Mane punishes blunders as Chelsea self-destruct
● Crazy red card and Arrizabalaga’s howler give boss Lampard the blues
Sadio Mane’s brace sealed Liverpool’s 2- 0 Premier League victory at Chelsea after Andreas Christensen’s “crazy” 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 and even handing a secondhalf debut to new signing Thiago Alcantara.
J or gin ho’ s failed penalty twisted the knife for manager Frank Lampard’s side, the Italy midfielder losing his flawless Blues record of eight successful spot-kicks.
Kepa, inset, commanded a world-record £72 million fee for a goalkeeper in 2018 but has never lived up to that price tag, this latest error potentially his last in Chelsea colours for some time.
The 25- year-old dallied inexplicably on the ball under grave pressure from Mane and paid the ultimate price, as the Liverpool forward blocked his clearance and tapped into the empty net.
Mane’s opener had arrived only four minutes earlier, the 28- year-old nod ding home Roberto Firmino’s fine cross.
Chelsea had threatened several times for the bulk of an engaging first half, but then Christensen’ s fully-deserved red card changed the game.
The Denmark international rugby tackled the goalbound Mane, just as he was bracing to chip a stranded Kepa.
A stunned J ur gen K lo pp turned to his Liverpool replacements and offered an immediate assessment of Christensen’ s agricultural challenge, bellowing: “Are you crazy? We never, ever do that, OK?” Chelsea’s robust midfield of N’golo Kante, Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic offered much-needed solidity and shape, w hi leKaiHavertz ghosted around the central areas to allow Timo Werner to cut in from the left.
Werner received a major reprieve when dragging wide with the goal at his mercy, the offside flag lifting his embarrassment.
Mohamed Sal ah drilled a smart low ball right across the face of goal as Liverpool threatened to o, but with no team-mates driving into the six-yard box the chance went begging.
Kovacic’s lofted pass begged for a finish, but Mason Mount could not reach the teasing chipped ball, and the opportunity vanished.
Just as a cagey half looked to be heading for a humdrum conclusion though, Mane tore in off the left and caught Christensen napping. He hauled down the escaping Mane, who had the beating of the onrushing Kepa and, eventually, was given his marching orders.
Referee Paul Tierney initially dished out a booking, but a VAR check quickly concluded the only decision, that Christensen had to go.
Thiago made his Liverpool debut after Jordan Henderson suffered a thigh issue and Liverpool wasted little time making their extra man count after the break, with Mane heading in after a neat exchange between Firmino and Salah.
Then cameKepa’ s latest
Blues aberration, leaving Mane to add a second.
Chelsea kept battling even though the game was gone, Werner impressing to win a smart penalty. J or gin ho’ s miss summed up Chelsea’ s day though, his previously solid spot-kick technique picked apart by Alisson’s fine save. CHELSEA: Arrizabalaga, James, Christensen, Zouma, Alonso, Kanté, Jorginho (Barkley, 79), Kovacic (Abraham, 79), Mount, Havertz (Tomori, 45), Werner. Subs not used: Caballero, Giroud, Hudson-odoi, Azpilicueta.
LIVERPOOL: Alisson, Alexander-arnold, Fabinho, van Dijk, Robertson, Keita (Milner, 64), Henderson (Thiago Alcántara, 45), Wijnaldum, Salah, Firmino (Minamino, 86), Mané. Subs not used: Adrián, Jones, Tsimikas, Origi.