CHELSEA PAY FOR BLUNDERS
DEADLY MANE PUNISHES BLUES AFTER MISTAKES FROM CHRISTENSEN AND KEPA
SADIO MANE’S brace earned Liverpool a 2-0 victory at Chelsea after Andreas Christensen’s red card and Kepa Arrizabalaga’s howler.
Mane bagged his first league goals at Stamford Bridge as Liverpool pounced on defender Christensen’s dismissal, coasting to the win. Jorginho’s failed penalty twisted the knife for frustrated Chelsea, with the midfielder losing his flawless Blues record of eight successful spot-kicks.
Frank Lampard has spent more than £200million on his summer overhaul but Chelsea’s porous defence still endures.
Kepa cost a world-record £72million for a goalkeeper but has never lived up to that price tag, with this latest error potentially his last in Chelsea colours for some time. He dallied on the ball and paid the ultimate price, as Mane blocked his clearance and tapped home.
Rennes goalkeeper Edouard Mendy is expected to complete his Chelsea move shortly, and competition between the sticks cannot arrive soon enough.
Mane’s opener had come just four minutes earlier, as the 28-year-old leapt to nod home Roberto Firmino’s superb cross.
Chelsea will hope Thiago Silva can firm up their defence once the
Paris Saint-Germain recruit finds match fitness, but this was a chastening loss, even though the red card proved pivotal. Just as a cagey first half looked to be heading for a humdrum conclusion, Mane tore in off the left to collect Jordan Henderson’s superb through ball and caught Christensen napping.
The Dane hauled down the escaping striker, who had the beating of the onrushing Kepa and, eventually, was given his marching orders. Referee Paul Tierney initially dished out a booking but VAR quickly concluded the decision had to be red. This prompted celebrations from some on the Liverpool bench, which did not please Klopp who turned round and said: ‘Are you crazy? We never, ever do that, okay?’ Lampard sacrificed Kai Havertz, bringing on Fikayo Tomori. Thiago Alcantara made his Liverpool debut after Henderson suffered a thigh issue.
The champions wasted precious little time making their extra man count. Chelsea kept battling, with Werner (left) impressing to win a smart penalty. Jorginho’s miss summed up Chelsea’s day, though, with his previously rock-solid technique picked apart by Alisson’s save.