Talking points from Liverpool FC’s 2-1 win over Chelsea

Liverpool secured three important points in the Premier League as they continued as table toppers following a 2-1 win over Chelsea at Anfield. The Reds remain in command of the title race and lead fellow challengers Manchester City by a point and Arsenal by four although the lion’s share of the season is still remaining.

It was a dominant performance by Liverpool against a spirited Chelsea side. Mohamed Salah’s penalty began proceedings after Curtis Jones was fouled in the box a couple of minutes before the half-hour mark. It looked like they could double their lead in stoppage time of the first half after another penalty was won by Jones though VAR intervened to cancel the decision.

Nicolas Jackson equalised for the Blues within three minutes of the second half getting underway but Chelsea’s joy was extremely short-lived as Curtis Jones scored soon afterwards. The goal eventually proved to be the match-winner as the west Londoners could not find an equaliser and had to return home empty-handed.

Here is a look at the three talking points from the match.

Salah proves pivotal in a big game again

Mohamed Salah has proven time and again that Liverpool can bank on him to deliver the goods in the big games in the Champions League as well as the Premier League. His former club, Chelsea, has faced his wrath several times in the recent past and were undone by a brilliant individual display by the Egyptian international once more. The 32-year-old scored a goal and provided an assist to help his side secure an important result in the title race in the early stages of the campaign.

In spite of his age, Salah remains an indispensable player in the Liverpool starting eleven and has no realistic replacement just yet. The right winger’s displays over recent weeks have shown that he still remains on the top of his game and has taken good care of his fitness to ensure he can perform at an elite level for another couple of seasons at the very least. It will be interesting to see how such performances impact his possible contract renewal – a topic Liverpool need to take seriously.

Increased prominence in the side for Gakpo?

Cody Gakpo has started in three of the last five matches that Liverpool have played in all competitions and was also preferred in the line-up against AC Milan in the Champions League last month. His performance against Chelsea left a bit to be desired and the Dutchman has yet to get underway in the Premier League, but getting the nod against a major club in the English top division is perhaps a sign that Gakpo’s role in the team is bound to increase going forward.

This time around, it remains to be seen if his inclusion in the starting eleven was a tactical decision or was made owing to Luis Diaz having a long travel duration to and from South America over the international break. Diogo Jota’s injury could also open the door for Gakpo to play in a central role in the coming weeks if Darwin Nunez struggles in front of goal, as he has done for most of this season. How he performs in the upcoming fixtures could influence the minutes he has in the broader context.

Slot’s Liverpool squad depth set for a test

Approximately 10 matches into the campaign, fitness worries had been kinder to Liverpool than with other clubs, including their top four rivals Arsenal and Manchester United. However, Diogo Jota was substituted on the 30th minute of the match against Chelsea and joins another key player from the line-up in Alisson Becker on the fringes. Given the team’s lack of squad depth in the final third, the Portuguese international has arguably been overworked with the Nations League games playing a part too.

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It remains to be seen if Darwin Nunez replaces the player or if Cody Gakpo is deployed in a central role but in either case, Arne Slot will be hoping that a comparatively short-staffed Liverpool side is not hit with any more fitness problems at least until the winter. The fixtures are expected to come thick and fast, so the team cannot afford any blip in form.