Chelsea vs. Liverpool: Winners and Losers from Premier League
Liverpool recorded their first Premier League victory under Jurgen Klopp on Saturday, soundly defeating Chelsea 3-1 at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues started superbly and took the lead via a Ramires header, but Philippe Coutinho drew the visitors level on the stroke of half-time with a wicked, curling effort.
The second period was all Liverpool, and Coutinho's second gave them a deserved lead, before Christian Benteke wrapped it up with a third.
Here, B/R picks its winners and losers from the game.
Winner: Philippe Coutinho, Liverpool
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Philippe Coutinho’s had a slightly iffy start to this season, but on Saturday, he played the role of hero. Two fantastic goals made the difference in a tight, nervy match against the reigning champions.
The truth is he was having another average game until he curled a delicious effort into the top corner on the stroke of half-time, and in the second period, he guided one home with his other foot after a good Christian Benteke knockdown.
It’s been the story of Coutinho’s season: subdued showings pierced by wonder goals.
Loser: John Terry, Chelsea
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Oh, how the mighty have fallen. John Terry, the consensus best centre-back in the Premier League last season, has fallen off the form cliff this season and continues to plummet toward the rocks.
On the stroke of half-time, Terry did something he’s rarely done in his career: He fell for a dummy, allowing Philippe Coutinho to cut inside and bend a lovely finish into the top corner. He bit so aggressively on the fake that it allowed the Brazilian all the space in the world to line up the finish.
In the second half, he flailed as Coutinho twisted and turned his way to a second, and he couldn’t keep up with Benteke for the third. It's the sad confirmation of the winding down of a great's career.
Winner: Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool
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Tactically speaking, Jurgen Klopp enjoyed a strong Saturday afternoon. For a little while, it seemed as though the game plan was wrong—all balls were funnelled toward Nathaniel Clyne and James Milner on the right to cross into the box, despite having no target man to cross to—but the deliveries were so good they caused chaos regardless.
Utilising Roberto Firmino in a withdrawn striker’s role eventually paid dividends, with his clever movement drawing defenders away from their zones and eventually handing Philippe Coutinho the chance to curl home Liverpool’s first.
In the second half, Klopp withdrew a lacklustre James Milner and replaced him with Christian Benteke, giving the Reds the focal point that helped create the second goal and stuff away the third.
Loser: Mark Clattenburg
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Mark Clattenburg is arguably the Premier League’s best referee, but even the best have off-days. At Stamford Bridge on Saturday, he made a few strange decisions that Chelsea fans in particular might feel aggrieved with.
Lucas Leiva managed three fouls in eight minutes but somehow avoided a booking, Emre Can escaped punishment despite cleaning Willian out in the corner, and the goal Liverpool scored was beyond the allotted two additional minutes at the end of the first half.
The claim that Clattenburg should have blown for half-time before Coutinho scored is perhaps a little weak given Asmir Begovic took 30 seconds to take a free-kick after an offside, but the fact Lucas stayed on the pitch for 90 minutes is astonishing.
The referee passed up two opportunities to rightly send the Brazilian off. "A bottle-job from Mark Clattenburg," ESPN FC's Miguel Delaney described it on Twitter.
Loser: Jose Mourinho, Chelsea
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Our final loser simply has to be Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who will see the pressure he's under ramped up yet another notch.
The Portuguese told BBC Sport that he was "not worried" about job security less than 24 hours ago—despite the fact that widespread reports suggested that should he lose to Liverpool, it would be curtains.
Having watched his side thoroughly outplayed on the way to a third home loss already this campaign, he'd be wise to start worrying now. Unfortunately, his bizarre post-match interview antics continued; he replied to every question BT Sport asked him with "I have nothing to say," per the Telegraph.
