Reds rule over the Blues
Written By: Robert Halter
Liverpool looked to stop a run of eight games without a win over Chelsea in all competitions and get their first victory for the Reds new manager, Jurgen Klopp and put more pressure on under fire Chelsea boss, Jose Mourinho, in an early afternoon encounter end of October, as the Blues sat in an uncustomary position of fifteenth in the Premier League table. But Chelsea got off the mark in the opening four minutes, when Cesar Azpilicueta, went past James Milner on the left side and his ball in was met by a powerful header from Ramires that sailed past Simon Mignolet, into the bottom left corner. But in the fifteenth minute, Nathaniel Clyne’s right footed shot from the centre of the box missed to the left, after Adam Lallana had created an opportunity for the Reds right back and Liverpool threatened again four minutes later when Lallana had his left footed shot from the left side of the box saved by the Blues keeper, Asmir Begovic. On twenty six minutes, Lallana had another shot kept out by Begovic, after his strike from the centre of the area was saved to the top middle of the goal following a cross by Milner. Then on thirty seven minutes, a header by Lucas Leiva was saved by Begovic from another Milner cross. But in the third minute of stoppage time during the first half, Liverpool got their just rewards, when Roberto Firmino gave the ball to Philippe Coutinho, who struck a decisive equaliser with a curling strike from long distance that bent into the bottom left corner. On fifty six minutes, Firmino went close with an effort but missed to the left of the goal, after Coutinho returned the favour with an assist. Chelsea made the first change by replacing Eden Hazard with Kenedy and on the hour, Kenedy had a chance but his right footed shot went left of the target, after Diego Costa created the opening. Three minutes later, Lallana also miss timed a strike to the left of the goal, before the Reds brought on Christian Benteke for Milner and the Blues soon replaced John Obi Mikel with Cesc Fabregas. But a spectacular dipping shot from over thirty five yards out by Osacar, produced an important save from Simon Mignolet at a crucial stage of the game in the seventy first minute. The match then turned the way of Liverpool, as they went ahead three minutes later, as Benteke’s headed pass found Coutinho, whose strike deflected off the chest of Chelsea captain, John Terry, into the top right side of the goal. The Reds then changed Firmino with Jordon Ibe and the Blues brought on Falcao for Azpilicueta. Liverpool kept up the pressure on seventy seven minutes, when from an Emre Can pass it put Alberton Moreno through on goal, and his low strike was blocked by Begovic’s foot. But the Reds wrapped the game up on eighty three minutes, when from Ibe’s pass, it found an unmarked Benteke, whose low drive deflected off Gary Cahill, into the left corner. In added time, Liverpool brought on Dejan Lovren for Lallana. On Halloween day, it had been a horror show by Chelsea as Liverpool laid the ghost to rest by taking all three points to bury the hatchet by ending their winless run against the Blues.