Chelsea vs. Liverpool: Score and Reaction from 2016 Premier League Match

Liverpool continued their fine start to the Premier League season with an excellent 2-1 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Friday. 

Dejan Lovren put the visitors ahead in the 18th minute after some nonexistent Chelsea defending, and there was little the Blues could do about a stunning Jordan Henderson effort to double their advantage before half-time.

Diego Costa halved the deficit just after the hour mark to give the home side a route back into the game, but the Reds were able to see this one out comfortably.

The result pushed Liverpool up to fourth, while Chelsea drop from second to third; Everton are now closest to leaders Manchester City.

Given the principles preached by Chelsea boss Antonio Conte and Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, it was little surprise the match set off at a frantic pace, with Thibaut Courtois nearly fumbling a Daniel Sturridge shot into his goal.

ADRIAN DENNIS/Getty Images

It was a close call the home side didn’t learn from, as Liverpool were one up in the early stages after more uncertain defensive play. Lovren found himself unmarked at the back post from a free-kick and was able to volley the ball home unopposed.

The finish was a fine one from the Croatian, although as Bleacher Report’s Jack Lusby noted, the hosts' defending was shocking:

Nevertheless, it was what the Merseyside outfit deserved, and they continued to move the ball with more conviction than Chelsea following the goal. An animated Conte wasn’t particularly pleased on the sideline, as his players struggled to match the intensity of their rivals.

When the Blues sought to push forward, Liverpool exposed holes on the counter-attack, with a defensive setup including David Luiz, Branislav Ivanovic and Gary Cahill looking far from comfortable.

As half-time approached, Miguel Delaney of ESPN FC was already anticipating some changes from the home side:

They should have come sooner, as Liverpool doubled their advantage in spectacular fashion through Henderson. The Reds captain picked the ball up 25 yards from goal after a poor Cahill clearance and fizzed in a ferocious curling effort, giving his side a commanding 2-0 lead.

ADRIAN DENNIS/Getty Images

As referee Martin Atkinson called time on the half, the visitors could have been out of sight. These numbers from OptaJoe show long-range strikes such as this have become a trademark under Klopp:

Conte made no changes at half-time despite the lackadaisical performance from his players, and the early stages of the second period yielded no drastic changes—until Costa put his stamp on the game.

Clive Rose/Getty Images

The forward owed a huge debt to Nemanja Matic, who wriggled into space on the byline and put in a pinpoint cross. The striker finished first time for his fifth goal of the season, and suddenly Stamford Bridge was abuzz.

Per Sky Sports Statto, while Costa was quiet beforehand, he made his touches count:

Naturally, Chelsea came on strong after the goal. However, with just 15 minutes to go in the game, Liverpool looked to have weathered the storm. Reds forward Divock Origi had an excellent chance to kill the game off, but Courtois stopped his header.

That was the clearest opening of the latter stages, as Liverpool were able to see the game out to seal a deserved three points in the capital.

GLYN KIRK/Getty Images

Having beaten Arsenal, champions Leicester City and a rejuvenated Chelsea team, Liverpool must be considered title contenders, even at this early stage in the campaign. Klopp has made his mark on this group of players, and their vibrant attacking football looks too hot for any side in the division to handle at the moment.

For Conte, this was a wake-up call. His first three games in charge of the Blues went to plan, although the Premier League has bared its teeth in the last couple of contests. Chelsea are on the right track under his guidance, although based on this display, they look a long way behind Klopp’s Liverpool.

Reaction

Reds midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum took to social media quickly after match:

Klopp paid tribute to the efforts of his players. "So often this season Chelsea scored in the last few seconds with a direct style, but I can’t remember too many chances from them," he told Sky Sports (h/t BBC Sport). "We played football like hell. It was really nice to watch."

Meanwhile, Conte lamented the lack of defensive focus from his players and encouraged them to set these bad habits aside.

"The goals we conceded are strange," the Italian said, per the same source. "We must feel the danger, and today we didn't. We have to reflect a lot on this game because it is important to understand the situation if we don't want to repeat another bad season like last season. We don't feel the danger. Never."