Liverpool present they’re actual deal by sinking Chelsea, ‘huge man bias’ claims after VAR controversy in Metropolis’s Wolves nail-biter
Liverpool are trying more and more like Manchester Metropolis’s principal title rivals after beating resurgent Chelsea 2-1 to remain high of the Premier League desk.
After Metropolis wanted an injury-time header from John Stones to beat backside membership Wolves 2-1 within the early kick-off on Sunday, Liverpool answered with a composed efficiency at Anfield at hand Chelsea their first league loss because the opening spherical.
Having seen third-placed Arsenal lose at Bournemouth on Saturday to boost questions in regards to the Gunners’ title hopes, Liverpool and Metropolis took full benefit 24 hours later to construct a small hole atop the standings.
Arne Slot’s Liverpool now lead on 21 factors from eight video games, one forward of Pep Guardiola’s Metropolis and 4 forward of Arsenal.
Curtis Jones orchestrated the win for Liverpool, incomes a penalty for Mohamed Salah’s first-half opener after which scoring himself to revive the host’s lead within the 51st minute, shortly after Nicolas Jackson had equalised for Chelsea.
Jones additionally thought he had earned a second penalty in first-half harm time, nevertheless it was overturned after a VAR assessment judged Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez obtained the ball earlier than bundling over the Liverpool participant.
However Jones capped a stellar efficiency by beating the offside lure to get on the tip of a ball into the field from Salah and slot within the winner.
Liverpool have been the final crew aside from Metropolis to win the title, again in 2019-20, and pushed them shut a number of occasions underneath Jurgen Klopp earlier than ending simply fifth two years in the past and a distant third final season.
However in Slot’s first season in cost, the Reds appear to be credible challengers once more and have now received 10 of 11 video games in all competitions.
Metropolis, with out their injured linchpin Rodri, are trying removed from unbeatable, needing one other last-gasp objective from Stones to keep away from a 3rd league attract 4 video games towards a Wolves crew with just one level to date.
It additionally wanted a VAR intervention for the objective to face, as referee Chris Kavanagh was known as to the sideline monitor to assessment whether or not Bernardo Silva was interfering with goalkeeper Jose Sa from an offside place.
“Is there one thing within the unconscious across the decision-making?” Wolves supervisor Gary O’Neil stated whereas including he didn’t assume the officers intentionally favoured Metropolis.
“With out even figuring out it, are you extra seemingly to present it to Manchester Metropolis than Wolves?
“Is there one thing in there, not on goal, that influences decision-making? I’ve spoken to them about this they usually assure me there isn’t, however they’re human.
“I can categorically let you know that they undoubtedly don’t imply to. I simply know from a human viewpoint, it’s powerful. If I needed to upset somebody in a avenue and there was slightly man and an enormous man, I’m going to upset the little man. Perhaps there’s something that edges it in that course when it’s actually tight.”
Guardiola’s crew had received 4 straight titles by usually overwhelming opponents.
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“We’re not used to profitable video games on the finish,” stated Guardiol. “It’s a good flavour for us.”
It additionally prolonged Metropolis’s unbeaten streak to a club-record 31 league video games, beating a mark Guardiola’s crew had set in 2018.
With prolific striker Erling Haaland scoreless for a 3rd straight league recreation, Metropolis’s defenders offered the objectives as a substitute after Jorgen Strand Larsen had given the hosts a shocking early lead within the seventh minute.
Josko Gvardiol curled in an excellent right-foot shot from exterior the world to equalise within the thirty third minute however Wolves then repelled wave after wave of Metropolis assaults earlier than the late intervention from Stones, who additionally netted a last-gasp equaliser towards Arsenal within the eighth minute of harm time final month.
“These moments don’t come usually for us,” Stones stated. “We’ve give you just a few over time and as we speak was one in all them.”
© AAP
