Liverpool v Chelsea player ratings: Bradley 9, Jota 8; Chilwell 3, Caicedo 4

Merseyside club five points clear at top of Premier League after 4-1 win at Anfield

Alisson Becker 7/10

LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Will have busier first-halves when Chelsea had one attempt on goal and failed to win a single corner. More to do after break but no chance with Nkunku goal. AFP

Liverpool v Chelsea - Premier League - Anfield

Liverpool's Conor Bradley celebrates after assisting their side's third goal of the game scored by Dominik Szoboszlai during the Premier League match at Anfield, Liverpool. Picture date: Wednesday January 31, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story SOCCER Liverpool. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.Show less

Virgil van Dijk 7/10

Could have conceded early penalty for clumsy challenge on Gallagher. Nice control and ball into box to Jota ahead of attacker winning penalty. Beaten by Nkunku’s quick feat ahead of Chelsea’s substitute’s goal. Getty ImagesShow less

Ibrahima Konate 8/10

One of the Premier League's form defenders but hardly troubled by Chelsea’s woeful attacking efforts until second half triple substitution finally brought the London club to life. PA

Joe Gomez 8/10

Has excelled as emergency left-back and did not put foot wrong here at Anfield, although he has first-choice Andrew Robertson on the bench and closing in on full fitness. Getty Images

Alexis Mac Alliser 8/10

Looked like he was poised to take first-half penalty only for Nunez to take the ball and miss. World Cup-winner was strong in the tackle and pinged some lovely passes around, including one in run-up to Diaz’s goal. ReutersShow less

Curtis Jones 8/10

Almost put side 2-0 up but his nice low strike was saved well by Petrovic. Like Bradley, his performances suggest the future looks bright for whoever takes over as manager from Jurgen Klopp. Getty ImagesShow less

Dominik Szoboszlai 8/10

Glided through game showing off some lovely first touches and his distribution was faultless. Great header from Bradley cross put Liverpool 3-0 up. EPA

Luis Diaz 8/10

Picked out Bradley with nice pass for young right-back’s unforgettable first goal for club. Drilled shot straight at keeper from tight angle at start of second half but did find net from close range with 11 minutes left. PAShow less

Diogo Jota 8/10

Bulldozed his way through the Chelsea defence, enjoying a slice of luck along the way, before firing Liverpool into the lead with 13th goal of season. Earned side penalty when taken down by Badiashile only for Nunez to miss from spot. Getty ImagesShow less

Darwin Nunez 7/10

Five shots in opening 20 minutes, with two of them requiring good stops from Petrovic. Struck post with penalty just before half-time, hit bar with header after break when should have scored - the fourth time he hit woodwork. Great cross to Diaz for fourth goal. APShow less

Trent Alexander-Arnold 7/10

SUBS: (On for Bradley 69’) Such has been the form of the man he replaced, the England full-back has not been missed by the Reds while out injured. AFP

Cody Gakpo 7/10

(On for Jota 69’) Dutchman fired one shot wide of target from edge of area. AP

Harvey Elliot 6/10

(On for Szoboszlai 69’) Hit shot from distance straight at keeper. AFP

Andrew Robertson 7/10

(On for Gomez 69’) Scottish left-back given much-needed game time after injury-hit campaign. Reuters

Bobby Clark N/A

(On for Jones 82’) PA

Djordje Petrovic 7/10

CHELSEA RATINGS: Unlike his Liverpool counterpart, relentlesssly under pressure as the home side registered 28 attempts on goal with 13 on target. Made numerous good stops and no chance with any of goals in what was dreadful defensive – and attacking, to be fair – Chelsea performance. EPAShow less

Axel Disasi 5/10

Fourth Chelsea booking in first half which saw away side lose all composure and defensively were all over the place for pretty much the entire 90 minutes. PA

Benoit Badiashile 4/10

Should have been stronger with his challenge on Jota ahead of Liverpool opener. Stood on same player’s ankle leading to penalty on edge of half-time that was missed by Nunez. Moved to left-back in second half, skinned by Bradley ahead of third goal and allowed Diaz in for fourth. Getty ImagesShow less

Thiago Silva 5/10

Like his defensive partner, will be disappointed with weak tackle attempt on Jota for Portuguese’s goal. Another Blues player guilty of giving ball away cheaply in disastrous opening 45 minutes. The veteran must think about packing it in after a team performance like this. AFPShow less

