Liverpool lay siege to the Bridge as Chelsea crumble again
Published:
Matt Haynes | October 31, 2015
Chelsea 1-3 Liverpool
- Klopp wins first Liverpool match
- Coutinho craft inspires Reds victory
- More misery for Jose Mourinho
Klopp claims first win as Liverpool boss
Forget the last four matches. This was Jurgen Klopp’s baptism and while Bonfire Night is a few more days away, there were fireworks at Stamford Bridge and Philippe Coutinho is still fizzing.
Although it was Chelsea who started the brightest, with the Blues players clearly determined to do their bit for Jose Mourinho and they were rewarded after five minutes when Cesar Azpilicueta dinked a cross over for Ramires to head in.
Not long after Ramires could have doubled his side’s advantage when John Terry headed back across goal only for the midfielder, starting in place of the benched Cesc Fabregas, to be inches away from tapping in at close range.
However, the Reds responded. Possession and build-up as we have seen from Liverpool over the past few matches has not been a problem, it has been players remaining calm in front of goal. A trait which seemed to be continuing here, with Nathaniel Clyne, Adam Lallana and Roberto Firmino all snatching at shots which dragged wide.
Welcome to the Coutinho show
Finally, after long periods with the ball, Liverpool, who were playing the better football got their breakthrough. A terrific strike from Coutinho from outside of the area left Asmir Begovic flailing, though with the clock showing a time of 45+3 for the goal, Mourinho’s face said it all, after the fourth official awarded just two minutes stoppage time.
Left to completely rework his team-talk, it was perhaps this that had an effect on the second half. Liverpool, buoyed, no doubt from their leveler flew out of the blocks for the second period. With James Milner providing his trademark energetic approach, the Blues were at one point pinned back in their own half playing on the counter-attack.
While Oscar almost caught Simon Mignolet off-guard, with a shot inside his own half, barely a minute later, Coutinho was at it again. Jinking inside the area, his teasing shot glanced of Terry and past Begovic for a second time.
Benteke brilliance
Having started on the bench, with Klopp taking precautions, Belgian striker Christian Benteke entered the fray with the clock ticking down, looking for his second in as many Premier League games.
By this point, Liverpool were coasting and when the ball found the striker in the box, he had time to turn, look up, recover from his latest injury, pick his spot and fire into the corner to send fans into raptures.
A horror show of all horror shows on Halloween for Chelsea, though no doubt Klopp and his men will be treating themselves to their favourite potion tonight.
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