Andy Hunter was at Anfield tonight. His report is in. Thanks for reading this MBM. TNT speak to Mauricio Pochettino, who seems more exasperated with his players than the two penalty shouts that went against Chelsea. “They were much better than us … we lose every single duel … every time we recovered the ball we lost it with our first or second touch … the three points were well deserved for them … in the second half we changed a little bit and created a chance at 2-0 for Mudryk who was clear to score … then we conceded again … then we score at 3-1 and maybe a penalty for Nkunku … but nothing to complain about for the decisions … they were better than us … when you see in your iPad the action, and maybe it could be a penalty … for us it was bad luck … but that does not change the feeling that Liverpool were better than us … we need to move on … it was only one game … it was tough to play … we knew Liverpool are one of the best teams … maybe it was a little bit too much for us.” As for Conor Bradley? Klopp laughs. “I heard him say [attempts Northern Irish burr] ‘I’m surprised the goal went in’ … he’s incredible, an incredible boy … wonderful … I didn’t hear, but people told me the crowd were already singing his name, it’s just great … he’s flying in the moment and rightly so … he’s a good footballer … he’s helped us so much it’s incredible … think back, in the summer, there were quite a few people saying we needed another right-back … we really were very positive about Conor like we were about [Jarell] Quansah … that’s really important because with all the injuries we had, we couldn’t put a string of results together if these boys don’t show up … I’m really pleased for him … he has his advocates at the club … Pep Lijnders was in my ear, I will put both hands and my feet in the fire, he will be one … in the end, my job is the easiest one, I just have to put him on the pitch!” Jurgen Klopp speaks to TNT in the wake of his 200th Premier League win with Liverpool. “The start, the middle part, the finish … you have to play outstandingly well to keep Chelsea calm because they are just too good … they are super-talented … the way we started was really strong … proper direction … we put them under pressure, our counter-press was top … keeping them in areas they don’t want to be … the boys did extremely well … fair to say we could have scored one or two more … you bring on Trent and Robbo and they need rhythm … that’s why they play, they are world class but each human being needs rhythm … it is nothing to do with them but it was slightly different and all of a sudden they scored a goal … but we controlled it again … a great night … what an atmosphere, what a game!” Curtis Jones talks to TNT. “It was very close … we knew it was going to be a hard game … they’re a good team … they can cause all sorts … but we stopped that and won 4-1 so overall, a good performance … I came in the team at 17 and it hasn’t been easy … it’s the first time I’ve come in the team and am playing free … I’m scoring goals and I’m happy … I’ve still got a long way to go … there’s hard work to put in every day … my time has come and I’m taking my chance … my defending has improved and I’ve started to score goals … Klopp means everything … he’s like a father not to just me and the team but the whole city … he means a lot … the team is on form and we’ll see at the end of the season … the team has a buzz about us … we’re a young and fresh team.” The managers coming up … but in the meantime, let’s have a quick rifle through our post-match postbag, which is positively teeming over with three emails. “Considering who the two teams were playing, Liverpool did brilliantly to improve their goal difference over Manchester City. Worth another point, now five goals” – Colin Stevens “Genuinely kind of touching how pleased Bradley clearly is to be POTM, and how pleased his teammates clearly are for him (also, check one of the Liverpool coaches giving him a really obvious ‘well done, son!’ with a big grin on his face as he was subbed). Just lovely stuff” – James Humphries “Boehly was responsible for Argylle? Big Paper just gave it one star. Seems fitting somehow” – Alan Webb Conor Bradley, who scored his first goal for Liverpool and set up two more, speaks to TNT. “It’s a very proud moment … it’s something I’ve dreamed of for a long time … I just feel like