Liverpool 4-1 Chelsea: Jurgen Klopp’s rampant Reds thrash sorry Blues to move five points clear at the top of the table, as Diogo Jota, Conor Bradley, Dominik Szoboszlai and Luis Diaz net in emphatic win

In the days since he announced his departure at the end of the season, it had become increasingly clear that Jürgen Klopp was eager for an antidote to the concerns about his impending departure that had gripped English football. He got a chance at Anfield on Wednesday evening.

It came in the form of a twenty-year-old boy named Conor Bradley, a young player wrapped in excitement and energy and skill, optimism and love of the game, a kid whose themes are innovation and the hope that if he tries, we’ll run this season around Anfield.

If the club’s supporters have spent much of the past few days celebrating Klopp’s past and his present, then Bradley represents a taste of the future that the manager is leaving to the fans of the red half of Merseyside who adore him.

Liverpool were outstanding in this 4-1 defeat to the familiarly shabby and insipid Chelsea, which restored their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League. The entire team deserved praise. But there was something about Bradley, something about his youthful confidence, something about his talent and his enthusiasm, that made him stand out.

It all became clear five minutes before half-time when he galloped a pass just inside the Chelsea half and headed home. No one would catch him and when he was 20 yards out he fired a shot over Djordje Petrovic that fizzed and whizzed past the Chelsea keeper’s desperate right hand. It felt like the moment a star was born.

Dominik Szoboszali (left) and Luis Diaz (right) both scored in Liverpool’s emphatic win

Bradley celebrated with gusto. He had already kept Trent Alexander-Arnold, one of the most talented players in the league, out of the starting line-up and now, as he stood waiting for play to resume, the Kop burst into song. “There’s only one Conor Bradley,” they shouted. Although there has been a lot of consternation at Liverpool since Klopp’s announcement, this match was a celebration.

It was a celebration of everything Klopp has built here and the legacy he leaves behind and the season he is masterminding this year after leaving Liverpool. Chelsea was simply overwhelmed. The previous seven meetings between these teams had ended in draws. In this dress rehearsal for the Carabao Cup final, Liverpool were far, far too good for that to happen again this time.

Klopp has spent much of the time since announcing his impending departure fending off questions about how the club and its players would fare without him at the helm. Inevitably, fires have broken out here and there and Klopp has put them out energetically.

“Write whatever you want,” Klopp said at a press conference this week, after it was reported that Virgil van Dijk was unsure whether he would be part of the post-Klopp era on Merseyside. ‘This club is stable. The boys love this place. I know that for sure.’

Van Dijk also quickly exploded the story. “We want to achieve the things we dreamed of at the beginning of the season,” he said. ‘Don’t worry, I am fully committed to the club. I enjoy every second of being captain.”

Van Dijk gathered in a small circle just before kick-off and they stayed there for a while in a huddle that gave the impression that the skipper was telling him that, despite all the speculation and fear about the manager, this was now about them and their parents. strive for a new national title. It was time to get back to work.

Both teams started as if they did not want to extend the series of draws. The match was all action. Darwin Nunez attempted a daring lob over Djordje Petrovic, which the Chelsea keeper caught comfortably enough, and then unleashed a lightning bolt of a shot that was hit so hard it formed its own vapor trail. Petrovic tapped it on the bar.

Diogo Jota put Liverpool ahead after smashing his way through Chelsea’s defence

Darwin Nunez hit the woodwork four times as he somehow failed to score

Nunez adopted a ‘shoot-on-sight’ policy and all his attempts were charged with venom, suggesting he was regaining the confidence that was part of the package that made him such a prized asset when Liverpool signed him bought.

Midway through the half, Nunez ran on to a brilliant, glancing pass from Ibrahima Konate and, this time with his left foot, fired the ball over Petrovic. It was destined for the far corner but Petrovic got a desperate left hand as he dived and pushed it towards the outside of the post.

Chelsea offered little, but amid all Liverpool pressure they created a golden opportunity when Liverpool ace Raheem Sterling, who was booed at every touch, put the ball back into Conor Gallagher’s path.

Gallagher shunned the chance to shoot and tried to dribble past Van Dijk. He fell under Van Dijk’s challenge and Chelsea appealed for a penalty, but referee Paul Tierney and VAR ruled there was not enough contact to justify awarding a penalty.

Liverpool got the goal they deserved halfway through half-time. Ben Chilwell lost the ball on Chelsea’s left, Bradley broke forward and delivered a pass to Diogo Jota 25 yards out.

Bradley was brilliant in both defense and attack for the hosts

Jota stood on the edge of the Chelsea box opposite Benoit Badiashile and Thiago Silva. Jota shifted the ball from one foot to the other and ran straight through the middle of them. He got a lucky rebound as he worked his way through, but Chelsea’s defense was nowhere near good enough and Jota ran on and smashed the ball past Petrovic.

Chelsea was overwhelmed. Enzo Fernandez, who was second in midfield, was shown a yellow card after a mistimed tackle on Curtis Jones, who was simply too fast for him. Chilwell was booked for a pathetic dive as he tried to dribble around Konate.

Five minutes before half-time, Anfield experienced a magical moment. Alexis Mac Allister won the ball in midfield and passed it to Luiz Diaz. Diaz spread the ball wide to Bradley and he outpaced the Chelsea defense before firing his shot over Petrovic and into the far corner.

Liverpool should have put the game out of reach in the second minute of extra time at the end of the first half. Van Dijk took a driven pass onto his chest on the left side of the Chelsea area and whipped a cross towards the six-yard box.

Jota got there before Badiashile, Badiashile stood on the top of his foot and Mr. Tierney pointed to the spot. Mac Allister was ready to take it, but gave way to Nunez. Nunez hit the kick against the front of the left post and it was cleared to safety.

Christopher Nkunku pulled a goal back for Chelsea, but it was far too little too late

Mauricio Pochettino made the changes at half-time, bringing on Malo Gusto, Christopher Nkunku and Mykhailo Mudryk to try and spark his side into life, and the ploy paid off almost immediately. Gusto broke down the right side and hit a lovely low cross to the back post, but although Mudryk was in space and only Alisson to beat, he lifted his left foot high over the bar.

Liverpool soon resumed their dominance. Bradley’s performance went from strength to strength, and Mac Allister’s influence also increased. Some of Liverpool’s play was breathtaking. An outrageous dummy from Dominik Szoboszlai set up Nunez for a stinging shot that was plucked out of the air by Petrovic.

And then, midway through the half, Liverpool erased any last doubt about the result. Van Dijk made a precise pass wide of Bradley on the right, Bradley delivered another cross goal with speed and precision and Szoboszlai stood up and headed the ball in for the Kop.

Nkunku pulled a goal back for Chelsea twenty minutes before the end with a smart finish, Nunez headed against the crossbar, Harvey Elliott saw his shot saved by the legs of Petrovic and ten minutes before the end, Diaz shot in on the crossbar. back post to latch on to a pass from Nunez and force the ball home for Liverpool’s fourth.