Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea (Oct 20, 2024) Match analysis

Curtis Jones scored the winning goal for Liverpool in a 2-1 win over Chelsea at Anfield, keeping Arne Slot's side top of the Premier League on Sunday.

The 23-year-old's first goal since January made the difference in a tight battle as Liverpool won for the tenth time in 11 games in all competitions under new coach Slot.

Mohamed Salah's 29th-minute penalty gave the hosts the lead against the run of play, but Chelsea equalized after the break when Nicolas Jackson was played through and scored.

It didn't take long for Chelsea to equalize, however, as Jones parried away a low cross from Salah and beat visiting goalkeeper Robert Sánchez from close range.

It was never comfortable for Liverpool to play against a Chelsea side who came close to equalizing several times in strong finishes and ended up with more shots on goal.

But Slot's side have put in a lot of effort to pass their biggest test in the Premier League so far this season.

They have 21 points from eight games, one more than second-placed Manchester City, who previously beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1. Chelsea remained in sixth place with 14 points.

Liverpool's transition into a new era under Jurgen Klopp's successor Slot appears to have been seamless, but the visit of Enzo Maresca's dynamic Chelsea team was the first in a vicious series of games that continues next weekend at Arsenal.

They were under pressure for a long time and Chelsea will regret not taking a point with them to London.

Maresca's side showed their intent with ambitious play from the start and Jones did brilliantly to keep out Cole Palmer's shot when he looked favorite to score.

But Liverpool took the lead when Jones was brought down in the penalty area by Levi Colwill and Salah converted the penalty.

Just before half-time, Liverpool were awarded another penalty after Sanchez clumsily knocked Jones to the ground, although a VAR review showed the goalkeeper had first made contact with the ball.

Palmer fired over Chelsea in first-half stoppage time, but the visitors were rewarded three minutes after the break when Moisés Caicedo's pass sent Jackson away and he pushed the ball past Caoimhín Kelleher, only to be ruled offside before a VAR Check Ibrahima Konaté's outstretched leg showed he had played on.

However, Chelsea were forced to switch off when the outstanding Jones restored Liverpool's lead three minutes later.