Chelsea 0-2 Liverpool: 5 Hits and Flops | Premier League 2020-21

#3 Hit - Fabinho (Liverpool)

Fabinho played at centre-back alongside Virgil Van Dijk today

With both Joe Gomez and Joel Matip sidelined, Jurgen Klopp had to resort to Fabinho and the Brazilian partnered Virgil Van Dijk without any hassle. Timo Werner started off energetically for the Blues and he even broke into dangerous situations on more than one occasion.

It was Fabinho who stepped in to queer his pitch and quell the danger. He was characteristically excellent in possession and completed more passes than any other player on the pitch.

Given how well Fabinho dispensed his duties at centre-back against a talented Chelsea frontline, Joe Gomez might find it a little difficult to get back into the starting lineup next week when Liverpool take on Arsenal at Anfield.

#2 Flop - Kepa Arrizabalaga (Chelsea)

Kepa Arrizabalaga had yet another forgettable outing in a Chelsea shirt

Kepa Arrizabalaga has hardly covered himself in glory since joining last summer as the Chelsea's record signing. If he had been planning to work on vindicating himself, then those plans just went for a toss tonight.

Kepa's blooper in the 54th minute helped give Liverpool the much needed cushion. Sadio Mane pressed well into Kepa's box and intercepted his attempted pass and then knocked it home before the Spaniard could have a second say about it.

It ended up being yet another evening to forget for the Spanish international and Chelsea fans will be hoping that Edouard Mendy will be an upgrade on him.

Kepa error leading to an opposition goal in the Premier League2018/19 - 0⃣ (36 apps)2019/20 - 0⃣ (33 apps)2020/21 - 2⃣ (2 apps) pic.twitter.com/7NK1TH7c70

— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) September 20, 2020

#1 Hit- Sadio Mane (Liverpool)

Sadio Mane celebrates after scoring his second goal

Mohamed Salah got off to a wonderful start to the season, scoring a hattrick in Liverpool's season opener last week against Leeds United. So it's only typical of their partnership that Sadio Mane follows suit. It was Mane's excellent movement that led to Christensen having to resort to desperate measures and get sent off.

Mane's mazy runs were menacing from the get-go and he kept the Chelsea defenders on their toes throughout. He popped up in the right place and applied a finish to match a brilliant team move to secure the advantage for Liverpool.

It was his tenacity that birthed Liverpool's second goal as he took it upon himself to chase down the ball after he had lost it in the final third. He forced the erratic Kepa into a mistake and Klopp will be very happy to see the hunger that Mane showed. He was the difference maker today and was involved in all the significant events in the game.

Sadio Mané has now scored more Premier League goals than Cristiano Ronaldo.CR7: 196 games, 84 goalsSM10: 196 games, 86 goalsNot much splitting them. pic.twitter.com/n9VbLQlIGE

— William Hill (@WilliamHill) September 20, 2020