Unless you saw Mauricio Pochettino’s pale face before the half-time whistle, the Chelsea manager’s decision to bring on three substitutes at the start of the second half spoke volumes about his assessment of the first 45 minutes. There’s no denying that Liverpool were well in front and could easily have gone 3-0 up at half-time when Darwin Nunez set a new Premier League record with an incredible four goals.
Liverpool, who beat Bournemouth 4-0 in their last league game, once again showed their confidence and authority by mercilessly beating Chelsea 4-1. It was a great result as it not only helped Liverpool maintain their lead at the top of the league but also gave them a huge confidence boost ahead of the League Cup final against Chelsea on 25 February.But the spotlight of the evening really belonged to Conor Bradley. The 20-year-old Northern Ireland international was honored once again and put on a masterclass that will be remembered for a long time.
Bradley, who made his name with a stunning goal and two assists in just his second Premier League appearance, left the pitch to a standing ovation after humiliating Chelsea. His name echoed around Anfield, proof that he received the recognition he deserved on this important journey. Jurgen Klopp’s wise decision to keep Bradley on the pitch instead of bringing back Trent Alexander-Arnold was an example of his leadership skills. It was a sign of confidence for the young defender to surpass the heights he had previously achieved.
Bradley started his special night by creating the first opportunity for Nunez, but Djorje Petrovic waited for a lob attempt. But the Chelsea keeper was left frustrated by his central defense and the hosts took the lead. Ben Chilwell was particularly responsible for failing to take the ball away from Bradley. The defender quickly exchanged passes with Jones and found Diogo Jota, who showed great tenacity to break through the defensive line for a smart finish just beyond Petrovic’s reach.
Bradley’s party continued to thrive as he was rewarded for his recent incredible performance. He broke into the penalty area from the right and fired a powerful shot into the far corner, giving him a deserved goal. Bradley’s influence did not end there. He extended his impressive tally to five assists in four appearances, with a perfect cross into the penalty area leaving Benoit Badiachile. Dominic Szoboszlai skipped past the Chelsea defense to head the ball home.
Christopher Nkunku score the visitors’ goal but Luis Diaz sealed the deal with a late shot from close range.
Bradley eventually made history by becoming the first Northern Irishman to score for Liverpool in 70 years and the youngest player to provide two assists in a single league game. Bradley’s influence cannot be understated, having provided four assists in as many games for Liverpool, including two in the recent FA Cup win over Norwich. Against Chelsea, the dynamic right-back showed his incredible talent with seven wins, three tackles, two accurate cuts and four key passes.
His performances reflected not only Liverpool’s promising future but also their exciting present.In contrast, Chelsea looked very weak, being completely outplayed, especially in the first half. This poor performance calls into question Pochettino’s ability to turn around a struggling team.
The chances of victory at Anfield looked slim from the start, but Chelsea had several penalty shoot-out decisions at their disadvantage which could have made the game even more tense. Their penalty appeal was initially disallowed when Conor Gallagher went down in the box under pressure from Virgil van Dijk. Van Dijk later appeared to make contact with Nkunku in the penalty area, but the call was again overruled. Nkunku’s goal gave the visitors a rare positive moment on his return from injury, but they were ultimately left to testify.
