EFE.- The <a href="https://www.archysport.com/2022/01/tottenham-chelsea-0-1-emergency-doctor-use-in-the-final-antonio-rudiger-with-back-goal-football/" title="Tottenham – Chelsea 0: 1: emergency doctor use in the final, Antonio Rüdiger with back goal – football”>Liverpool remained at the top of the Premier League after surpassing the Chelsea (2-1), defeated by the ‘Curtis Jones effect‘, a key agitator of a match in which he prevented a goal from Cole Palmer, caused a penalty that Mohamed Salah converted and scored the winning goal with which his team added three key points in the fight for the title.
Jones was present in almost all the important actions of the crash. His contributions were decisive in boosting Liverpool, which responded to the victory over Manchester City at the Wolves stadium (1-2).
The three points that the men led by Pep Guardiola achieved forced the ‘Reds’ to add a victory to stay in first place; and Arsenal’s defeat this Saturday in their visit to Bournemouth (2-0) gave Chelsea an option to climb to third position.
For this reason, the duel between two of the ‘Big Six’ of the tournament had a certain significance despite still being in the eighth day of the tournament.
And, although the points remained at Anfield, Liverpool had to work hard to put an end to the resistance of a team that arrived at the event in great form, perhaps in its best moment in a long time, with Enzo Maresca and Cole Palmer in full effervescence.
Both were chosen best coach and best player of the month of September, respectively, and the London team had accumulated seven official matches without losing, with resounding victories in stadiums such as Wolves (2-6) or West Ham (0-3).
Something has changed in a team that was depressed last season but with renewed hopes in the current one. His scoring efficiency, 16 goals in the Premier League, contrasted with Liverpool’s defensive security, which has only conceded a couple of goals in the early stages of the League.
Coach Arne Slot has reasons to be satisfied and that is why he trusted almost all the pieces that triumphed last day. He only made two changes: Andy Robertson came on at left back for Kostas Tsimikas and Dominik Szoboszlai replaced Alexis Mac Allister in midfield.
Maresca was able to give honors to his captain, Reece James, who appeared for the first time in a lineup since August, when he started in a friendly against Real Madrid.
Recovered from his injury, he left the right back to form part of a line of three centre-backs with Noni Madueke as a long back on one side and Malo Gusto, with Marc Cucurella suspended, appeared on the other. In the center of the field he surprised with Roméo Lavia, who sat Enzo Fernández on the bench.
The Belgian pleased in his second start of the season. He is not as good a distributor as the Argentine, but he has the gestures of a brave midfielder. It accelerates well upwards and is a good driver to leave in a few seconds breaking lines.
Precisely, it was Jones who emerged as Liverpool’s great protagonist. Not only did he rescue his team by risking his neck to avoid a possible goal from Palmer, but he also caused the only goal of the opening act, the work of Mohamed Salah from the penalty spot. He was knocked down inside the area by Levi Colwill and the Egyptian, with a sharp and precise left foot shot, did not miss from eleven meters.
Anfield did not have too much fun with his team, but applauded their excellent solvency. He hardly suffered, at least during the initial 45 minutes, in which he was also able to increase his advantage with a goal disallowed for Cody Gakpo due to Salah’s previous offside and with another action by Jones, who touched another penalty after falling inside the area knocked down by Robert Sánchez. The referee, John Brooks, signaled the maximum penalty, but the VAR was warned to correct his decision.
The 1-0, perhaps excessive for Liverpool, was annulled by Chelsea as soon as they left the locker room. Nico Jackson, who in the first half already hit the post after teaming up with Moisés Caicedo, reached an understanding with the Ecuadorian again to tie the duel in a one-on-one match against Caoimhín Kelleher. The former Villarreal player celebrated his goal in style, but his joy barely lasted three minutes, which took Jones to appear again to finish off Salah’s cross into the net.
Chelsea, with just over half an hour left to retain a point, were unable to create any chances. And Jones, substituted at the end and applauded by Anfield, took all the glory with an outstanding performance.
