LIVERPOOL (AFP) – Arne Slot said Liverpool passed the hardest test of his time in charge as a 2-1 win over Chelsea at Anfield moved the Reds back top of the Premier League.
Mohamed Salah’s penalty and Curtis Jones’ winner made it 10 wins in 11 games since Slot succeeded Jurgen Klopp.
Nicolas Jackson briefly levelled for Chelsea, who enjoyed nearly 60 per cent possession, but they slipped to a first league defeat since losing to Manchester City on the opening weekend of the season.
Victory takes Liverpool one point ahead of City and four clear of Arsenal, who they face at the Emirates next weekend.
“Many other games were hard but this might have been the hardest because of the amount of quality players they have and the structure they have,” said Slot. “We had to fight really hard to get this one over the line.”
Chelsea are now seven points off the top down in sixth, but there was plenty cause for optimism for the Blues from a performance that stretched Liverpool to their limits.
“We lost, we are not happy, but the performance with and without the ball was very good,” said Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca.
“I’ve been in this stadium many times and to see Liverpool in their (half) for a long time is not easy.”
Liverpool’s only defeat under Slot came to Nottingham Forest following September’s international break.
The Dutchman responded by this time leaving all of his South American internationals – Alexis Mac Allister, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez – on the bench after their exertions in recent days across the Atlantic.
The decision to hand Jones just his second league start of the season proved an inspired one as the England international won Liverpool’s penalty and scored the decisive goal.
Chelsea settled nicely into their rhythm and pushed the home side back by dominating the ball in the opening half hour.
However, Liverpool’s pace on the break was a constant threat and Chelsea were caught out when Salah fed Jones, who was chopped down by Levi Colwill.
