Liverpool delivered their best performance of the season as they romped to a 4-1 victory over Chelsea and regained a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.
A first Reds goal for Conor Bradley – as well as two assists – along with strikes from Diogo Jota, Dominik Szoboszlai and Luis Diaz sent an emphatic message to Arsenal and Manchester City that they’ll be difficult to usurp from the summit. In truth, Jurgen Klopp’s side’s triumph could have been more emphatic – with Nunez hitting the woodwork four times including a missed penalty.
Liverpool were imperious in the first half, with Nunez going close on three occasions including a shot saved onto the post by Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic.
It appeared only a matter of time before the Reds opened the scoring – and indeed they did in the 23rd minute when Jota wriggled himself into the box before finishing with aplomb.
Curtis Jones then forced a good save out of Petrovic before Liverpool doubled their tally on 39 minutes. Bradley was set free down the right flank and he arrowed a shot into the far corner from an acute angle to net his maiden Reds goal.
And in the 45th minute, Klopp’s troops had a gilt-edged opportunity to put the game to rest. Jota was trodden on inside the box by Benoit Badiashile, with referee Paul Tierney pointing to the penalty spot. Nunez stepped up and sent Petrovic the wrong way but his shot cannoned off the post and Chelsea cleared the danger.
Chelsea spurned a golden opening when Mykhailo Mudryk blazed over six minutes into the second half before Liverpool reasserted their dominance. They scored their third goal on 65 minutes when that man Bradley fizzed in a cross that picked out Szoboszlai to glance beyond Petrovic.
The Londoners gave themselves a lifeline Christopher Nkunku reduced the arrears in the 71st minute. But Liverpool’s three-goal lead was restored when Nunez crossed for Diaz to finish from close range.
