Sadio Mane’s brace gave Liverpool three points in their first big test as Premier League champions at Stamford Bridge as the Reds beat Chelsea 2-0.
Andreas Christensen’s red card before half-time gave the away team a numerical advantage, which they leveraged on in the second half as Mane scored twice in four minutes.
It was, though, Liverpool’s determination and ferocity – summed up by two-goal Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah – that forced Chelsea into blundering although the level of their mistakes were their own foolish making and will be a significant worry to manager Frank Lampard who has to quickly get this organised.
There were 10 minutes either side of half-time that ended any uncertainty as to the result and surely also ended Kepa Arrizabalaga’s already slender hopes of fighting off expected new goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy, and keeping his place.
Lampard has already shown a ruthless edge – Antonio Rudiger was left out of his squad – and the evidence was again overwhelming that Arrizabalaga is destined for the bench or even the exit.
Jurgen Klopp’s champions were already in complete control even before Chelsea defender, Christensen, was correctly shown a red card on the stroke of half-time.
Referee Paul Tierney initially opted for a yellow card but reviewed Christensen’s desperate challenge on Sadio Mane as he raced on to Jordan Henderson’s pass.
Mane then punished Chelsea with two swift goals after the break to confirm Liverpool’s vast superiority, the second of which was the result of another calamity for Kepa.
Mane headed in Roberto Firmino’s cross after 50 minutes then chased down Kepa, whose botched clearance gave the forward the simplest of finishes.
Chelsea’s day of misery was complete when Jorginho, normally so reliable from the spot, saw his penalty saved by Alisson after Liverpool’s new £20m signing, Thiago Alcantara, on as a half-time substitute, brought down Timo Werner.
