Liverpool v Chelsea chaos: Anfield goals, Diaz drama & title race live
02.02.2026 - 17:47:57 | ad-hoc-news.de
Did you see that first half? Luis Díaz running riot, Dominik Szoboszlai bossing midfield, Diogo Jota ice-cold in front of goal, and Chelsea hanging on by a thread before Christopher Nkunku tried to drag them back into it. This wasn’t just another midweek clash – this felt like a season-shaping night.
Liverpool v Chelsea – Anfield turns the volume to 11
From the first whistle, Liverpool looked like a team that had read every tweet doubting their credentials and decided to answer all of them at once. Chelsea barely had time to breathe before the hosts carved them open.
The opener came after relentless pressure: a slick move down the left saw Luis Díaz cut inside, combine with Alexis Mac Allister, and calmly finish low into the far corner. 1-0, and Anfield exploded.
Then came the killer second. Liverpool pressed high, won the ball on the edge of the Chelsea box, and Dominik Szoboszlai absolutely hammered one from distance – a rising strike that gave the keeper no chance. That’s the kind of goal that lives forever in highlight reels. Chelsea’s midfield just couldn’t live with his energy and aggression.
Before Chelsea could reset, Liverpool struck again. A fast break, Díaz streaking away down the flank, a cut-back into the danger zone and Diogo Jota, always alive in the box, snapped a clinical finish into the corner. Three goals, three ruthless strikes, and the home crowd in full party mode.
Nkunku’s fightback & Chelsea’s flashes of life
To their credit, Chelsea didn’t just roll over. The one bright spark in blue was Christopher Nkunku. When a rare flowing move finally clicked, Nkunku timed his run perfectly, took a sharp pass in stride and buried his finish past the keeper to make it 3-1. For a moment, you could feel the mood flip – was the comeback on?
Nkunku kept popping up in dangerous pockets, linking with Cole Palmer and Raheem Sterling, trying to drag Chelsea into the contest. But every time they looked like they might build momentum, Liverpool’s intensity snuffed it out – a crunching tackle here, a smart foul there, and suddenly the visitors were back under the cosh.
Stars under the spotlight – who shone, who sank?
- Dominik Szoboszlai – Absolute engine in midfield. Pressing, tackling, spraying passes, then smashing in that screamer. This is what Liverpool fans dreamed of when he signed: a proper big-game player.
- Luis Díaz – Electric. His goal was all about directness and confidence, and Chelsea’s full-backs looked terrified every time he picked up the ball. Constant movement, constant threat.
- Diogo Jota – Quiet at times, but that’s the thing with Jota: give him one chance and he punishes you. His goal felt like the moment Chelsea’s belief cracked.
- Christopher Nkunku – Chelsea’s standout. Smart movement, cool finish, and one of the few who looked ready for the fight. If Chelsea are going to turn their chaos into consistency, Nkunku has to be the centrepiece.
Other big names, though? Mixed night. Some of Chelsea’s senior pros went missing under pressure, and their defending in transition was brutal to watch. On the Liverpool side, the back line had a couple of wobbles when Nkunku started pulling them out of position, but overall, they handled the key moments far better than their visitors.
VAR drama & penalty shouts – the talking points
Of course, it wouldn’t be a modern Premier League classic without a bit of VAR chaos. Midway through the second half, Chelsea thought they had a lifeline when Nkunku went down in the box after tangling with a Liverpool defender. The referee initially waved play on, but VAR took a long look.
Replays showed contact – enough for Chelsea fans to scream penalty, but after an agonising delay, the on-field decision stood: no penalty. Social media instantly went wild, with fans split between “stonewall pen” and “never enough for a spot-kick.” That call is absolutely the hot topic online right now.
Title race pressure – Liverpool make a statement
This isn’t just about one big win. In terms of the football league table and the Premier League live picture, this result is massive. Liverpool tighten their grip near the top, while Chelsea slide further into that awkward territory between "project" and "problem."
Liverpool’s consistency at home is starting to feel like prime title-contender energy. Drop points here, and the narrative is wobble, pressure, doubts. Win like this, and suddenly the story flips: momentum, belief, and rivals feeling the heat.
What does this mean for the title race? Click here for the live standings
Premier League live picture & other key results
Around the grounds, the day’s football results today across the top leagues kept the narrative spinning. While Anfield served the headline act, every point elsewhere still shapes the Champions League news and next season’s battles.
Top scorers today? Díaz and Szoboszlai definitely threw their names into the conversation for standout attacking performances, and Nkunku’s finish will be replayed in every highlight reel even in defeat.
The Internet is Exploding: 3 Social Media Highlights
X Discussion: Fans losing it over the Nkunku penalty shout and VAR's no-call
My take: Liverpool look like the real deal, Chelsea look lost
Let’s be honest: if you’re Liverpool, this is exactly how you want to announce yourself in a title chase. Front-foot football, stars delivering, crowd bouncing. In my opinion, this was a statement win – not perfect, but absolutely powerful. The kind of performance that tells everyone in the league: you can’t sleep on these guys.
Chelsea, though… it’s getting hard to keep calling this "a transition" and not just admit it’s a mess. The talent is there, but the structure isn’t. Nkunku deserved better support, and if your best moments come in flashes instead of waves, you’re not scaring anyone near the top.
For me, the manager has brutal questions to answer: why does this team collapse under high pressure? Why are basic defensive principles breaking down? You can talk about long-term projects all you like, but nights like this expose who’s really ready to compete and who’s just talking about it.
What's next?
From a wider soccer news lens, this game plugs straight into the bigger narrative: Premier League rivals glancing nervously at Liverpool’s form, Chelsea wondering how far they still are from being a serious Champions League contender again, and neutral fans just loving the chaos.
If this intensity keeps up, the run-in is going to be ridiculous – last-minute winners, VAR debates, worldies from nowhere, and top scorers today becoming legends tomorrow.
Check full stats & standings now
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