It was Halloween horror for Jose Mourinho, as Chelsea were thrashed 3-1 by a resurgent Liverpool side at Stamford Bridge. Manchester United put in a disappointing display away at Crystal Palace, as the Red Devils returned home with an arguably undeserved point.
Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty
The defending champions took the lead as early as the third minute when Diego Costa played the ball cleverly to Cesar Azpilicueta who was over lapping on the left flank and the Spanish full-back, put in an inviting cross into the box, as Ramires ghosted in the 18 yard-box and send a powerful header past Simon Mignolet, to give the Blues the lead within 4 minutes. For lengthy periods in the rest of the first half, Chelsea were satisfied to sit back and let Liverpool have the ball and play on the counter. This tactic backfired right in the dying minutes of the first half as new signing Roberto Firmino played the ball to fellow countryman, Coutinho at the edge of the box, who left Ramires for the dead with an effortless shimmy, and curled in a beautiful left-footed effort past the hapless Asmir Begovic. Jose Mourinho who was expecting to have a talk at the interval with his team with a lead, left in disgust as the Brazilian scored 2 minutes and 30 seconds into added time, after the referee allotted a minimum of 2 minutes of stoppage time.
Action Images via Reuters/ John Sibley
Liverpool dominated proceedings in the second-half and Chelsea were left gasping for breath, as Liverpool pushed for a goal to give them the lead. The Chelsea faithful seemed hard done by as they believed that a blatant foul by Lucas Leiva in the second half on Willian was enough for him to take an early shower back in the dressing room. Soon after, Chelsea found themselves trailing when Sakho’s cross field ball to Christian Benteke was headed down by the big Belgian for Phillipe Coutinho whose shot deflected of the Chelsea skipper, John Terry, and into the back of the net it went.
John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty
Liverpool compounded Mourinho’s misery, when Christian Benteke gathered Jordan Ibe’s pass, cleverly let go by Adam Lallana, and rather easily slipped past a Chelsea defender to send a shot into the back of the net to make it 3-1. This win at Stamford Bridge was Jurgen Klopp’s first win in the Premier League and second in succession, following a 1-0 win against Bournemouth in the Capital One Cup. Jose Mourinho, in typical fashion, gave an amusing post-match interview, as he dismissed all of the interviewer’s questions with a simple – “I have nothing to say.” Despite the torrid start to the season, Mourinho insists that he has the Chelsea board’s backing and will not be sacked, although club owner Roman Abromovich has reportedly set his sights on a new manager at Stamford Bridge, as Mourinho is on the brink of an exit from the club.
Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley
After a frantic first 15 minutes of the first half, Man United were under immense pressure by Crystal Palace’s high press and the hosts almost found themselves a goal to the good through Senegalese winger Yannick Bolasie, whose ferocious shot from inside the box was parried of by David De Gea, which hit the cross bar and went behind for a corner. Manchester United settled their nerves after the quarter hour mark as they enjoyed more possession but only had one attempt on goal, when Anthony Martial moved in from the left wing and provided a sublime pass to skipper Wayne Rooney, who lost the race to control the ball to Welsh goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey. Second half started with a twitch in tactical deployment as Ward and Kelly switched their positions and so did agile wingers Wilfred Zaha and Yannick Bolasie. The second half started in a similar fashion compared to the first half, as once again the south Londoners were knocking on David De Gea’s door. The Eagles could have easily taken the lead when Joel Ward’s cross found French technician, Yohan Cabaye who couldn’t get a shot away. This was Man United’s third 0-0 draw in 3 games in all competitions, asking a few questions to Dutchman Louis Van Gaal and his style of play, especially after the Red Devils were knocked out of the Capital One Cup on penalties by Middlesbrough.
Anthony Delvin/PA Wire
Manchester City, labored to a 2-1 win at home against Norwich, as Yaya Toure’s late penalty sealed all three points for the league leaders, after Cameron Jerome cancelled out Nicolas Otamendi’s opener.
Arsenal recorded a comfortable win at Swansea, as the Gunners moved to second place in the table, following goals by Olivier Giroud, Laurent Koscielny and Joel Campbell, who made his first Premier League start for his club.
Odion Ighalo scored a brace, as Watford recorded a 2-0 win at home against away-experts West Ham.
Leicester City’s superb run of form continued, as the Foxes came from behind to win 3-2 at West Brom, courtesy a brace from this season’s revelation Riyadh Mahrez and an 8th consecutive Premier League goal by Jamie Vardy, who become only the second player to achieve this feat, after Ruud van Nistelrooy and Daniel Sturridge.
In La Liga, Real Madrid and Barcelona, both recorded comfortable wins against Las Palmas and Getafe respectively to fight for top spot in the table.
Credits to Sahil Bhinde for the United vs Crystal Palace report
Tags: Chelsea EPL EPL news Jose Mourinho liverpool