Ben Chilwell 3/10

Miserable game for captain, gave the ball away far too easily, one of those times leading to Jota scoring, while also being booked for blatant dive looking for penalty. Hooked at break. AP

Moises Caicedo 4/10

Midfielder, who could have joined Liverpool in summer, picked up game’s first booking after 10 minutes for dissent. Gave ball away in run-up to Bradley’s goal. Substitution in second half met with ironic cheers by home fans. PAShow less

Enzo Fernandez 5/10

Chelsea’s other central midfielder was also booked in first half, the Argentine’s was for reckless sliding tackle on Jones. Like Caicedo, Enzo’s form is nowhere near justifying the huge sum forked out to bring him to the Stamford Bridge club. PAShow less

Conor Gallagher 4/10

Saw appeals for early penalty after Van Dijk challenge ignored by referee and VAR. That was his biggest contribution as he was also hooked at half-time. Getty Images

Noni Madueke 4/10

Like rest of Chelsea’s attackers, invisible in first half and one of three players taken off at break - but it could have been anyone in his side, bar the keeper. PA

Raheem Sterling 5/10

Former Liverpool man received his usual jeers from home fans from start to finish and was marked superbly by Bradley in miserable Anfield return. Getty Images

Cole Palmer 4/10

Technically supposed to be leading the line until Nkunku's introduction but totally anonymous as attacking threat and you could be forgiven for forgetting he was playing at all. EPA

Malo Gusto 5/10

SUBS: (On for Chilwell 46’) Brought on to try and shore up a defence that was leaking like a sieve but the holes remained and the final scoreline flattered Chelsea. PA

Christopher Nkunku 7/10

(On for Gallagher 46’) Not the easiest game for the big-money summer signing, still building up his fitness after injury, to come on in but still produced great footwork and finish to pull score back to 3-1. ReutersShow less

Mykhailo Mudryk 4/10

(On for Madueke 46’) Had glorious chance to pull side back into game minutes after coming on but side-footed first-time shot high over crossbar. AP

Carney Chukwuemeka 5/10

(On for Caicedo 66’) Young midfielder at least helped give Chelsea a little bit of attacking impetus. Getty Images Cesare Casadei : N/A (On for Palmer 85’)

Liverpool moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League after demolishing hapless Chelsea 4-1 at Anfield on Wednesday.

Conor Bradley was the star of the show as the 20-year-old right-back fired into the bottom corner in the 39th minute to double the Reds’ lead having earlier provided the pass that led to Diogo Jota’s opener midway through the first half.

After Darwin Nunez sent a penalty against the post in first-half stoppage-time – one of four times he hit the woodwork – the advantage was extended in the 65th minute when Dominik Szoboszlai headed in from Bradley’s cross.

Substitute Christopher Nkunku replied for Chelsea before Luis Diaz wrapped things up for Jurgen Klopp’s men as they made it 15 league matches unbeaten, and four successive wins, in their first top-flight outing since the German’s announcement that he is to step down as manager at the end of the season.

Bradley, the 20-year-old Northern Ireland international who has been deputising for Trent Alexander-Arnold, told TNT Sports: “It’s a very proud moment. It’s something I’ve dreamt of for a very long time.

“It’s unbelievable. I just couldn’t believe it went in. I didn’t know what to do, so I just went over to the corner and did a knee slide.

“I’ve just got to try to take my chance. Over the last few games I think I’ve done pretty well, and I just want to keep up this form and keep working hard.”

“What a wonderful kid he is,” manager Jurgen Klopp said of Bradley. “Outstanding finish, the whole game, the contribution, the involvement. It's a job to play against [Raheem] Sterling, that's not easy.

“I'm really happy for him. He's a very serious young man and that was pretty special I have to say.”

A miserable evening for Chelsea who saw a three-match winning run come to an end after Mauricio Pochettino’s side went down to a scoreline that flattered them as they stayed 10th.

“It's so clear they were much better than us,” said Pochettino, whose team take on Liverpool again in the League Cup final in three weeks. “We lost every single duel. Every time we recovered the ball after one or two touches we lost it.

“We move on. That was only one game. We knew Liverpool are one of the best teams. Maybe it was a little bit too much for us.”

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