Jurgen Klopp has rebuilt a formidable Liverpool unit with less time and money than Chelsea spent wasting £1bn on a bunch of people under Todd Boehly. Divergent approaches and rewards collided at Anfield; where 20-year-old homegrown full-back Conor Bradley dispatched Mauricio Pochettino’s outsiders at an exhibition night for the Premier League leaders.
Bradley was inspired, the Kop chanting his name from start to finish as Klopp’s side played their Carabao Cup final opponents a month before their Wembley date. Liverpool are counting the days until we meet again. Chelsea will be afraid of the merger anyway.
Relating to: ‘Better than us in every aspect’: Pochettino bemoans Chelsea’s performance at Anfield
The visitors were furious that referee Paul Tierney had not awarded them two penalties – Liverpool had no complaints about Klopp’s substitution – but the truth was that they had been outplayed, outmaneuvered and outclassed all night.
“They were better than us from the first act,” Pochettino said. “They were better than us in every field.”
Klopp’s faith in the Liverpool squad he will leave behind was once again confirmed with a high-octane, high-quality performance. They refused to give Chelsea time to play with a ruthless press and almost disgraced Djordje Petrovic’s goal on sight. Bradley became the first Northern Irish player to score for the club since Sammy Smyth 70 years ago and took his tally of assists to five in four games. Darwin Núñez hit the target four times, once from a penalty, and had 11 shots without scoring. Chelsea won their first corner in extra time.
Klopp’s decision to keep Bradley as a replacement for the fit-again Trent Alexander-Arnold was another example of his managerial acumen. It was a huge show of belief in the young defender, taking his game beyond the level it reached during the vice-captain’s last absence.
Bradley began a superb night’s work as he prepared the first chance for Núñez, who made it his mission to score from anywhere, but Petrovic read the striker’s attempt.
Petrovic single-handedly kept the first half scoreline semi-respectable. He made another move that was Núñez’s first; Alexis Mac Allister’s quick pass came towards the crossbar and the Uruguayan international shot a shot towards the post with his left foot. He denied Liverpool once again as he collected a daisy cutter from Curtis Jones. But the visiting goalkeeper was badly let down by the defenders as the home team inevitably took the lead.
Ben Chilwell was also at fault for losing the ball poorly to Bradley. The defender exchanged passes with Jones and found Diogo Jota outside the Chelsea area. The striker weaved between non-existent tackles from Thiago Silva and Benoît Badiashile (John Terry watching from away must have been fed up) and curled a finish past Petrovic from close range. The goal was awarded when, following a VAR review for a possible handball from Jota, Silva took a shot against him.
Chelsea’s first penalty appeal was rejected as Conor Gallagher was beaten by Virgil van Dijk’s challenge. There was contact with the Liverpool captain’s arm and knee, but Gallagher went down very easily.
Liverpool extended their lead thanks to the marauding right-back’s first goal for the club. Luis Díaz moved away from Enzo Fernández, causing Bradley to run down the right. The youngster showed excellent composure to slot a low finish past Petrovic and into the far corner. Once again, Anfield’s celebrations were halted as VAR reviewed a possible foul on Jota’s build-up against Chilwell; Chilwell argued that he would otherwise invade Bradley’s space and did not allow the striker to enjoy the moment.
It was supposed to be three before the break. Tierney again ruled in Liverpool’s favor when Badiashile stood on Jota’s foot in the area. The referee did not hesitate to point to the spot but Núñez hit a post from which Petrovic dived in the opposite direction.
Pochettino made his feelings clear about Chelsea’s lull in the first half. The manager made three substitutions at the interval and should have been rewarded immediately when Malo Gusto centered towards fellow player Mykhailo Mudryk. Unmarked and 10 yards out, Mudryk skied high towards the Anfield Road stand.
Bradley’s night went from strength to strength. He made five assists in four games when he received the ball from Van Dijk in midfield and moved away from Badiashile, now moving to left-back in place of Chilwell. At full speed he delivered a perfect cross into the box and Dominik Szoboszlai headed home, over the Chelsea defence.
Christopher Nkunku injected the Chelsea attack with much-needed threat, pulling a goal back as Carney guided Chukwuemeka’s ball into the bottom corner. Additionally, Van Dijk’s penalty request was rejected after he kicked the ball. Núñez hit the goalpost once again with a cross from Andy Robertson and then set up a fourth for Díaz with an inviting cross to the back post. Liverpool are heading into their clash with Arsenal on Sunday.