Chapter 283: A New Record for the Blue Army
After conceding the goal, Mourinho did not jump in a hurry, but asked the team to stabilize their emotions and control the rhythm. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ļ½ļ½ļ½Uļ½Eć info Mourinho lined up a 4321 formation today, with Ramirez, Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas in the back three, because he was fully aware of the difficulties of today's game and intended to break Liverpool with defensive counter-attacks rather than attacks.
As Chelsea slowly got into shape, the scales began to tip in favour of the Blues. In the 15th minute, Chelsea made a successful tackle at the feet of Steven Gerrard and counter-attacked. Hazard hesitated after winning the ball and handed it to Shi Hao, who ran to the middle to pick it up.
Shi Hao advanced quickly with the ball, and after directly passing Henderson with his speed, he suddenly got up and made a gesture to split the ball to the left. Henderson came from behind, and without thinking, he fell to the ground and slid sideways to block, but Shi Hao's foot pulled the ball back and then picked it into the box.
At this point, Costa was already activated, and he rushed to the landing point like a cheetah with agility, raising his leg directly to shoot, but fortunately Skrtel was in time to block the ball off the line.
Amid the boos of the fans, Cesc Fabregas whipped in a corner, Costa got in front of the post and his header was saved by Mignolet, but the attack was not over yet, Nemanja Matic followed up with a powerful shot that hit Glenn again. Johnson popped out of his leg and flew right towards Shi Hao. In the melee, Shi Hao keenly found the gap and stabbed with one kick. This time, Mignol couldn't make a save anymore and watched as the ball slowly rolled into the net.
With the score levelised, the tempo of the game flattened and both sides were more patient looking for opportunities.
Liverpool had a chance to equalise in the 23rd minute when Steven Gerrard's corner caused some chaos in the Chelsea box, but it was clear that they were missing a killer who could make the final move, with Henderson and Raheem Sterling having shots blocked.
Coutinho also seemed to be stimulated by Shi Hao's goal, and in the 26th minute he staged a long run, and the final shot was also of high quality, if there was a different goalkeeper, maybe it would have scored. But Courtois, who is tall and armed, barely managed to get his shot into the corner off the line.
Chelsea were in no hurry to attack, and they faithfully executed Mourinho's tactics, pressing Liverpool from the front and not allowing them to pass comfortably.
Although statistically, Liverpool's possession is overwhelmingly dominant, but this is due to Mourinho's abandonment of possession tactics in this game, while Liverpool's possession is mostly concentrated in their own half, brushing possession and pass success rate in the back and forth of the foot.
Once they tried to get through half-time, they were met with stubborn resistance from the Chelsea players.
And although Chelsea defended ferociously, there were not many fouls, and only Branislav Ivanovic received a yellow card in the entire first half.
At half-time, Jose Mourinho praised the team's performance. After all, this is the famous devil's home of the Premier League, and Shankly's heroic soul still seems to hover over the stadium, inspiring generations of Reds soldiers. Able to equalise quickly after conceding, Mourinho couldn't have asked his disciples to do more.
He particularly praised Shi Hao, who not only scored the equaliser, but also sent threatening passes to Hazard and Costa on many occasions, but Liverpool's defense was also tenacious, so it did not extend the results.
was praised by Mourinho, Shi Hao felt that his bones were a few taels lighter. After exchanging venues in the second half, he was more active. Moreover, the "omnipotent" title he wears makes him even sharper when the team is behind!
In the 50th minute, Cesar Azpilicueta sent an overhead ball, Shi Hao swam to the left side of the penalty area, stopped the ball on his chest and volleyed vigorously, the ball drew a sharp arc around Mignolet's fingers, and flew out of the bottom line by grazing the post.
One minute later, Hazard suddenly picked up a cross after a series of dribbles like a butterfly on the left side, and the ball came towards Shi Hao, but the height made him a little uncomfortable. Shi Hao had an idea, squatted down and rubbed his header back, Diego. Costa shoots with a barb in front of goal, but unfortunately it goes just wide.
In the 53rd minute, Chelsea's attack came again, Cesc Fabregas plugged the ball, Shi Hao and Hazard ran in a misplaced position, Hazard handed the ball to Shi Hao and ran into the penalty area by himself. Shi Hao ran wildly with the ball from the left side, shaking off Glenn. Johnson burst into the box and suddenly crossed, Hazard shot straight at goal without stopping, but Reds captain Steven Gerrard blocked the ball in time to keep the ball out of the line.
Mourinho saw that the team's morale was good and began to press the Reds to play, and Shi Hao's state seemed to be hot again, so he simply replaced his compatriot Ramirez with William, and the formation became 4231 again, allowing Shi Hao to return to the middle.
Willian had just come on the pitch and had a shot on goal, and in the 57th minute, Shi Hao handed the ball to Diego after stealing Lovren in front. Costa, Costa did it back, Willian burst into the box from the right and fired hard, this time it was Lovren who made up for it and flew to block the ball.
Although the pitch seemed to be still deadlocked, anyone with a discerning eye could see that the Blues were gaining momentum, attacking wave after wave and attacking, and it was only a matter of time before they scored.
In the 66th minute, Chelsea's long-awaited chance arrived. Willian shifted the ball to the left with a diagonal pass and Cesar Azpilicueta broke past Cudinho on the flank before bursting into a cross. The ball was a little bit closer to goal, but let's not forget, Chelsea have a man of incredible speed! Shi Hao rushed out like a bolt of lightning, rushing forward to nod the goal. Mignolet was in a good position and barely blocked the ball, and the unguarded Diego. Costa comfortably grabbed the second spot and slotted a powerful volley into the empty net for his 10th league goal of the season.
2-1, Chelsea take the lead at Anfield!
Half of the credit for the goal goes to Azpilicueta, who threatened with his beautiful ball sharing and passing, and Shi Hao used his speed to shake off all defenders and grab the point, and should take the other half of the credit. Costa? All he did was be in the right place and hit the ball into the empty net.
Liverpool, which was behind, made substitutions one after another to try to turn the situation around, Borini, Joe Allen, and veteran Lambert came on one after another, replacing Coutinho, Emre. Zhan and Balotelli, who began to have violent tendencies.
But no matter how they adjust, Liverpool are like prey in a spider's web, struggling uselessly. They can only safely keep possession at the back and are tirelessly pressed by Chelsea as soon as they try to get their way through midfield. It wasn't until the 88th minute that Gerrard threatened with a long-range shot from outside the box, which appeared to hit Cahill's arm and was not awarded by the referee.
The Liverpool players came forward to ask for an explanation in anger, but they could not get the referee to change his mind.
In the end, they had to swallow the bitter consequences of a home defeat, and Chelsea's 17-game unbeaten run on all fronts so far this season has set a new club record.