I’m in a dream … it’s unbelievable and I’m very happy … I couldn’t believe it went in … I thought, I’m going to hit it here, and it went in the bottom corner … I didn’t know what to do so I went over to the corner and done a knee-slide … it was brilliant, so it was … I just want to keep up this form and keep working hard.” Dominik Szoboszlai, standing next to the starlet, adds: “He couldn’t wish for a better day … we are very happy to have him! … I’m also thankful for him [for the third goal] … I didn’t have to do so much … it just came on my head … probably my first header in my life! … hopefully more comes … Trent should take care of his position! … no, we need everybody … hopefully everybody goes to sleep and we are ready for Sunday.” Jurgen Klopp delivers a series of air-punches in front of a delighted Kop, who respond with a series of roars. His Liverpool team were superb tonight: they swarmed all over Chelsea from the off, and were the better team by far. Four fine goals, and it really should have been more: for a start, Darwin Nunez hit the woodwork four times, one of those a missed penalty. Throw in a breakthrough performance by marauding right-back Conor Bradley, and that’s a fine night at the office for the Reds. Chelsea will however point to a couple of penalty shouts that didn’t go their way, one at 0-0 and the other at 3-1. Had either been awarded, things may have been very different. It’s usually Klopp who has a short conversation with Paul Tierney when they run into each other; this evening it’s Mauricio Pochettino who tells it like he sees it, straight into the long-suffering referee’s ear. FULL TIME: Liverpool 4-1 Chelsea Liverpool re-establish their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League! 90 min +5: Chelsea stroke it around nicely, too little, too late. 90 min +3: Diaz rakes long for Nunez, who lays off to Gakpo. A shot dribbles towards the bottom left. Petrovic claims. 90 min +2: Chelsea stroke it around the back, wishing the next four minutes of their lives away. 90 min: On TNT Sports, co-commentator Ally McCoist names Conor Bradley as his player of the match. A no-brainer. There will be six additional minutes. 89 min: Mac Allister trots back on to warm applause. “Darwin, while he apparently runs foul of some theories of Sax-ual selection, does a lot to contribute toward the evolution of Liverpool FC.” Peter Oh there, immediately on point after Grant Tennille (81 min) threatened to steal his pun-tastic crown. 87 min: Mac Allister is down, having been clattered by the new boy Casadei, and the physio is on. The Liverpool midfielder is in some distress, and when he eventually gets up, he limps slowly to the sideline. 85 min: Some pinball in the Chelsea box. Clark can’t get a shot away. In the meantime, Palmer – who has been uncharacteristically quiet tonight – is replaced by the debutant Cesare Casadei. 84 min: Elliott takes the ball off Mudryk’s toe and tees up Nunez, who is desperate for a goal. He sends a pea-roller into the arms of Petrovic. “Nunez is the first player in Premier League history to hit the woodwork four times in a game,” writes Dechlan Brennan. “Perhaps the scorer of great goals rather than a great goal scorer.” 83 min: Jones, who has been quietly excellent this evening, makes way for Clark. “Nunez might have missed a hatful of chances tonight, but he has stomped all over the Chelsea back line,” writes Will Hebbron. “If he wasn’t on the pitch, Liverpool wouldn’t score four. Simple as that.” 81 min: On the touchline, Poch emits a long sigh. Nothing’s gone his way this evening. “For those curious on how to pronounce that new Todd Boehly production, it’s AAARRRGH-lye.” Grant Tennille there, ladies and gentlemen. He’s here all week. Try the dental paste. GOAL! Liverpool 4-1 Chelsea (Diaz 79) Nunez refuses to let everything get him down. Gakpo rolls a pass down the inside-left channel to release the big man. He crosses low for Diaz, who nips in ahead of Badiashile, and slams into the bottom right! 78 min: Replays of that Van Dijk challenge on Nkunku suggest Liverpool may have got away with one there. 77 min: Nunez has now hit the frame of the goal four times tonight. Meanwhile Chelsea launch a counter, and Konate is forced to cynically check Nkunku. He goes into the book. 76 min: This is absurd. Robertson is sent into space down the left and reaches the byline. He dinks across for Nunez, who crashes a header towards the top-right … only to twang the crossbar! Then Elliott fires the rebound goalwards, but Petrovic, going the wrong way, kicks clear. How did the ball not find the net there?! 