Curtis Jones earned the man of the match accolade for his standout performance in Liverpool’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Anfield. After the match, manager Arne Slot praised Jones for effectively neutralizing Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, who had a quieter outing.
Liverpool struck first in the 29th minute with Mohamed Salah converting a penalty, but Chelsea quickly equalized through Nicolas Jackson just after the restart. However, Jones restored Liverpool’s lead just three minutes later with a deft touch and finish past Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, helping the Reds secure a crucial win.
The match featured several contentious moments, including two potential penalties for Liverpool and a disallowed goal from Cody Gakpo shortly after Salah’s opener. With this victory, Liverpool reclaimed the Premier League’s top spot following Manchester City’s earlier win over Wolves, while Chelsea remains sixth under Enzo Maresca.
Slot reflected on the challenge posed by Chelsea, noting, “Everyone that saw the game knows it wasn’t easy. Chelsea demonstrated their quality in the second half of last season, and they’ve invested heavily.” He was pleased to see Liverpool create a gap between themselves and Chelsea in the league standings.
Jones’ performance drew specific praise from Slot, who emphasized the midfielder’s pivotal role in controlling Palmer. “Curtis had a difficult job to manage Cole Palmer, who possesses great quality. He was crucial in both defense and attack, contributing to the penalties and scoring a vital goal.”
Slot was booked for his passionate protests regarding several contentious officiating decisions, acknowledging that he deserved the yellow card for his reaction. He explained, “I felt there were multiple decisions that didn’t favor us, including a possible handball and a penalty situation.”
Despite the intense match, Slot expressed gratitude for the support of Liverpool’s fans, stating, “The fans stood up today and played a significant role in our win against a strong Chelsea side.”