Local hero Jones the toast of Anfield as Slot's Reds see off Chelsea to stay out in front

FLYING HIGH: Liverpool's Curtis Jones (right) celebrates scoring their side's second goal of the game during the Premier League match at Anfield, Liverpool. Picture date: Sunday October 20, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story SOCCER Liverpool. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire

Liverpool 2 Chelsea 1 

Curtis Jones was the hero as Liverpool came through their sternest test so far this season to remain the Premier League title pacesetters after a hard-fought win over improving Chelsea at Anfield.

Academy graduate Jones stepped into midfield in place of Alexis Mac Allister, who had returned from international duty not feeling 100 per cent, and stole the limelight from some of his more illustrious team-mates.

He earned the penalty that Mo Salah converted for Liverpool's first goal then popped up with the winner after Nicholas Jackson had levelled the scores.

Jones also produced a vital block Cole Palmer's goal-bound shot when the game was goal-less in an all-round impressive midfield performance. Little wonder the local boy got a standing ovation from when substituted late in the game.

Arne Slot had said before the game that judgement on Liverpool's impressive start under his command should be reserved until after a set of tough fixtures over the next few weeks.

Well, this was a good start to a run of games that will include a trip to RB Leipzig on Tuesday before a visit to Arsenal next Sunday. Then there are two games with Brighton, in the Carabao Cup and Premier League) a Champions League home clash with Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen and Aston Villa.

But it's had not to admire the start made by Slot who has now won 10 of his first 11 games while the victory was the 147th Premier League home game where Liverpool had been leading at half-time and not been beaten.

A stop-start first half was all about three penalty appeals by Liverpool - one given, one dismissed and one given but over-turned after a VAR review.

The first came when Salah was brought down by Levi Colwill but referee john Brooks decided Salah had made the most of limited contact.

The second was given after the clumsy Colwill floored Jones as he attempted to clear a loose ball after Salah's shot had been blocked. Salah duly hammered home the spot kick to no doubt feel a sense of justice after being denied a few minutes earlier.

The third came when keeper Roberto Sanchez clattered into Jones was initially awarded but was overturned when Brooks was advised to review the incident by VAR Michael Oliver and decided that the Chelsea keeper had first made contact with the ball a split second before the collision.

Up until Liverpool had scored, Chelsea had settled well and had looked the more threatening team with that man Jones making his vital block to stop Cole Palmer's shot, Nicholas Jackson firing into the side netting and Palmer lifting a decent chance over the bar.

And Chelsea took only two minutes of the second half to equalise after another intervention by VAR with Jackson declared onside after a lengthy review as he ran on to Caciedo's through pass to slide his shot past Kelleher Liverpool were soon back in front when Jones timed his run to perfection to get behind Chelsea's defence, control Salah's pass and cleverly flick it past Sanchez with Chelsea's appeals for offside falling deaf ears with both the on pitch officials and off-pitch.

Chelsea kept the Merseyside club on their toes right to the end to underline their improvement under Enzo Maresca but Liverpool's defence - with Caoimhin Kelleher a calming influence in goal in the absence of the injured Allison Becker - held firm to re-claim top spot after Manchester City had briefly leapfrogged them following their last-gasp win at Wolves earlier in the afternoon.

Liverpool (4-3-3): Kelleher 7; Alexander-Arnold 7 (Gomez 80, 5 ), Konate 7, van Dijk 7, Robertson 7; Jones 9 (Mac Allister 80, 5), Gravenberch 6, Szoboszlai 6; Salah 7, Jota 5 (Nunez 32, 6) , Gakpo 6 (Diaz 65, 6) Unused subs: Jaros, Endo, Tsimikas, Quansah, Morton. Goal: Salah pen 28, Jones 51.

Booked: Szoboszlai, Nunez, Konate.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sanchez 6; James 6 (Veiga 59, 5), Adarabioyo 6 (Badiashile 59, 5), Colwill 6, Gusto 6; Caicedo 7, Lavia 6 (Fernandez 59, 6); Madueke 6 (Nkunku 76, 5), Palmer 6, Sancho 5 (Neto 46, 7); Jackson 6. Unused subs: Bettinelli, Disasi, Joao Felix, Dewsbury-Hall. Goal: Jackson 47.

Booked: Tosin, Colwill, Veiga 

Referee: John Brooks 7.