74 min: VAR checks the Nkunku penalty claim. Van Dijk made contact with his heel. For the second time this evening, the non-decision is upheld by the video assistant. Poch is not pleased. 73 min: That’s given the denizens of Anfield something to think about. Despite the scoreline, the home fans are betraying some nerves … and Chelsea have their tails up. Nkunku goes over in the box. He wants a penalty but he’s not getting one. The ball breaks to Gusto, who whistles a shot straight at Alisson. GOAL! Liverpool 3-1 Chelsea (Nkunku 71) Out of nothing, Chelsea grab one back! Chukwuemeka drives down the inside-left channel and slips a ball infield for Nkunku, who shimmies and shakes to see off Van Dijk and Konate, before whipping a low shot across Alisson and into the bottom right! They couldn’t, could they? 69 min: To a huge ovation, Bradley takes his leave. He’s replaced by Alexander-Arnold. Also making way: Szoboszlai, Jota and Gomez, with Elliott, Gakpo and Robertson coming on. 68 min: Nunez hasn’t stopped running despite all the disappointment, and hares down the right after a loose ball. He bowls over Badiashile. Free kick. “Watching Bradley play, it’s heartening to see that even in the world of mega dollars, academy players are still worth their salt,” writes Dechlan Brennan. 67 min: … and so that’s now a wonderful goal and two excellent assists for 20-year-old right-back Conor Bradley. The young man is having a great game. Another great game. Meanwhile Caicedo is replaced by Chukwuemeka. GOAL! Liverpool 3-0 Chelsea (Szoboszlai 65) … after waiting awhile, Van Dijk sprays a diagonal pass towards Bradley on the right flank. Bradley takes a touch to steam past Badiashile and floats a forensic cross into the middle, where Szoboszlai steers a header across Petrovic and into the bottom left. What a lovely goal! 64 min: Liverpool stroke it around the back in the patient 1980s style. And then … 62 min: Mudryk tries to take on Bradley down the left. Bradley’s not having a bar of it, stepping across the winger and drawing a free kick. More cheers for the young man. 61 min: Jota probes down the middle before dinking a pass to the left for Szoboszlai, who dummies. Nunez has the ball at his feet just inside the box. He attempts to steer a curler into the top right, but that’s easy pickings for Petrovic. 59 min: Szoboszlai’s free kick isn’t up to much. It’s deflected out for a corner. Szoboszlai delivers that poorly as well. Chelsea attempt to counter through Sterling, who has a simple punt upfield to release Nkunku into the Liverpool half. He hesitates, though, and when the ball’s eventually played, Nkunku is miles offside. A huge chance to send the striker clear spurned. 58 min: Bradley is irrepressible. He steals possession 30 yards out and shifts the ball infield, perhaps thinking about a shot. He’s clipped by Caicedo. Free kick. The Kop serenade the young man with great feeling. Fair to say he’s in. 56 min: Caicedo dallies on the edge of his own box and is robbed by Jota, who wins a corner. Szoboszlai hoicks it in. Van Dijk battles for a header at the far stick but loses out. The home crowd have become a little nervous. If Chelsea score the next one, this could get interesting. 54 min: Sterling tries to release Nkunku into the Liverpool box down the left. His slide pass seems to have done the job, only for Bradley to romp across and get his body in the way, drawing a foul and nixing the attack. He’s a proper player, this young man. 53 min: Diaz has a jig in from the left before whipping a shot straight down Petrovic’s throat. 52 min: Jota and Szoboszlai combine neatly down the right. Disasi denies the latter with a sliding tackle. The resulting corner comes to nothing. “I know that Jeff Sax is probably trolling (and that I’ve taken the bait :) ), but we don’t call other players, such as Mo Salah, useless when they miss penalties, do we?” wonders Andy ‘Not That One’ Flintoff, not unreasonably. 51 min: Van Dijk allows himself to be spun down the right by Gusto, who strides down the flank before curling in low towards Mudryk, free on the penalty spot. Mudryk should score, but leans back and skies his shot high into the stand. A huge chance for Chelsea, by far their biggest moment. 