UEFA Super Cup 2019, Liverpool 2-2 Chelsea: 3 reasons why the Reds pipped Chelsea 5-4 on penalties

As Besiktas Park played host to the UEFA Super Cup encounter between Liverpool and Chelsea, the reigning European Champions prevailed on penalties after a tightly contested game.

The two sides entered the competition by virtue of their continental success in the 2018/19 season and the all English affair was a close encounter filled with a fair share of drama.

Frank Lampard's Chelsea side looked to set things right after a 4-0 hammering at the hands of Manchester United in the weekend and Liverpool, fresh from a convincing 4-1 victory against Norwich, aimed to pile misery on their opponents.

Chelsea took a deserved lead after Christian Pulisic's perfectly weighted pass was brilliantly finished off by Olivier Giroud but the Reds responded in the opening exchanges of the second half, through Sadio Mane.

With the scores tied 1-1 in normal time, not even extra time could decide the one-off encounter as the two shared the spoils once again with one goal apiece.

Sadio Mane was at it once again as he the put the finishing touches on a Roberto Firmino pass in emphatic style.

As Liverpool looked to be heading towards another famous victory in Istanbul, Adrian was alleged to have brought down Tammy Abraham in the area and Jorginho converted the resulting spot-kick.

In a tense game that went down to the wire, the Reds got the better of their opponents on penalties after Tammy Abraham's penalty was saved by Adrian, who went down as the hero on his Liverpool debut.

The Spaniard was in the thick of the action and came big for his new side in the penalty shootout, as his save went down as the defining moment of the game.

Liverpool's love affair with the city of Istanbul continued, as the continental kings added further European glory to their ranks.

As the Reds won their first piece of silverware in the new season, let's look at three reasons why they managed to do so.

#1 Roberto Firmino's introduction changed the game

With the Reds going into the interval with a 1-0 deficit, Jurgen Klopp's men had work to do against a resurgent Chelsea side.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was chosen to start ahead of Roberto Firmino and although the Englishman did his reputation no harm, he was withdrawn at the break in favour of the Brazilian.

Firmino wasted no time as he made a decisive contribution with virtually his touch of the game, setting up Mane for the equalizer early in the second half.

Liverpool's attack lacked incision without the mercurial Brazilian but his introduction at half-time proved to be a masterstroke from Klopp.

The former Hoffenheim once again turned provider for Mane, this time in extra time as his pass from the left-flank was brilliantly latched on to and finished by the Senegalese hit-man.

Liverpool looked all the more dangerous with Firmino leading the line and the Brazilian looks all set to play a pivotal role as the Reds aim to compete on all fronts this season.

#2 Adrian is the latest name in the list of European heroes for Liverpool

Adrian looked set to sign for Real Valladolid in Spain a fortnight ago but the Spaniard's life took a dramatic turn as Liverpool came calling for him.

The experienced shot-stopper was roped in as a replacement for the outgoing Simon Mignolet on a free-transfer and although he was initially signed as a deputy for Alisson Becker, there was another twist in the tale.

Adrian made an unexpected Premier League debut for the Reds in their Premier League opener against Norwich, as Alisson hobbled off with a suspected calf strain.

As he took his place between the sticks in the Kop End to a rapturous reception from the Liverpool faithful, the former West Ham man's Liverpool fairy-tale began to take shape.

Deputizing for the Brazilian in the one-off encounter, Adrian was in the thick of the action as Liverpool prevailed 5-4 on penalties.

Although he conceded a penalty which was eventually converted, Adrian enhanced his reputation with a string of fantastic saves but saved his best for the last.

As Mohamed Salah calmly converted Liverpool's fifth penalty in the shoot-out, Liverpool's newest recruit made himself a hero in his full debut for the club.

Tammy Abraham's penalty was brilliantly kept out by the Spaniard and Reds were victorious, thanks to his last-gasp heroics in the shoot-out.

With Alisson reportedly ruled out for four weeks, Adrian's newly acquired status of cult-hero is sure to spur him on for the rest of the campaign as he aims to deputize for the Brazilian.

#3 Sadio Mane announces his return in emphatic fashion

Sadio Mane made his first start of the season as the Reds aimed to add more silverware to their ranks.

The Senegalese winger was restricted to a substitute appearance in Liverpool's Premier League opener but was chosen to lead the line on the night.

Mane carried on from where he left off last season and scored two crucial goals on first competitive start in the new season.

The 27-year-old has been in sensational form for club and country since the turn of the year, making match-winning contributions with incredible consistency. Speaking before the game, the Golden Boot winner signalled his intent to hit the ground running immediately and he did so in emphatic fashion,

As Roberto Firmino's flick was tapped in past Kepa Arrizabalaga for the equalizer, the same combination came back to haunt Chelsea in extra-time.

Mane capped off a sensational individual performance with a devastating finish in extra-time, slamming Firmino's cross onto the roof of the net to put Liverpool ahead.

Liverpool's front-three were at their brilliant best with their returning hit-man and Mane's form comes as a massive boost to Jurgen Klopp, as the Reds look to mount another title challenge.

Edited by Amar Anand