Bradley steals the show as rampant Reds go five clear
Premier League leaders Liverpool restored their five-point advantage with a 4-1 win over Chelsea on a memorable night for youngster Conor Bradley and a typically frustrating one for Darwin Nunez.
With Manchester City beating Burnley 3-1 and Arsenal winning on Tuesday, victoryinthefirstof theirmajordoubleheader–atriptothe Emirates is up next – was imperative but Jurgen Klopp's side could not have expected to have had such a comfortable time.
Goals from Diogo Jota, Bradley – his first for the club – and Dominik Szoboszlai put the game beyond a woeful Chelsea inside 65 minutes but it could have been a rout as Nunez hit the woodwork an incredible four times, once from the penalty spot.
Christopher Nkunku pulled one back for the Blues but there was still time for Nunez to power a header against the crossbar before Luis Diaz slid inthefourthatthefarpostfrom Nunez'scrossaskloppsecured his 200th league victory in 318 matches, faster than any other Liverpool manager.
Thankfullyforliverpoolnunez’s input was not needed as therewasanotherstarperformer in the form of academy graduate Bradley, deputising for Trent Alexander-arnold who was on the bench as he continued to make his comeback from injury.
Bradley, man of the match against Norwich on Sunday, has been directly involved in six goals in his last four appearances and he deservedly departed to a standing ovation when Alexanderarnold eventually took over.
While everything went perfectly for Bradley, Nunez could not catch a break as he was denied three times by Djorde Petrovic, with the goalkeeper tipping two shots onto the crossbar and the post in the first half. Such was the Liverpool striker's luck that when he did send Petrovic the wrong
Conor Bradley, who scored Liverpool’s second, leaps for the ball during his side’s 4-1 win over Chelsea
way from the spot, having taken the ball off Alexis Mac Allister, that same post was to deny him again.
At the Etihad Stadium, Julian Alvarezstrucktwiceanderling Haaland returned to action as Manchester City eased to a 3-1 winoverrelegation-threatened Burnley.
Argentinian World Cup-winner Alvarez, on his 24th birthday, netted twice in the first half and Rodri added a third as the champions went untroubled
untilameenal-dakhilgrabbed a stoppage-time consolation.
City were further cheered by the sight of Haaland returning from injury as a late substitute whilekevindebruynemadehis first league start since August.
Tottenham moved back into the Champions League places after three goals in eight second-half minutes fired them to a chaotic 3-2 win at home to Brentford.
Spurs were sluggish in the first half and trailed to Neal
Maupay’s 15th-minute opener but Ange Postecoglou’s halftime team talk seemingly did the trick.
Destiny Udogie and substitute Brennan Johnson scored within 72 seconds of each other at the start of the second period before Richarlison grabbed hisseventhgoalinhislastseven Premier League games.
There was still time for Ivan Toney to score but Tottenham held on to leapfrog Aston Villa and reclaim fourth spot.
4 the number of times Darwin Nunez hit the woodwork