iverpool beat Chelsea 4-1 at Anfield in the Premier League on Wednesday evening. Here are five talking points from the game.
CONOR BRADLEY ARRIVES
There’s no doubt whatsoever that Conor Bradley is an accomplished Premier League player. Every doubt was safely put to bed on Wednesday in what was a Man of the Match performance from the youngster.
Bradley assisted the first for Diogo Jota, though he didn’t exactly do most the work there. But his goal for Liverpool\’s second was fantastic – a finish any player would be proud of, let alone a young right-back.
The third Liverpool goal was mostly down to Bradley, too, as he picked out Dominik Szoboszlai with a fine cross to undo Chelsea. A goal and two assists from right-back against the Blues? Incredible stuff.
Liverpool had to wait to get Bradley involved this season but now that he\’s here, the wait was well worth it.
THE DARWIN NUNEZ SHOW
Darwin Nunez was simultaneously the most dangerous player on the pitch and the most frustrating. But that\’s really just who he is at this point.
The Uruguayan became the first Liverpool player to have 11 shots in the same game since Luis Suarez in 2013. He\’s the first Liverpool player to hit the woodwork at least 10 times in a season since Suarez in 2014. And Nunez is now the first Premier League player to hit the woodwork four times in one game.
Throw in a missed penalty – and no goals – and it would be easy to get incredibly annoyed with Nunez. But then he provides a world-class assist for the fourth and you remember that having a player in the side who can make things happen out of nowhere is a luxury.
If he could finish, it would all be too easy. At least matches are competitive this way.
WERE LIVERPOOL LUCKY?
Chelsea will feel they should have had a couple of penalties here, both from incidents involving Virgil van Dijk. And to be fair, they might have a case. Neither would have been overturned by VAR if Paul Tierney had given them.
At the same time, these weren\’t glaring, unexplainable mistakes. The first was the most arguable – Van Dijk did get his arm across Conor Gallagher and appeared to make contact with his thigh. It would have been a little harsh but Liverpool fans likely would have wanted it going the other way.
The second saw Van Dijk bump the back of Christopher Nkunku’s foot, which sent the Frenchman flying into the air. This one, honestly, didn\’t feel like a penalty. Nkunku wasn\’t upended or stopped or prevented from anything – it was a knock. Compare that to Diogo Jota for the Liverpool penalty, where his foot/ankle was stepped on as he drove through the penalty area.
So the Reds may have had a bit of luck here but not so much that the result wasn\’t a fair one.
CARABO CUP FINAL PREVIEW
Liverpool will face Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final next month, of course. This was a preview of that – and one that will see the Reds go into that game full of confidence.
Especially as this was a performance without Mohamed Salah. Liverpool should be even stronger come the Wembley showdown and if they perform like this, there\’s no question they\’ll secure the first silverware of the season.
TOP OF THE LEAGUE, ARSENAL NEXT
Liverpool remain top of the league by five points over Manchester City, though Pep Guardiola\’s side have a game in hand. Next up are Arsenal in what will be one of the two biggest games remaining this season.
The Reds will feel confidence going into it. They were able to win here without Trent Alexander-Arnold or Andy Robertson starting, while Szoboszlai and Jota were able to go off early.
Arsenal will have an extra day of rest going into it but it shouldn’t provide a dramatic advantage. And if Liverpool can put in a performance as they did tonight, they have a fantastic chance of leaving the Emirates with three points and an enormous title statement.