Chelsea 0-2 Liverpool: 5 talking points as Mane brace sinks 10-man Blues | Premier League 2020-21

#3. Kepa’s goalkeeping woes continue

Chelsea's Spanish keeper had another outing to forget

A new goalkeeper had been rumoured to be on Chelsea’s lengthy shopping list this season, especially considering Kepa’s patchy form in between the sticks for the Blues last season. The signing of Edouard Mendy from Rennes seems imminent, and, considering Kepa’s latest showing, feels like his arrival can’t come soon enough.

Having overcome a nervous moment in the first half when he raced out to intercept a through ball unsuccessfully leaving his goal unguarded, the Spaniard’s misery was compounded in the second half by a terrible error.

With another competitor for the goalkeeper spot incoming, Kepa will have to bring about a dramatic improvement in his performances if he wants to retain his place in the starting lineup.

#4. Liverpool’s formidable front-three pick up from where they left off last season

Liverpool's front three seem to be gelling together well already

While Mohamed Salah’s hat-trick proved to be the difference against Leeds last season, it was Mane’s brace that won the game for Liverpool this time around. As is often the case, Liverpool’s attacking triumvirate seems to have started sharing the goals and assists around already, with the first goal against Chelsea seeing all three of Salah, Roberto Firmino, and Mane involved.

Doublin' 🆙@LFC x #CHELIV pic.twitter.com/UpwV2Q5fMg

— Premier League (@premierleague) September 20, 2020

Having played a neat one-two with Salah on the right, it was Firmino who dinked in the perfect cross for Mane to head home the opener, setting Liverpool on the path to victory. If this is a sign of things to come as the season progresses, opposition Premier League defences need to watch out.

#5. Packed Premier League schedule taking its toll already

Despite this being the second game of the season, both teams looked quite sluggish

Despite ending up as a comfortable victory for the reigning champions, this match did not come to life until Christensen was sent off in the dying stages of the first half. Till then, the match had been hanging in the balance, with neither side able to carve out especially threatening openings.

In fact, Christensen’s red card was the highlight of a first half that was characterised by tired passes and laboured movements as both sides struggled for momentum.

Had both sides retained their full complement of players, the result might have been different, but Liverpool would no doubt have been thankful for the man advantage as they wrapped up a win that was made much more comfortable for them than they would have expected.