Second-half goals from Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah gave Liverpool a cathartic victory against Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday.
2018/2019 Premier League
2-0
Match Report
Mohamed Salah's incredible long-range rocket helped Liverpool back to the top of the Premier League with a crucial 2-0 win over Chelsea.
Manchester City's 3-1 win at Crystal Palace earlier on Saturday piled pressure on the Reds and they passed the test thanks to two second-half goals in almost as many minutes.
Star man Salah rose to an emotionally charged occasion with a thumping 25-yard effort that whistled into the top-left corner and doubled the home side's lead following Sadio Mane's headed opener.
The victory, Liverpool's first against Chelsea at Anfield in seven Premier League meetings, restored a two-point lead at the top for Jurgen Klopp's men and exorcised the demons of the infamous 2-0 loss in this fixture that shattered their 2013-14 title hopes.
Match Events
38' MISS! Mane's shot wide out
CLOSE! Loftus-Cheek is dispossessed in the opposition half. The boot is on the other foot as Liverpool hit their opponents on the counter. Salah squares it for Mane and he tries to whip it into the top corner with a first-time shot from 10 yards, missing the target by inches.
51' GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea (Mane)
Liverpool have started the second half with far more urgency to their game and they have been rewarded through Mane's close-range header! Henderson clips the ball towards the back post and Mane is not going to miss from a few yards out, giving the home fans the goal they craved.
53' GOAL! Liverpool 2-0 Chelsea (Salah)
Two goals in two minutes for Liverpool!! This is an unbelievable strike from Salah, trapping the ball with a good first touch towards the right-hand flank, cutting into the middle and then arrowing it into the top corner of the net from 25 yards. Kepa barely had time to react!
59' SO CLOSE! Hazard's shot hits the post
Liverpool are swarming all over Chelsea now, looking good value for a third goal. The Reds came out for the second half fired up and they have surely sealed the win within eight minutes of the restart. Firmino's side-footed shot from outside the box dips wide of the target.
60' CHANCE AGAIN! Hazard's shot saved by Alisson
If Hazard hitting the post was not a wake-up call enough for Liverpool, this certainly will be. The forward's first-time shot from 10 yards is kept out by Alisson down low, but he should have been burying it after doing the hard work by finding some space.
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