48 min: Nunez shoots. Blocked. Caicedo sets Sterling off on the counter with a glorious long pass down the left flank, but Bradley hares back to put a stop to the winger’s gallop. Sterling eventually floats a cross in towards nobody in particular, and Alisson claims. Another reminder to Liverpool, if the penalty miss wasn’t enough, that this game isn’t over yet. 47 min: Szoboszlai twists out of a crowded penalty box and dinks towards Nunez on the left. The flag goes up for offside. Nunez kicks the ball away in frustration and is booked for the fit of pique. Chelsea get the second half underway. They’ve made a triple change, replacing Chilwell, Gallagher and Madueke with Gusto, Mudryk and Nkunku. Half-time Nunez-related postbag. “I have honestly been a believer in Nunez and his development over time. But a miss like that one, in the context of a chance to put the game away when Liverpool are trying to win the Premier League - eroded a lot of the faith I had left I’m sad to say” – Colin Davenport “Kind of surprised we didn’t hear from Jeff Sax after the Nunez penalty attempt. That’s kind of in his wheelhouse” – Joe Pearson “Once again Nunez reminds us what an overrated player he is. Pathetic” – Jeff Sax Half-time entertainment. Join Niall McVeigh for the closing stages of the champions’ stroll to victory and a goal-fest at New White Hart Lane. You will remember to come back here, though? Don’t forget us now. HALF TIME: Liverpool 2-0 Chelsea The leaders have given Chelsea the runaround … but Darwin Nunez’s penalty miss will have given the visitors a little bit of hope. “Chelsea aren’t even competing here,” argues Gary Naylor. “Liverpool could get 10, because there are red cards coming too.” 45 min +4: Gallagher has the ball on the edge of the Liverpool D, and Sterling in acres to his left. For some reason he declines to play his team-mate in, and Liverpool get away with one. For a split second, what promised to be a 3-0 half-time lead looked like turning into a rather different 2-1 scoreline. Nunez misses the penalty 45 min +2: Mac Allister holds onto the ball in the absence of the regular taker Salah. Then he hands it over to Nunez who sends Petrovic the wrong way and … batters the spot kick flush off the right-hand upright! Penalty to Liverpool 45 min: Jones isn’t discouraged by his mistake, though, and this time bustles down the right to win a corner. It’s half cleared. However Gomez, quarterbacking from deep, pings a diagonal towards Van Dijk on the left. Van Dijk brings the ball down elegantly and crosses low for Jota, whose foot is stood on by Badiashile. Over he goes. The referee points to the spot. Jota stays down, though. 43 min: Nunez dinks a lovely reverse pass down the left to release Jones into absolute acres. He’s got options left and right, but hangs onto the ball far too long, and by the time he tries to play Nunez in on the overlap, the striker’s well offside. 42 min: Disasi becomes the fourth Chelsea player to go into the book as he takes a frustrated hack at the back of Diaz’s legs. Poch isn’t happy either, and earns himself a taking-to from the ref. Chelsea are in danger of losing their discipline. 41 min: VAR checks for a foul in the build-up, as Mac Allister tangled with Gallagher in the middle while Diaz was busy releasing Bradley on his way. But it was 50-50 and there’s nothing doing. The goal stands. GOAL! Liverpool 2-0 Chelsea (Bradley 39) Conor Bradley is a proper prospect. Diaz turns into space in the centre circle. He waits, and rolls a perfectly timed and weighted pass to Bradley on the right wing. Bradley lopes at pace down the flank, drifts infield, and from the edge of the box rasps a shot across Petrovic and into the bottom left. Dare I say this: Gerrardesque? 37 min: Mac Allister shoves Gallagher in the back. Lightly, but more than enough for a free kick. Gallagher still goes down in the theatrical potato-sack style. Nevertheless, when play restarts, Paul Tierney has a quiet word with Mac Allister, which suggests his next foul may well lead to yellow. 34 min: … and slaps it straight into the wall. Both of Chelsea’s more defensive-minded midfielders are now teetering along the old disciplinary tightrope. 