It was Liverpool that won the battle of the rested. Both sides had all week to prepare for Friday Night Lights but it was Liverpool who flew out of the blocks in a hugely impressive first half performance that ultimately proved to be enough.
90: Get in! Resilience! pic.twitter.com/FjS1Y78npb
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 16, 2016
There was one standout hero while Chelsea's back four had their share of villains.
Heroes
Jordan Henderson
Jordan Henderson is a strange case at Liverpool. He's captain, he usually at the base of their midfield and he's clearly rated by Jurgen Klopp. Yet it can be tough to define what exactly he brings from game to game. He usually scuttles around, grimacing and urging on his troops but in possession especially, he has glaring limitations.
He also had a knack last season of shooting from distance too much. In an effort to be Diet Steven Gerrard; Henderson blasted far too many shots across various angles into various sections of stands. Here, after 35 minutes, he found space some 30 yards out and began to wind up but instead of row Z being threatened, he curled a sumptuous arc over and around Thibaut Courtois to give Liverpool the second goal lead they thoroughly deserved at that point.
He's bought himself the right to a few potshots for the rest of the season.
Jordan Henderson's first #LFC goal since January. Not a bad way to end that drought. Unstoppable strike
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) September 16, 2016
What a stunner! @JHenderson won't hit many better in his life than that one! #CHELIV #matchdaylive @premierleague
— Alan Shearer (@alanshearer) September 16, 2016
I take back every single last bad word that I've ever Tweeted about Jordan Henderson. He can have my children.
— Kloppholic (@Kloppholic) September 16, 2016
Saido Mane
Not the whirlwind as an attacking force that we've seen this season but the former Southampton man confirmed his reputation as Jurgen Klopp's dream player built for gen-gen pressing. Gary Neville highlighted one particularly good intervention on Eden Hazard in his own box in the second half and little instances like that are typical of Mane's all round displays.
The Liverpool centre-backs
Dejan Lovren and Joël Matip were very impressive here save for Matip going missing slightly for Diego Costa's goal. Matip had a very promising debut at Spurs and if he and Lovern can build on these performances - Liverpool will be genuine title contenders.
Villains
Gary Cahill
Gary Cahill's biggest attribute is that he's mostly always fit and ready to play. It's not an attribute to be sniffed at (ask Phil Jones) but there is no other standout quality about him. He's just OK. His partnership with the returning David Luiz here is a perfect example of an odd couple. Next to the mop haired, extravagant Luiz, Cahill has a hairstyle you can set your watch to and a name that evokes a Bolton plumber. Here, he played like one.
He was completely lost for Dejan Lovern's opener for Liverpool, stumbling into Joel Matip and zonal marking nothing at all and while it may seem churlish to suggest he played a role in Jordan Henderson's stunning second, it was his scuffed and rushed clearance that presented the Liverpool captain the opportunity to curl home.
One wonders the reaction had his partner performed similarly.
Gary Cahill has been absolutely atrocious.
— Daniel Storey (@danielstorey85) September 16, 2016
You could see Gary Cahill's botched clearance from the Moon. Still, what a strike from Jordan Henderson #LFC #CFC
— Richard Buxton (@RichardBuxton_) September 16, 2016
Branislav Ivanović
Captain for the night, Ivanović was exposed badly on numerous occasions by the quicksilver Liverpool attack. His slump in form goes back to Christmas last season and you have to wonder how long Antonio Conte will put up with him with Marcos Alonso newly arrived from Fiorentina.
Graeme Souness
Graeme showed utter disgust in the Friday Night Football studio after a harmless tweet from David Luiz came in a half an hour before the game:
Keep calm and start the countdown: 30 minutes! #DL30 #DavidLuiz #Chelsea #PremierLeague #ContagemRegressiva30minutos pic.twitter.com/wD4GTMQGR9
— David Luiz (@DavidLuiz_4) September 16, 2016
Ignoring the fact that it was probably someone hired by Luiz that tweeted it, Souness' assertion that it showed Luiz didn't have his mind on the game was ridiculous and indicative of a pundit who needs to readjust to modern life.
