Blues can’t live with Euro champs but chalked-off Cesar goal is turning point

YOU never get understated celebrations from Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.

But this one was done with real passion and feeling, Klopp thumping his chest and raising clenched fists to the fans.

He knew that this was their toughest fixture so far this season, their hardest examination to date.

Still they came away with a precious victory, maintaining their 100 per cent start with a club record 15th consecutive league win.

VAR played its part with Chelsea thinking they had equalised in 27 minutes through Cesar Azpilicueta following a goalmouth scramble – only for the replays to show Mason Mount’s foot had strayed offside.

Just two minutes later, Klopp’s men rubbed salt in the wound by going 2-0 up as Andy Robertson’s brilliant cross was headed home by Roberto Firmino.

That added to the superb curling strike from Trent Alexander-Arnold but Chelsea came storming back after the interval.

N’Golo Kante pulled one back with a fine finish after a jinking run but the Reds held on, with a lung bursting run by Scotland skipper Robertson in injury time to clear the danger typifying their team spirit.

The win moved Liverpool five points clear of Manchester City again after the champions’ 8-0 thumping of Watford a day earlier.

Klopp watched highlights of that game but he said: “I slept pretty well. We knew the job we faced before that game.

“I really think City are the best team in the world.

“I don’t want to put pressure on Pep but they are brilliant in moments. We are not bad as well, so that’s how it is.”

Frank Lampard became the first Chelsea manager since Bobby Campbell in 1988 to fail to win his first four home games in any competition. This setback followed their Champion League loss to Valencia at the Bridge.

Lampard added: “It’s definitely a concern. We want to win at home.

“Against Liverpool you know that you can lose. They are a strong team and that can happen but I expect the home win to come soon.

“The difference between us and Liverpool is that we have shown clearly today we can compete with them.

“But we are not consistently as good as them and as Manchester City, week in, week out.”