Hits and flops as Liverpool dominate Chelsea in 5-3 thriller

The Reds see off an eight-goal classic before lifting the much-awaited Premier League trophy!

It was goals galore at Anfield as Liverpool beat Chelsea 5-3 in the final home game of the season.

Naby Keita, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Gioginio Wijnaldum struck apiece in quick succession for the Reds, but Olivier Giroud pulled one back right before half-time. Roberto Firmino and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain got into the act after the break, sandwiched between what were two more Chelsea goals from Tammy Abraham and Christian Pulisic.

While the Reds basked in the title glory after the match, Frank Lampard and co. are left all to do on the final day to secure Champions League football. Here are the hits and flops from the match:

Hit: Trent Alexander-Arnold

The sky’s the limit for the lad. After what’s been an enormous campaign for him even from a personal perspective, Alexander-Arnold turns in another blinder and also sets a new record. He extended his assist tally for the season to 13 with an excellent cross for Roberto Firmino, surpassing the mark he set last year for the highest number of assists by a defender in a single campaign. And that’s not all, he scored an absolute peach of a free-kick earlier on in the game too.

https://twitter.com/Squawka/status/1286035696315228165

Flop: Kepa Arrizabalaga

Chelsea’s shambolic defending this season is well documented, but more so is the Spaniard’s catastrophic displays between the sticks. Even though he wasn’t at fault for all the goals last night, Kepa nevertheless contrived to make a fool out of himself yet again.

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His passiveness to some of those goals was shocking. He didn’t move an inch when that TAA free-kick came in and had to be called out by his fellow players to respond when another shot just flew by him in the dying embers as the ex-Bilbao ‘keeper once again just stood still.

Hit: Christian Pulisic

There has hardly been any difference in this Chelsea side from the one that we saw before the shutdown. However, the same cannot be said of Pulisic, who’s returned from the break in a rich vein of form. The young American had another stormer last night, scoring and assisting once each to take his tally for the season to nine goals and six assists in the Premier League.

That dribble he made in the build-up to laying off for Tammy Abraham’s goal though, was pure class. He slalomed his way through the stream of red shirts around him with consummate ease, something which even Lionel Messi would be proud of.

Flop: Mohamed Salah

While its no secret that Liverpool hasn’t been up to snuff post lockdown, Mohamed Salah won’t be too happy with his form either. He’s looked sloppy and uninspired since the return to action, and last night was no different. The Egyptian ace cut an isolated figure up front, making just 34 passes and mustering one tame effort at goal.

His only notable contribution on the night was pressuring Jorginho into a flat backpass inside the box which allowed Wijnaldum to pounce on and hit the side’s third. Salah running out of steam at this stage wouldn’t matter much given that the title is already sewn-up and Liverpool have just one game left to close out the campaign, but he certainly missed a real opportunity to seal a third consecutive Golden Boot.

Liverpool travel to Newcastle on the final day whereas Chelsea host Wolves at Stamford Bridge in the battle for a top-four finish.