Considering Maurizio Sarri has stuck stubbornly to his possession principles this season and tension was high inside Anfield, Chelsea
'We've got games coming that are really important so we have to move on!' 👊#MondayMotivation
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) April 15, 2019
That spell of Chelsea pressure shortly after Liverpool’s second goal, when Eden Hazard should have scored twice, betrayed a certain giddiness among Jurgen Klopp’s understandably emotional players.
53 – WHAT A GOAL, MO! Salah cuts inside and unleashes an UNBELIEVABLE strike from distance, which finds the top corner. WOW!
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 14, 2019
[2-0]#LIVCHE pic.twitter.com/gy5R1eVATY
It would surely have made more sense to press Liverpool and confront them higher up the pitch, as in the 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge, rather than sit back and attempt to absorb pressure.
Instead of testing their hosts’ nerve, Chelsea allowed Liverpool to grow into the game and build momentum; Sadio Mane’s opener was a long time coming.
⭕| RAZAAA! Here’s City’s first goal, where Kevin de Bruyne played an exquisite ball to Raheem Sterling, who scored a beauty! (1-0) #CRYMCI 💙 #ManCity 🔥
— City Central (@City_CentraI) April 14, 2019
pic.twitter.com/aVXR0bP5qV
Klopp deserves credit for targeting Chelsea’s Achilles heel, Emerson, who could not handle the pace of Mohamed Salah and received little defensive support from Willian.
An overlap down Chelsea’s left led directly to the first goal, before Salah too easily cut inside Emerson ahead of his stunning strike.