Disasi on Top and Jota on Flop Photograph: Tony O’Brien/Reuters
For the first time in a blues shirt, Axel Disasi scored a decisive goal, deflecting Diogo Jota, who was very fair for this rebound.
peaks
Disasi recorded for the first time
Recruited this summer for €45m, vice-champion Axel Disasi managed in the best of ways in his first meeting with the Blues jersey. First off a tough start to the game, he was able to take his chance to get his team back in the game. Like a shallow fox, the defender ducked wide to recover a volley Sterling put into the penalty area and allow Pochettino’s men to equalise. Before reuniting with Benoit Badiachel, his former partner at Monaco, Desassi has scored points and could establish himself as a key player in Chelsea’s defence.
Salah is the master of play
We missed him. Reds star Mohamed Salah has already shown the full extent of his talent once the tournament resumed. Comfortable with the ball, the Egyptian put the Blues defense through an ordeal in the first period. Assisting in the first goal with a perfectly placed ball in tight space, the 31-year-old winger almost got the perfect game by finding the net too. But with nothing reported as offside, if Liverpool are to return to the Champions League at the end of the season, they will have to rely on the fantastic Salah, as decisive as Sunday.
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Ghost Luis Diaz
Often injured since joining the Reds in January 2022, Luis Diaz’s prolonged absence caused plenty of damage to Jurgen Klopp’s men last season. The author of an excellent setting, the Colombian showed that it was necessary to count on him this year. The former Porto player was decisive against Chelsea. In the first half, with a good serve from Salah, Diaz allowed Liverpool to take the lead. Less prominent in the second half, the 26-year-old still set his wing on fire as soon as he served.
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jota erased
After a good support, Diogo Jota missed his recovery. The Portuguese, who remained alone at the forefront of Liverpool’s attack, struggled to be found by his partners. His races, shots, and attempts were not reassuring. The ex-Wolverhampton player has been eliminated in the Blues defence. Evidence of his incompetence, he was the first player to be substituted by Darwin Nunez in the second half.
Sanchez is not decisive
New Chelsea number one, the former Brighton goalkeeper has the heavy task of making Kepa and Mendy forget, only that. Signed for €23m this summer, the Spaniard has been indecisive against Liverpool. Unlike Alisson, Robert Sanchez did not calm the ball in the foot and in the air. The 1.97m goalkeeper still delivered some easy shots and a good run but fell short of expectations. When Chelsea dominate, it is always reassuring that the goalkeeper is ready to be decisive in restarting the machine.
