Henderson and Milner prompt midfield worry
When Liverpool were taking on all-comers a mere few years ago, it was usually achieved with a vice-like grip in the engine room.
Not any more. And the conspicuous absence of such control has once again exposed serious concerns with the Reds' midfield.
That this rollercoaster performance was more 2017 vintage than 2022 was perhaps understandable given both James Milner and Jordan Henderson were in the starting line-up.
Milner will always give his all and his experience and wise head has proven crucial on occasion this season, not least in helping see out games.
But that the veteran – who is 36 later this month and was appearing in the Premier League for the 21st successive year– was starting a game of such intensity was disconcertingly instructive.
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Henderson, meanwhile, has slumped worryingly since the high of his performance at Everton a month ago, and with the ‘lighthouse’ Fabinho hitting a rocky patch – similar to the wayward Virgil van Dijk, it must be asked how much recovering from coronavirus is having an effect – Liverpool were too easily ran through by a Chelsea midfield in which N’Golo Kante excelled.
The calming influence, both in and out of possession, of Thiago Alcantara has been a miss in recent weeks, although it could be argued the Reds improved once the arrival of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita from the bench midway through the second half prompted a shift in approach.
The issue there, though, is that it should really have happened at least half-an-hour earlier.
Regardless, Liverpool need a midfield rethink.
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Trent silences taunts
“You’re just a s*** Reece James!” taunted Chelsea fans as Trent Alexander-Arnold trotted over to take a first-half corner.
Less than 30 seconds later, the Liverpool defender had responded in the perfect manner, lofting a pass over the home defence for Mohamed Salah to race on and score.
Even before the ball had landed at the feet of the Egyptian, the purrs of appreciation from within the Stamford Bridge press box spoke volumes.
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Nor was it the only time Alexander-Arnold caused Chelsea problems with his creative distribution and whipped deliveries from out wide.
James, watching from the stands, would surely have acknowledged the performance of Alexander-Arnold, who here became the fourth-youngest player to reach 200 appearances for Liverpool after Michael Owen, Robbie Fowler and Phil Thompson.
Defensively the right-back was mainly astute and attentive – edging his individual battle with Chelsea wing-back Marcos Alonso – and perhaps deserved better than for his prodded clearance to inadvertently set in motion the swift move for the home team’s equaliser.
On the other flank, Kostas Tsimikas was quietly impressive at both ends of the field and showed no sign of tiring during a hectic showdown.
And at centre-back, Ibrahima Konate – in for the COVID-hit Joel Matip – once more issued a resounding statement of intent.
Salah and Mane timing poor
It was almost the perfect leaving present on the day Liverpool had surely been dreading.
As the Reds countered from a Chelsea corner during the second half, Diogo Jota fed Mohamed Salah who, spotting Edouard Mendy retreating towards his goal, executed an audacious lob from range the home goalkeeper did heroically to claw away.
Salah had already done his bit by brilliantly converting his 23rd goal of the season, with Sadio Mane having earlier ended a nine-game goal drought by capitalising on a mistake by Trevoh Chalobah to open the scoring.
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Both, though, will now join Naby Keita in being unavailable due to Africa Cup of Nations duty for at least the next three weeks.
The timing could not be worse for Liverpool, underlined by them having no recognised forwards on the substitutes’ bench, Roberto Firmino another absent through coronavirus with Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi injured.
Pep Lijnders, speaking after the match, was confident the Reds can find solutions. But, on this form, Salah and Mane will prove almost impossible to replace.
