liverpool’s talisman Salah steps up to take it and, shrugging off Jackson’s efforts to derail his focus, the Egyptian makes no mistake with a brilliant penalty he emphatically lashed into the right-hand side of the net, sending Sanchez the wrong way. It’s 1-0 to Liverpool, and Chelsea might just need to ride out a bit of a storm now…

34 – Post! Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea (Jackson): Jackson leads a Chelsea counter down the right, but from a tight angle, his effort clips off the post as it goes over.

45+2’ – Penalty to Liverpool! Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea: Another one! Liverpool counter rapidly after clearing their lines from that corner, with Nunez finding space 25 yards out and threading a neat ball into Jones. He takes a touch before he is pressured by Sanchez, who appears to scythe down the Liverpool midfielder, and Brooks points to the spot for a second Reds penalty! But wait, there’ll be a VAR check…

45+4’ – No penalty! Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea: Referee Brooks has gone to the screen and, after reviewing the replays, sees that Sanchez got his right shin to the ball first, before Jones went over. It was a clumsy tackle from the Chelsea goalkeeper, but he gets away with it, and he’ll also have that booking rescinded. Chelsea need half-time.

49’ – Goal! Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea (Jackson): That’s it, it’s given! Jackson leads the belated celebrations as the Blues hit back! Liverpool were caught napping at the back by Caicedo, who threaded a brilliant ball between Van Dijk and Konate. Jackson got onto it, set himself and, under pressure from Robertson, slotted beyond Kelleher. It’s all square at Anfield!

51’ – Goal! Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea (Jones): Liverpool are back in front! Salah curls in a sensational cross from the left wing, with Jones having timed his run to perfection. The midfielder gets in behind his marker, takes a fantastic touch and then prods a tidy finish past Sanchez. What a start to the second half!

90+3’ – Miss! Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea (Veiga): Palmer lifts in a brilliant free-kick from the right wing, which is met by Veiga. He got up and free of his marker, but could only send his header over. That’s a big miss, and it might have been Chelsea’s final chance.

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