Liverpool and Chelsea last Sunday was the headline game of match week 8 of the Premier League season, where Liverpool managed to edge out Chelsea 2-1. While the two clubs are some of the biggest in the world, they are both undergoing their respective transition periods. New manager Arne Slot has gotten off to a flying start at Liverpool, while Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea have shown positive signs, there are still kinks to be ironed out. Here are five things we learned from this game.
5. Chelsea are almost there, but they must be patient
Chelsea had four more shots than Liverpool the entire game (12 to 8) but had a considerably lower xG (expected goals) rate (0.93 to Liverpool’s 1.63). This suggests that while Chelsea managed to create chances and find space for shots, the chances themselves were mostly lower quality. This could be thanks to Arne Slot’s tactical setup, which aimed to nullify the likes of Cole Palmer and emphasized a more defensive style. This is perhaps antithesis to how Liverpool typically played under Jurgen Klopp, who preferred a more “heavy metal” and open game — especially at fortress Anfield.
However, this tactical plan did not come without flaws. Chelsea was able to find a considerable amount of space in the midfield in the first half which forced Slot to drop attacking midfielder Dominik Szobozslai back further to reinforce the midfield — which led to a lot of Chelsea’s chances — albeit poor chances overall.
4. Now is the time for Curtis Jones to establish himself
Curtis Jones has been a Liverpool player for a long time. Granted, he is still just twenty-three years old and has been a fringe first-team member since his debut at age 18 and had to battle injuries in the past. An Alexis Mac Allister injury meant that Jones was instead picked to start vs. Chelsea — and he did not disappoint. The Liverpool-born man was named Man of the Match, scored a goal, and won the penalty that Mohamed Salah cooly converted which ultimately allowed Liverpool to win the three points.
Ryan Gravenberch has taken most of the plaudits for Liverpool’s midfield this season, and rightly so. He has been nothing short of a revelation since Slot’s arrival and seems like a different player altogether. If Jones, Mac Allister, and Gravenberch can all stay fit this season, then Liverpool will have an incredibly formidable midfield for opponents to break down.
3. Another season, another VAR controversy
Since the introduction of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), there have been never-ending controversies and disputes due to its usage. This match was no different. It only took six minutes when Liverpool player Diogo Jota was brought down by Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo near the halfway line. Tosin was the last man on defense, technically meaning that the Chelsea defender was subject to a red card. Referee John Brooks elected to show a yellow card, which raised questions of inconsistency considering Arsenal defender William Saliba received a red card from a nearly identical passage of play the day prior.
After the match, Slot said: “The fans were really important for us. I don’t know if this is something people say in England but they said at my former club, which was also an impressive stadium, that ‘yeah, the referees are a bit impressed by the crowd and that’s why you get the easy decisions in your favor,’ said the Dutchman.
“But today showed no matter how loud the fans were, the referee just wanted to show that he was able not to give the decisions he had to make. So it didn’t help us with the referee but it definitely helped our players because they had to work so hard” he said.
Chelsea had a genuine appeal themselves. In the 21st minute, Trent Alexander-Arnold appeared to stomp on Jadon Sancho’s boot in the penalty area. VAR deemed the action legal, and no penalty was awarded.
“The only thing I can say is the referee is there to make decisions. Sometimes they are right, sometimes they are wrong. Sometimes it is because of the [crowd] noise, but overall I think they did OK.” said Maresca.
2. Caicedo is blossoming into the player Chelsea thought he was
The drama ensuing behind Caicedo’s transfer last season, where he transferred from Brighton to Chelsea for £115 million — a British transfer record — may have understandably played a role in his delayed impact at Stamford Bridge. He infamously rejected Liverpool after the club had a bid accepted by Brighton last summer, only for Caicedo to choose Chelsea. While fans have (rightly) been busy giving credit to Cole Palmer and Nicholas Jackson, Caicedo has quietly been one of Chelsea’s best players. His darting runs from the midfield and providing passes to his teammates such as Jackson have been invaluable for the Blues so far this season, and we can see the Ecuadorian continuing to progress at the club.
1. Liverpool are title contenders
Liverpool have finally passed their long-awaited “big test” of the Arne Slot era by defeating Chelsea, mostly playing against lower-table teams (outside of Manchester United at Old Trafford and AC Milan at San Siro — hardly easy tests). Now, Liverpool remains on top of the league, with only three goals conceded. Is this Liverpool side for real? It seems most of the media is shying away from calling them title contenders, instead electing Man City or Arsenal to take the crown. While it is understandable to want to give Arne Slot a little time before judging his Liverpool team, it’s hard to imagine them not being in the title discussion next May barring an epic capitulation. Arne Slot appears to be much more tactically aware than Klopp was, who is willing to play into the occasion and employed defensive tactics to stop Chelsea. Whereas under Klopp, it felt as if he would simply look to outscore and outpress their opponents into submission.
