Josh Sexton’s post-match review for The Anfield Wrap after Liverpool 2 Chelsea 1 in the 2024-2025 Premier League season…
ARNE Slot’s first big, emotionally charged test at Anfield.
In truth, whether we like it or not, it became emotionally charged before a ball had even been kicked in L4.
We’ve all appreciated the extra breathing room that Slot’s introduction, demeanour and the context of the task at hand has afforded us, but none of that covers what happens when Arsenal crumble at 5.30pm on a Saturday and then the next game of football we’re allowed to watch on TV in the UK starts with Wolves taking the lead against Manchester City.
”Don’t get drawn in,” I desperately tried to tell myself in the Glenbuck Hotel, but let me tell you the Glenbuck Hotel was drawn in. The Anfield Wrap’s Kev Walsh was talking Wolves players through the game like they were his own boys. I might have considered them as such, had they won.
Of course it wasn’t to be, but emotions were charged and then we had to go and watch our actual boys play a big, emotionally charged game of football at Anfield.
What this weekend has proven categorically, undeniably is that Liverpool Football Club can win the football league again.
Slot’s introduction was meant to bring a brand of football that took the emotion and sting out of games, extended an arm to place a hand down onto the opposition’s head as they hopelessly swung punches towards The Reds’ midsection, but ultimately this side’s level of control and composure would see them through
Good managers need to be able to adapt, though. The Premier League is far too good, too many teams who are trying to play and spend at a seriously high level, to allow you to just play your game on your terms week in, week out.
Today, Anfield was a cauldron of emotion, manifesting in very different ways but mostly in “what the fucking hell is this referee doing”? It felt like there was always a chance we could get stung by that or by the opposition.
The Reds, rather than place their hand down onto Chelsea’s head and let them hopelessly throw punches at our midsection, knew that to do so against in-form players like Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke could prove to be football suicide.
That was where, amidst the utter disruption created by both Jon Brooks and Enzo Maresca, Slot’s side were able to show their control and composure to secure another huge three points.
It looked very different to how we imagined it, because of all the emotion and because Chelsea couldn’t just be little brother-ed. But nevertheless, Liverpool never looked like losing that game of football. Because Curtis Jones and Mo Salah were going to make sure Liverpool never looked like losing that game of football.
Mo was fouled on the right-hand side of the Chelsea penalty area and then pushed in the back moments later inside the box as Anfield cried for a penalty. Jon Brooks was so keen to quieten the protests for a penalty, he appeared to forget or not even realise that the original foul had taken place and that no advantage had been gained.
But Mo Salah and Curtis Jones were going to make sure Liverpool never looked like losing this game of football.
Salah got the ball again on the right-hand side, found a way to get it to Jones in an even more dangerous area, Chelsea committed a foul, and – after what felt like eternity – Salah larruped it into the net.
Jones tried to set up another 12-yard thunderbastard for his esteemed teammate, but Brooks and the VAR eventually came to the correct conclusion that Robert Sanchez had not committed a foul.
Chelsea clearly felt encouraged to get to the half at 0-1, although neither side could say they had been able to build up any kind of rhythm. In truth, Maresca’s lads looked a lot like a side who had arrived so intent on disrupting Liverpool’s rhythm, they forgot there would be moments in the game where they would have to find their own.
Despite that, Nicolas Jackson nearly had his big moment taken from him, but Brooks and the VAR eventually came to the correct conclusion that he was onside.
But Mo Salah and Curtis Jones were going to make sure Liverpool never looked like losing this game of football.
The ball from Salah is just unbelievable. We’re genuinely watching a player on a Lionel Messi trajectory before our very eyes.
The left-footed, fleet-footed inside-right forward hitting the byline and making your entire defence look daft before smashing it into the postage stamp past your goalkeeper is no more. Instead, the game is now further from goal and all about gravity, all about vision, all about class.
Mo Salah is one of our greatest ever and I would love to live in a world where I can continue to watch his greatness develop.
His greatness gave Jones his biggest goal for his boyhood club since he decided Jordan Pickford had little arms, and gave us our winning goal on a plate.
The rest of the game is a bit of an emotional blur, but my clearest memories are of Andy Robertson, Alexis Mac Allister and Luis Diaz winning their battles and getting it over the line. Control and composure to release the nerves of the crowd as the final whistle blew.
It may look a different game in the cold light of day, but football matches – and especially those at Anfield – are very rarely played in the cold light of day.
Sometimes the emotions are charged up before we even kick a ball. Sometimes we can get drawn in. Sometimes the referee has his own ideas. Sometimes very good opposition are just all about disruption.
But one thing remains true above everything else. Categorically. Undeniably.
Liverpool Football Club can win the football league again.
Subscribe for immediate post-match reaction from around the ground…
“Fucking right they’ll do for me. I just love the bottle, I love the shape and I love the fight.”
“I thought every substitute made us stronger. And Curtis Jones was fucking fantastic all game – a matchwinner for Liverpool.”
The Post Match Show from @GlenbuckAnfield pic.twitter.com/lFTeHxYyYv
— The Anfield Wrap (@TheAnfieldWrap) October 20, 2024
