Fabinho prompts transfer rethink
Football fans can be a greedy bunch.
Having been treated to two major signings inside barely 24 hours with the arrivals of Thiago Alcantara and Diogo Jota, Liverpool supporters spent part of Sunday afternoon demanding another.
In fairness, their call for a centre-back is nothing new, the Reds having been without a fourth senior option since the departure of Dejan Lovren earlier in the transfer window.
And that shortcoming was brought into sharp focus when both Joe Gomez and Joel Matip were ruled out of this Stamford Bridge clash.
Fabinho stepped back into the heart of defence, as he has done on a handful of previous occasions with the most recent during the second half of the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal last month.
Not ideal. Yet the Brazilian’s performance indicated why Klopp, at least this year, may well think twice about dipping into the market for further reinforcements.
Fabinho was superb. Up against speedy former Liverpool target Timo Werner, the scope for failure was obvious.
Werner may have waltzed past him in their first brief exchange, but it was one of very few occasions the Reds player came out second best. When Chelsea went down to 10, Fabinho could even afford to wander into midfield on occasion. It was that comfortable.
Among his key attributes in the number six role is an ability to sniff out danger with good positioning while rarely being ruffled.
All are perfect for a centre-back. And having passed this examination in such impressive fashion, Fabinho could save Klopp a few bob in the coming weeks.
Mane channels his fume
Sadio Mane was absolutely fuming.
Roberto Firmino had been slow to anticipate a ball from the Senegalese into the area, and a promising opening was spurned.
“Bobby!” screamed Mane, bouncing with frustration, as the ball eventually made its way to the feet of Kepa.
But rather than simmer, the Liverpool striker channelled his annoyance in the correct manner, chasing down the Chelsea goalkeeper, blocking his attempted clearance and then swivelling to score.
Fingers will right be pointed at the hapless Kepa, but Mane deserves huge credit for forcing the issue.
It was the same again shortly before the break, the forward sprinting on to Jordan Henderson’s superb pass and prompting the rugby tackle by Andreas Christensen that turned the game emphatically in favour of the visitors.
Mane makes things happen, whether through skill, power or sheer force of will.
And it was wholly appropriate he was on hand to head home the opener early in the second half after great work from Mohamed Salah and Firmino.
Having seen Salah dominate the headlines last weekend, only a rare save from Kepa late on prevented Mane claiming the hat-trick his performance merited.
The battle to be Liverpool’s top scorer is on once more. And, as always, it’s Klopp’s side that will prove the ultimate winner.
Reds send perch reminder
Jurgen Klopp said it himself afterwards.
“I saw us today, it was us playing football today and I was completely happy with that,” said the Reds boss.
After the ridiculous rollercoaster that was the opening-day win over Leeds United, this was more like the Liverpool that romped to the Premier League title this season.
Tenacious, tactically astute and fully committed, even during the first half few could doubt the Reds were the superior side. They looked like the champions they are.
Confidence will be taken from a clean sheet after a leaky time at the back, ensured in the final quarter by Alisson Becker outfoxing Jorginho to make the first penalty save of his Reds career.
Chelsea, in mitigation, were missing players and are still bedding in their raft of summer signings.
But that’s exactly why Liverpool needed to strike, racking up the points while their main rivals ready themselves for a challenge.
Hardly a decisive blow this early in the season. Instead, this was a reminder of how it will be to knock the Reds off their perch.
Klopp’s men are now truly up and running.