33 min: Fernandez comes sliding hysterically into Jones and upends him on the edge of the Chelsea D. He deservedly goes into the book for a comically late challenge. It’s Alexander-Arnold territory, but he’s on the bench. Szoboszlai fancies it. 31 min: Liverpool respond with some possession of their own. Some brisk triangles. Chelsea hold their shape but they’re being made to work so hard. Then suddenly Jones bursts into the box from the left and looks to guide a curler into the bottom right. Petrovic saves well, pushing the ball away from Jota, who would have had a tap-in. Jota still retrieves the ball out on the right, and crosses. Nunez attempts to bicycle-kick one into the net but can only send the ball into the stand behind. 29 min: Chelsea settle things down a little, enjoying a period of possession for pretty much the first time this evening. Not enough to quieten the crowd. Not yet. 27 min: Silva creams a lovely pass down the inside-right channel to release Madueke … only for Van Dijk to step across and attempt to shepherd the ball back to Alisson. He doesn’t complete the task, but only because Madueke has barged into him from behind. The whistle goes. 25 min: The goal stands! On the touchline, Klopp does what he does, waving his hands in the air to get Anfield humming. Liverpool deservedly lead, and the ground is bouncing. 24 min: They’re checking this for a handball, though. VAR rocks and rolls the film. But it looks as though the hand that was used was Badiashile’s. GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea (Jota 23) Yes, this had been coming. Bradley and Szoboszlai combine to dispossess Chilwell and counter. Jota drives at the Chelsea defence down the middle. He shimmies between Silva and Badiashile, gets a pinball-style break on the edge of the box, sits the keeper down and slots into the bottom-right corner. Bedlam in Anfield! 22 min: Sterling is getting his usual pelters from his former fans. They’re not as severe as the ones he would get during his Manchester City days. That might change if he scores, of course. 21 min: Chelsea clear the corner but don’t push out. That allows Bradley to swing another cross into the box from the right. Diaz eyebrows across the face of goal and out for a goal kick. 20 min: Szoboszlai with a free kick from the right. Low. Chilwell hacks clear. Liverpool come back at the visitors, Nunez dinking one in from the left. The ball’s half cleared to Mac Allister, whose shot is deflected out for a corner. Chelsea are having to dig in a bit. 19 min: Konate strokes a lovely long pass down the inside-left channel to release Nunez, who whips a shot from the edge of the box across Petrovic. The keeper tips a Nunez effort onto the woodwork for the second time, this time the right-hand post and out for a corner, from which nothing comes. Nunez looks in the mood. 17 min: Diaz finds more space on the left wing. He floats a cross towards Jota, who prepares to wind his neck back only for Silva to read the danger and head clear. 16 min: Diaz takes on Disasi again down the left. He reaches the byline and tugs back in the hope of finding Jones, but Fernandez is on hand to put a stop to proceedings. Liverpool are beginning to get on top. Chelsea can’t keep hold of the ball for long. 14 min: Nunez finds a little bit of space down the inside right and flashes a vicious drive wide left. Always missing. Jota waves in frustration towards Bradley, who was in space to the right. 12 min: The resulting free kick is swung into the mixer and flicked narrowly wide right by the head of Jota, one of the smaller players in a crowded box. Decent effort, but Petrovic had it covered. 11 min: Diaz dribbles down the inside-left channel but is forced to turn tail. Caicedo comes clattering in anyway, and concedes a free kick in a dangerous position. The Chelsea midfielder doesn’t like the decision, says so, and goes into the book as a result. Not ideal for Chelsea’s flagship defensive midfielder. 9 min: … nowt. Chelsea clear their lines. 8 min: Mac Allister plays a cute pass down the inside-right channel for Nunez, whose fierce rising drive is fingertipped onto the top of the crossbar by Petrovic. And from the resulting corner … 6 min: Gallagher tries to burst past Van Dijk in the Liverpool box. He goes down and claims a penalty. There is contact with the defender’s knee, but who instigated it? The referee waves play on, and VAR confirms there’s nothing doing. Paul Tierney and Jurgen Klopp have history, but the referee may have done the Liverpool manager a favour there. That looked six of one and half a dozen of the other, and his non-decision meant there was nothing clear or obvious to overrule. 