Is that it for Jose Mourinho at Chelsea?
If Chelsea had taken the lead at home to a rival last season, there’s no way they would have capitulated in the manner they did to Liverpool today.
That’s now six defeats in the league and any hope of retaining the title, or even making the Champions League, now looks unlikely for the London club.
However, Liverpool fans won’t care. Their side came from 1-0 down to win 1-3, Philippe Coutinho showed his brilliance and Christian Benteke had a devastating impact from the bench.
Here’s how we rated the players:
Chelsea
Asmir Begovic – 5
Made a number of comfortable saves early in the game, and could do little about Liverpool’s goals due to slight deflections and Coutinho’s quality.
Kurt Zouma – 5
At times the 19 year old was almost like another centre-half for Chelsea, rarely got forward though and struggled as the game wore on.
Gary Cahill – 6
Was dragged down by the slapstick defending all around him. The best of Chelsea’s defenders, which isn’t saying a lot.
John Terry – 4
Just as Liverpool’s defence were caught napping for Ramires’ goal, Terry and the rest of the Chelsea backline will be disappointed to have conceded Coutinho’s first goal, despite its obvious quality.
Terry, in particular, was at fault. Chelsea’s captain rushed out to press Firmino, but was nowhere close enough as the Brazilian played the ball off to Coutinho, who did the rest. Terry rushed across to stop Coutinho’s shot, but didn’t get close. You can’t imagine Terry being caught out to such an extent last season.
It got worse after that. The only person who’s position is currently less secure than Jose Mourinho’s at Chelsea. Slapstick performance.
Cesar Azpilicueta – 5
Will be disappointed with his role in all of Liverpool’s goals.
John Obi Mikel – 6
When you see Mikel’s name on the teamsheet, you know Chelsea , even more than usual, are not going to be playing free-flowing football. The midfielder was his usual destructive self, winning four of his five tackles in the first-half he offered Chelsea’s leaky defence extra protection. For a while at least.
Cesc Fabregas is undoubtedly a more talented player, but offers his side little when out of possession and Mourinho was justified in dropping the Spaniard for Mikel. Chelsea’s early goal, affording them the opportunity to retreat and concede possession to Liverpool, was tailor-made for the Nigerian.
Ramires – 7
The Brazilian took his goal well with a guided header past Simon Mignolet, although Liverpool’s static defence could probably claim an assist. Ramires won the ball back a number of times for his side, and was solid in possession. He won’t be happy with himself for buying Coutinho’s dummy, but was still Chelsea’s best player today.
Willian – 6
Working very hard, helping out his defence and continued his decent form this season.
Oscar – 5
Worked hard, but was sloppy in possession and allowed Coutinho to run off him for Liverpool’s equaliser.
Eden Hazard – 4
Remember when Hazard was the best player in the Premier League? The Belgian hasn’t yet entered a Wayne Rooney-esque level of decline, but is struggling for form and was largely anonymous for the hour he spent on the pitch.
Diego Costa – 4
Couldn’t even be arsed doing his WWE bad guy routine.
Subs:
Kenedy – 5
Anonymous
Falcao –
Meh.
Cesc Fabregas –
Not on long enough to be rated.
Liverpool
Simon Mignolet – 5
The Belgian goalkeeper was caught napping, like the rest of Liverpool’s defence, for Ramires’ early goal. Mignolet got a hand on the header and arguably should have done better. Was largely untested thereafter.
Nathaniel Clyne – 6
Neat in possession and got forward at every chance.
Martin Skrtel – 6
The Slovakian defender made a rather pitiful attempt to stop Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross for Ramires’ goal, doing his best David Luiz impression. Skrtel tucked his arms behind, rather than close down the Chelsea defender, and was hopelessly out of position.
Skrtel, like the rest of Liverpool’s defence, improved as the game went on, and made a last-ditch block with the scores level.
Mamadou Sakho – 6
Another defender caught out for Chelsea’s opener, but improved as the game went on. Neat in possession and was involved in Coutinho’s second with a precise long pass to Benteke.
Alberto Moreno – 6
Only Alberto Moreno can explain what he was doing when Ramires strolled past him to head the opening goal. The Spanish defender spoke about his ‘rage’ at being left out of the side by Brendan Rodgers, but Moreno will have enraged his new manager with his dozy defending.
Improved as the game went on, and could’ve scored following an impressive break from defence.
Lucas – 6
A mixed performance from Lucas. He might not be to everyone’s tastes, and he won’t pick out a defence splitting pass, but the 28 year old’s tackling was (almost) flawless, he was neat in possession and he helped nullify the threat of Hazard. Arguably lucky to remain the pitch and was guilty of a number of needless fouls in the second-half.
Emre Can – 6
Sloppy in the first half, both in possession and with a number of needless tackles. Got better as the game went on, but, like Lucas, was somewhat lucky not to recieve a second booking.
James Milner – 6
Was involved in Liverpool’s goal, but had an otherwise quiet game. Substituted for Christian Benteke just after an hour.
Adam Lallana – 7
Worked hard and linked up well with Firmino, Lallana was also first to a number of second balls. When Klopp was appointed Lallana, who has struggled for fitness in his time at the club, looked like one of the player’s who could make way, but he’s started every game under the German.
Was involved in Benteke’s goal with a clever step-over.
Philippe Coutinho – 8
Coutinho’s season was almost summed up by his first-half performance. The Brazilian was largely anonymous, sloppy in possession and struggled to get into the game, but showed his quality with a wonderful goal just before the half-time whistle.
Coutinho sold Ramires a clever dummy, creating space for himself on the edge of Chelsea’s penalty area before curling a beautiful shot past Begovic, the 23 year old’s first goal since the opening day of the season.
The Brazilian got a slight defection for his second, but controlled the ball with a beautiful touch. The best player on show.
Roberto Firmino – 7
Showed some neat touches, linked up well, at times, with Lallana and put pressure on the opposition when out of possession. Firmino might not be a natural striker, like Christian Benteke or Daniel Sturridge, but looks a better option than Dviock Origi until the latter return to full fitness.
Showed good awareness to set up Coutinho for Liverpool’s equaliser.
Subs:
Christian Benteke – 8
A super-sub performance from the big Belgian. Set up Coutinho with a towering header and managed to get on the score-sheet. His presence caused Chelsea’s defence a number of problems and offered Liverpool a more direct option.
Jordan Ibe & Dejan Lovren –
Not on long enough to rate.
