Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea: Premier League – as it happened

Here’s Andy Hunter’s match report from Anfield. Thanks for joining me, and enjoy your Sunday evenings. Bye!

Enzo Maresca: “I really like the performance of our team … perhaps we deserved something more. We don’t like to lose, but if you have to drop points, this is the way to do it. We had possession in their half, we were brave on and off the ball and I feel this is the right way.”

“I don’t think today’s game defines where we are – we tried to prepare in the best way. You have to take chances, but overall we played well, we were brave and it’s important we leave with a good feeling.”

Here are Liverpool’s next 11 games – it’s a pretty brutal run: Leipzig (A), Arsenal (H), Brighton (A, Carabao Cup), Brighton (H), Leverkusen (H), Villa (H), Southampton (A), Real Madrid (H), Man City (H), Newcastle (A), Everton (A).

Arne Slot: “The most important thing is you have to work so hard, which we did. We created a few very good chances, and were perhaps unlucky – although maybe I am a bit biased – with some of the decisions.” He’s referring to the VAR overturn of the second penalty, and also Adarabioyo only getting a yellow card for his foul on Jota.

Slot was booked during the game and said “my emotions took over … I deserved the yellow card. Lots of people were shouting and I jumped in!” He adds that the second penalty “still looked a penalty on the screen.” He also praises Curtis Jones for keeping Cole Palmer quiet, and for his involvement at both ends of the pitch.

Here’s Andy Hunter’s match report from Anfield. Thanks for joining me, and enjoy your Sunday evenings. Bye!

Curtis Jones: “To play in this team, you’ve got to run, you’ve got to have energy, press, get back and help out.” He adds that his shoulder is still a bit sore after being suplexed by Sanchez, and hasn’t seen the penalty calls yet but definitely “felt contact” on the first.

Jones became a dad last week: “it’s the best thing ever, a different type of joy”. Under Slot, players now sleep at home the night before games, and Jones adds: “I was in the spare room last night, but she’s a little dream, she’s sleeping well.” Player of the match on very little sleep, and he called the interviewer ‘la’ to boot. Lovely stuff.

“My side won, so I feel I can say that I can’t remember a worse refereeing performance,” writes Johnathan. “Brooks was weak, inconsistent, and had no control over the game.” I agree he wasn’t great, but I can think of worse refereeing performances this month.

“Re: Gravenberch,” writes Drew Lundgren. “We’ve all tried to transform an attacking mid into a defensive mid on a video game – are we to believe it’s actually working for Slot? In real life??” It seems to be – he was very much the water-carrier today with Jones pushing forward, and did so with very little fuss.

On Sky, Kelly Cates says this felt “like a Cup game” – and it’s reflected in the post-match reaction, Chelsea looking crestfallen while Liverpool players pat each other’s backs, a mixture of pride and relief.

Liverpool reclaim top spot in the Premier League after a very hard-earned victory. Curtis Jones got the winner, just moments after Nicolas Jackson had levelled for Chelsea, who had their chances but were just outmuscled by their opponents. Arne Slot’s impressive start continues.

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96 mins: A final half-chance for Chelsea, Neto’s cross running through to Gusto on the right … but Robertson makes the block, and Liverpool hold on!

95 mins: Diaz almost seals victory in superb style, picking up Mac Allister’s pass, slaloming through two defenders, but sending his shot just high and wide of Sanchez’s goal.

94 mins: Another Chelsea chance! Neto swings in a cross from the left and Nkunku gets a toe to the ball – but can only send it into the side netting. The Liverpool defence were on their heels there …

93 mins: Gomez does well to close down Veiga on the left side, at the cost of a throw-in to Chelsea. Seven added minutes, by the way …

92 mins: Oooof! Palmer’s inswinging delivery is in the sweet spot and Renato Veiga gets to it first, but heads over the bar! That was a chance, even if Konate was making life difficult for him.

91 mins: At the other end, Palmer steps away from Mac Allister, who continues a fraught cameo by tripping him up, earning that yellow card – and giving Chelsea a dangerous free kick …

89 mins: Caicedo crunches into Van Dijk in midfield, giving Liverpool a chance to lift the ball into the area. Both centre-backs go forward, but Szoboszlai’s delivery lacks direction.

88 mins: Renato’s header lands to Szoboszlai, who finds Gomez on the right – but he opts to retain possession rather than swing a cross into the area.

87 mins: Chelsea are still in with a shout here – but Neto aside, the substitutes haven’t offered much, with Nkunku getting frustrated here and fouling Gomez.

85 mins: An example here as Gomez sends the ball behind for a corner with an edgy backpass. The corner is played short, whipped in, and cleared away.

84 mins: Liverpool appear to be seeing this out with a degree of comfort, but there’s been a weird edge to this game, where it feels like either defence might self-destruct at any moment.

82 mins: Mac Allister gets involved in what’s been a mighty scrappy run of play, hacking down Gusto with a challenge that would probably earn a booking, had he not just come on.

80 mins: Diaz has a go from 25-odd yards out, but his shot is straight at Sanchez. Konaté brings down Nkunku to stop a Chelsea break, and is booked. Another Liverpool change incoming: Joe Gomez will replace Trent Alexander-Arnold at right back.

79 mins: Alexis Mac Allister is set to come on for the last 10 minutes. Slot opted not to risk starting him after he picked up a knock on international duty. He’ll replace Curtis Jones, who has proved himself a very able deputy.

77 mins: Chelsea probe without success in the Liverpool third and then the hosts break through Luis Díaz, who is upended by Veiga.

75 mins: Badiashile concedes a free kick out on the right-hand touchline. Before Liverpool take it, Madueke is replaced by Nkunku for Chelsea.

72 mins: Neto again makes that dangerous infield run, and with a lack of attacking options around him, pulls a low shot wide of the far post.

70 mins: Neto makes another impressive infield run, barrelling past Alexander-Arnold and Konate before prodding delicately to Palmer, whose shot is closed down.

69 mins: Alexander-Arnold, who had been very solid so far, almost lets Enzo Fernandez in as he dithers on a ball which wasn’t quite running through to Kelleher.

67 mins: Badiashile moves forward but, after overplaying a pass wide to Neto, is clattered by Nunez. The striker gets a booking, and Chelsea have a free kick, from which they pass the ball around a bit.

65 mins: Cody Gakpo, who has had a middling afternoon, is replaced by Luis Diaz.

63 mins: Chelsea win a free kick close to the edge of the area as Gravenberch brings down Neto, this time running inside to try and escape Alexander-Arnold. Palmer takes it but it clips the wall, and from the corner, Nunez is bundled over to ease the pressure.

62 mins: Neto, a busy presence on the left, lifts a cross to the far post where Madueke opts to let it drop, volleying a shot straight at Kelleher.