Liverpool are red hot
EPL: SALAH NOT MISSED AS BRADLEY STEALS THE SHOW IN CHELSEA ROUT
Liverpool remain on course to send Juergen Klopp off as a Premier League winner after Chelsea were thrashed 4-1 at Anfield on Wednesday. Conor Bradley was the star of the show as the 20-year-old rightback scored and teed up goals for Diogo Jota and Dominik Szoboszlai.
Christopher Nkunku reduced Chelsea’s arrears, but Luis Diaz rounded off the scoring and a thrilling Liverpool performance.
Indeed, the scoreline flattered the visitors as Darwin Nunez hit the woodwork four times, including from the penalty spot in the first-half.
“We could have scored and should have scored more goals. You cannot score five, six goals against Chelsea if you are not outstanding,” said Klopp.
Victory restores a five-point lead at the top of the table for Klopp’s men over Manchester City, who have a game in hand, and Arsenal. The Gunners face Liverpool on Sunday.
Klopp had called for the news of his impending departure at the end of the season not to be a distraction and on this evidence it may only provide more inspiration for his side to deliver just a second league title in 34 years.
Once again the injured Mohamed Salah was not missed as Jota and Nunez provided a constant threat, while Bradley’s emergence is blocking Trent Alexander-Arnold’s return to the starting line-up.
Nunez had five shots inside the first 18 minutes as a combination of Djordje Petrovic and the woodwork on two occasions kept the Uruguayan at bay.
Nunez’s frustrating night went on as he then headed against the crossbar to become the first Premier League player to hit the woodwork four times in a match.
Jota was not so forgiving when he carved through the heart of the Chelsea defence to slam home on 23 minutes.
Bradley has been a revelation since a knee injury to Alexander-Arnold opened his path to the first team.
The Northern Irishman produced a finish that Alexander-Arnold would have been proud of as he burst down the right and fired low and hard into the far corner to double Liverpool’s lead.
“What a wonderful kid he is. Outstanding finish, the whole game, the contribution, the involvement,” said Klopp of Bradley.
“I’m really happy for him. He’s a very serious young man and that was pretty special I have to say.”
Defeat leaves Chelsea still down in 10th and now 20 points adrift of Liverpool.
Mauricio Pochettino admitted his side need to be much better to stand any chance when the sides meet again in the League Cup final on 25 February.
“We didn’t perform the way we wanted to perform. They were better than us during 90 minutes.
“You have to say ‘well done to Liverpool’. “–