5 min: Bradley loops a pass down the right for Nunez, who attempts to lob first time over Petrovic. The keeper sticks up an arm to claim casually. 4 min: Diaz probes down the left and nearly gets the better of Disasi, only to shank a weak cross into the side netting with options in the middle. Meanwhile here’s Alan Webb: “Very much doubt Jurgen will have an envelope with the names of the players who will let the side down too (or however Brendan phrased it, I turned it off at that point, the [phrase redacted by Family Website editor]).” 2 min: Palmer drops deep and sends a first-time pass down the inside left. Sterling can’t quite get there ahead of the sliding Alisson, who smothers. Both teams already look well up for this. 1 min: Liverpool are on the front foot immediately. Bradley making his presence felt on the right flank. Then he takes a quick throw to release Jota on a run towards the byline. Jota cuts back but there’s nobody in red to take advantage. Liverpool get the ball rolling. They’re kicking towards the new Anfield Road stand in this first half. The teams are out! Liverpool in red, Chelsea blue, it’s as simple and delightful as that. One heck of an atmosphere at Anfield under the lights. We’ll be off after a quick blast of Gerry and the Pacemakers’ best. Meanwhile did Liverpool learn anything after the Being: debacle? Joe Pearson writes: “Well, I think we can safely assume that Klopp does not have a giant portrait of himself in his home like the Brodge.” Poor Brendan. The internet never forgets. Mauricio Pochettino talks to TNT. “We know very well we need to isolate the celebrations to one of the best coaches in the world … the challenge is for Ben Chilwell to be consistent for every single game and to be ready to play … there was a question mark because he was out for a long time.” Being: Liverpool. Did they learn anything? You decide. A particularly ebullient Jurgen Klopp speaks to TNT Sports. “When the news came out I went back to normal business … we had a game with a wonderful atmosphere but we had wonderful atmospheres before that … I hope tonight we can create a proper atmosphere around a proper football game against a really good opponent … we want to try to be front foot … Chelsea are in a really good moment … their best of the season … it will be a massive job for the boys … if we let them play, they are really good … Wataru needed the longest to settle in, but when he clicked, oh my God … Dom is naturally confident … Macca is just a wonderful player, a super-smart boy … Ryan is a talent … big credit to Curtis, he sets the tone, who would have thought that two years ago? … the boys like each other … Thiago is back this week in training after ten months … it’s all positive … but then you face Chelsea! … it’s a super-tough competition … you have to be ready all the time … so far we were, now we have to make sure we stay.” Liverpool make four changes to the side selected to start the 5-2 FA Cup win over Norwich City. Virgil van Dijk, Dominik Szoboszlai, Luis Díaz and Alexis Mac Allister come in for Jarell Quansah, Ryan Gravenberch, Cody Gakpo and James McConnell, all of whom are named as subs. Chelsea make one change to their starting XI from the goalless FA Cup draw with Aston Villa. Ben Chilwell replaces Alfie Gilchrist, who drops to the bench. The teams Liverpool: Alisson, Bradley, Konate, van Dijk, Gomez, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Jones, Diaz, Jota, Nunez. Subs: Gakpo, Elliott, Robertson, Gravenberch, Clark, McConnell, Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold, Quansah. Chelsea: Petrovic, Disasi, Thiago Silva, Badiashile, Chilwell, Caicedo, Fernandez, Madueke, Gallagher, Sterling, Palmer. Subs: Casadei, Mudryk, Chukwuemeka, Nkunku, Broja, Gusto, Deivid Washington, Gilchrist, Bergstrom. Referee: Paul Tierney (Lancashire). Preamble Welcome to Episode #2 of Jurgen Klopp’s long goodbye. It’s also a huge game in the Premier League title race, a big test for two evolving sides, and a dry run for the League Cup final. No need to oversell it, then. Kick-off is at 8.15pm GMT. It’s on!