The defending champions beat the Blues comfortably with help
from a surprise 45 for new signing Thiago.

CHELSEA 0 – 2 LIVERPOOL

Liverpool: Mané 50’, 54’

Pre-Match

We’re back at Stamford Bridge for another edition of are the
Blues still a meaningful rival for the Reds or is that a media
thing? Or alternatively, are Klopp and Lampard really at
war or is that a media thing?

Liverpool’s lineup offers both joys and worries. For the former,
we have a Premier League start for the dynamic Naby Keita, and a
bench appearance for new marquee signing Thiago Alcantara. Yes
that’s right, Thiago’s on the bench. No, I didn’t think it would
happen either. For the latter, it seems that Gomez and Matip sit
this game out, with a knock and muscle issue respectively, per the
club’s announcement. So we have Fabinho at centre-back, which is
not ideal.

Chelsea meanwhile roll out their newly acquired attacking
prowess with Kai Havertz and Timo Werner joining 21-year-old Mason
Mount in the frontline. Will we see a Thiago cameo against his
former Bundesliga rivals from Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig?

First Half

The first half kicks off with a stable press from Liverpool, the
squad looking composed in their passing game. The early minutes see
both teams bringing industrious activity in midfield, though the
ball rarely leaves Chelsea’s half. The tempo of the game is nothing
like last week’s fast and furious match against Leeds, with both
teams seemingly sizing each other up at a deliberate pace.

A few threats posed by Chelsea come from Timo Werner, who does
what Werner does, streaking past defenders with his streaky
breakthroughs. It’s good to see Jordan Henderson match-fit again,
leading the high press.

Wijnaldum has a chance from the center at 11’, but it lacks
force. Firmino is denied a chance he receives from Salah who is out
wide, but it is defended away by Christensen. Around 19’, Werner
receives a ball and heads towards an open goal, 1v1 against
Alisson, but Fabinho catches up and intercepts his pass, kicking
the ball long, and dispelling earlier fears about his misplaced
role at centre-back.

Liverpool continue their strong play, holding most of the
possession and pressing Chelsea well any time they lose the ball
while the Blues set up to counter them. A few times the Blues come
close, usually through new signing Werner, but Liverpool always
manage to get a man in front of the striker, slow him down, and
gather enough reinforcements to fend them off

Then, a major moment. Red for Chelsea. A tackle from the rear in
the form of bear-hug by Christensen brings Mane down at 43’. It’s
red after a VAR check. The resulting free-kick dips just beyond the
top left corner of the goal by Trent, with Kepa barely getting his
fingers on the ball.

As the half winds down, there feels like there’s only been one
side in it for the most part, and that’s the Reds. Yet for all
their possession, their pressing, and their solid build-up play,
they simply haven’t created the chances to match while Chelsea have
set off a few alarm bells on the counter. That red card, though,
could make the difference in the second.

Second Half

The highlight of the second half has been the appearance of
Thiago Alcantara, subbed on for Jordan Henderson in midfield. He
looks confident and right at home in the Premier League on his
debut. He gets involved right away. Soon after, we see a GOAL at
49’- a sublime team sequence involving Salah and Firmino, and
headed in by Mane. The Reds are in control and Chelsea registers
barely any touches. They are punished at 53’ by a glaring error by
Kepa who passes the ball directly to Mane, leading to another
GOAL!

We see Milner subbed on for Keita at 63’, possibly to defend the
2-0 lead, and a Minamino cameo for Firmino. Thiago, however
assured, concedes a soft penalty at 73’ – by brushing up against
Timo Werner in the penalty area – which is saved by Alisson!

Final Thoughts

While the score-line ends at a modest 2-0, this has been a
commanding and assertive performance by the Reds. The midfield
composure brought by Thiago has been palpable. Chelsea’s only
threat has been posed occasionally by Werner’s pace, but the threat
was well handled by Fabinho who looked like a man on a mission.
Shouts for Fabinho for Man Of The Match from this writer, despite
the Sadio Mane brace. One thing we can all agree on however is that
Thiago Alcantara has made his arrival known in the Premier
League.