Curtis Jones’ close-range finish proved decisive as Liverpool beat Chelsea 2-1 to return to the summit of the Premier League.
Jones was the star of the show at Anfield on Sunday and grabbed the goal his performance deserved in the 51st minute.
Liverpool’s winner came just after Nicolas Jackson had restored parity for Chelsea – who had fallen behind to Mohamed Salah’s penalty – with a goal that was initially disallowed for offside before the intervention of VAR.
The technology had come to Chelsea’s rescue in first-half stoppage time, with referee John Brooks changing his decision to award Liverpool a second penalty after Robert Sanchez had clattered into Jones, with the goalkeeper having just got a toe to the ball first.
Yet Chelsea could not forge a second comeback, as Liverpool went back above Manchester City, who had risen to the top following their last-gasp win at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
A scrappy start failed to produce much in the way of goalmouth action until, in the 24th minute, Noni Madueke got the better of Andrew Robertson and teed up Cole Palmer, whose shot was blocked brilliantly by Jones.
Less than a minute later, Salah saw a penalty appeal turned down at the other end following a tussle with Levi Colwill.
But Colwill was not so lucky soon after, as he clumsily lashed out at Jones. Salah slammed home the resulting spot-kick, and he would have had a second chance from 12 yards had referee Brooks not changed his mind on Sanchez’s tackle on Jones in first-half stoppage time.
Chelsea made that good fortune count when Jackson beat Liverpool’s offside trap and slotted in just after the restart – Brooks going to the screen again before awarding that goal.
Parity was short-lived. From Salah’s delicious cross, Jones took an excellent touch before prodding beyond Sanchez.
Chelsea substitute Renato Veiga could have rescued a point deep into stoppage time, only to head over from Palmer’s free-kick, as Arne Slot won his 10th game out of 11 matches in charge of Liverpool across all competitions.