Liverpool 2(5)-2(4) Chelsea: 3 players who were impressive for the Reds in the UEFA Super Cup

Liverpool have emerged as the winners of the 2019 UEFA Super Cup after beating Chelsea 5-4 on penalties at the Vodafone stadium in Istanbul, Turkey. The Reds were unimpressive for large parts of the game but managed to secure the win on penalties following a 2-2 draw after extra time.

Chelsea made the brighter start to the game, piling pressure on the European champions in the opening exchanges. The Blues’ pressure finally paid off in the 36th minute when Olivier Giroud connected to a pass from Christian Pulisic to slot home the opener.

Olivier Giroud

However, Liverpool upped the ante in the second half and equalised immediately after the restart, with Sadio Mane getting the goal. The Senegalese forward, playing in his first competitive game after returning from an extended break, completed a scrappy effort.

With neither side able to grab the winner in regulation time, the game went into extra time. Mane scored his second goal to put Liverpool 2-1 up in the 95th minute, but that goal was cancelled out six minutes later when Jorginho netted from the penalty, forcing the game into penalties.

Chelsea youngster Tammy Abraham emerged as the fall guy after missing his penalty, enabling Liverpool, who scored from all their kicks, to win the shootout 5-4.

Below we take a look at three players who were most impressive for Jurgen Klopp’s men:

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#3 Sadio Mane

EMane returned to the Liverpool side to score both of their goals in the Super Cup

Sadio Mane once again underlined his importance to this Liverpool side by putting in a man-of-the-match performance against Chelsea in the UEFA Super Cup.

The Senegal international was handed an extended break having led his country to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations. However, he returned with a big bang by scoring both of Liverpool’s goals against the Blues.

Mane was a constant menace on the flanks and was almost always at the right place at the right time. His first goal emphasized his potency upfront, but his second was the one that totally typified his predatory instincts in the opposition penalty box.

Mane scored lots of goals for Liverpool last season – both in the league and in Europe – and he once again demonstrated his importance to the side with a goal-scoring return in the Super Cup.

#2 Roberto Firmino

Firmino completely changed the game when he was introduced

Another Liverpool star who starred during the UEFA Super Cup was Roberto Firmino. The Brazilian came off the bench in the second half but still managed to make an impact in the game.

Firmino replaced Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at half time and immediately made his presence felt. Just two minutes after his introduction, the former Hoffenheim forward wonderfully threaded a pass to Sadio Mane to pull Liverpool level, after Olivier Giroud had earlier put the Blues 1-0 ahead.

Firmino again had a hand in the Reds’ second goal, setting up his Senegalese teammate to put Liverpool 2-1 up in extra time.

Despite picking up a knock at the tail end of the game, Firmino took the responsibility to kick-start Liverpool’s penalty shootout. The Brazil international sent Kepa Arrizabalaga the wrong way to set the Reds en route to a 5-4 win in the shootout.

Firmino may have entered the game in the second half, but his impact was substantial to the overall result.

#1 Adrian

Adrian saved Abraham’s penalty to ensure Liverpool won the penalty shootout

When a team wins a game on penalties, their goalkeeper is likely to have played a key role in that triumph. And Liverpool goalkeeper Adrian definitely played his part as the Reds’ secured victory over Chelsea in the UEFA Super Cup.

The former West Ham United goalie was in sensational form and denied the Blues on several occasions. He may have been culpable for the penalty which helped Chelsea draw level to 2-2, but his brilliant saves to keep Pedro and Pulisic at bay earlier on in the game kept the Reds’ hopes alive.

More importantly, Adrian showed great anticipation and composure to save Tammy Abraham’s penalty to secure victory for Klopp’s men. The Liverpool goalkeeper was confident in standing his ground, saving the striker’s shot which was hit straight through the middle.

Mane and Firmino may have been the heroes after being involved in Liverpool’s goals during the game, but Adrian certainly played his part as Klopp’s men picked up their second major trophy of the year.