The momentum of 'slot ball' is breaking down.
Liverpool defeated Chelsea to lead the league. Liverpool won 2-1 with Mohamed Salah's performance in the eighth round of the English Premier League (EPL) in the 2024-2025 season against Chelsea at 0:30 a.m. on the 21st (Korea time).
Liverpool won four consecutive league games with the victory. Liverpool maintained its lead with 7 wins and 1 loss and 21 points. The second place is Manchester City with 20 points. Chelsea, on the other hand, lost for the second time in the season (4 wins and 2 draws), ranking sixth with 14 points.
Liverpool pulled out a 4-2-3-1 card. Diogo Jota was at the forefront, and Cody Gakpo-Dominic Sobosli-Mohamed Salah was in the second line. Curtis Jones-Ryan Gravenberg was positioned for the third term. Andrew Robertson-Virgil van Dijk-Ibrahima Konate-Trent Alexander Arnold set up a four-back. Quibin Kelleher defended the goal.
Chelsea also fought back 4-2-3-1. Nikola Jackson was on the one-top, and Jadon Sancho-Cole Palmer-Noni Madueke was on the second line. Romeo Rabia-Moises Caicedo defended the midfield, and Malo Gusto-Rivai Colwill-Tosin Adarabioyo-Lis James made a four-back. The goalkeeper's gloves were worn by Robert Sanchez.
Liverpool scored the first goal. In the 27th minute of the first half, Jones tripped over the leg of Chelsea's defense inside the penalty box. The referee declared a penalty. Salah came out as a kicker and made it clean. Salah's fifth goal of the season. Liverpool faced bad news at the same time as they scored. Jota complained of discomfort in her body. In the end, Darwin Núñez stepped on the ground in the 30th minute of the first half instead of Jota.
Liverpool scored in the 32nd minute, just after Núñez was put in. However, it was declared offside and was not recognized as a score. The first half ended with Liverpool's 1-0 lead.
Three minutes into the second half, Chelsea brought the game to square one. Jackson penetrated and finished the ball pushed by Caicedo. It was Jackson's fifth goal of the season. It was initially ruled offside, but the referee was declared onside through a video review and the score was recognized.
The tight score didn't last long. Liverpool took the lead again in a minute. In the 6th minute of the second half, Johnson jumped in and pushed Salah's cross from the right. Liverpool took a 2-1 lead again.
Chelsea then went on the offensive to level the game, but no more goals were scored. The match ended with Liverpool's 2-1 victory.
Arne Slot, who took the helm of Liverpool as replacement for Jurgen Klopp, who stepped down ahead of this season, seems to be making a quick soft landing. Slot coach, who rewrote Liverpool's history with eight wins in his first nine games, which Klopp couldn't even do, continued his early cruise by catching Chelsea.
vanbasten@sportschosun.com
