DANNY MURPHY: Liverpool and Chelsea both title contenders and Elliott is special

DANNY MURPHY: Harvey Elliott shone in a genuine thriller which confirmed Chelsea and Liverpool are title contenders… and Antonio Rudiger is a leader that Every team would want

  • Liverpool and Chelsea played out a thrilling game at Anfield with superior quality 
  • Teen Harvey Elliott was trusted by Jurgen Klopp and sent in midfield
  • Antonio Rudiger confirmed that he is a legitimate leader at the coronary heart of a defence 

We know for positive both Liverpool and Chelsea will be there or thereabouts for the title this period. 

Manchester City beat Arsenal by 5 and Manchester United are looking at the return of Ronaldo, but they know it’ll be a battle at the best simply because the quality of the soccer at Anfield previous night was phenomenal, especially in the initial 50 %.

The way Liverpool played by the strains confirmed they are on the way back and a lot more like the champions of two seasons ago.

Chelsea fought valiantly at Anfield while Liverpool showed signs of getting back to their best

Chelsea fought valiantly at Anfield even though Liverpool confirmed signs of acquiring back to their greatest

It was a brilliant observe and really regrettable that the purple card for Reece James turned it a lot more into attack versus defence in the second 50 %. 

I felt sorry for James while I can see why the referee despatched him off. It was an uncommon predicament where the ball strike his arm inadvertently, producing him to then swot the ball absent to prevent a target.

In advance of then, supervisor Thomas Tuchel confirmed his tactical acumen. Kai Havertz and Mason Mount brought about Liverpool challenges with the way they located area either side of Romelu Lukaku. 

Kai Havertz filled a valuable tactical role for Tuchel and got Chelsea in front on Merseyside

Kai Havertz crammed a precious tactical part for Tuchel and obtained Chelsea in entrance on Merseyside

They stayed narrow so the whole-backs did not know whether or not to decide on them up and Fabinho was not positive if he had to drop back.

When Jordan Henderson and Harvey Elliott pressed, Mount and Havertz located room that troubled Fabinho. It was intelligent participate in.

I feel in the chilly light of day neither side ought to be dissatisfied with a issue. They both keep on being unbeaten and it will just take an exceptionally fantastic team to defeat either of them. Chelsea are a fit and perfectly-organised group.

Elliot takes his opportunity

I was stunned Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp picked Harvey Elliott simply because I did not feel issues fairly came off for him against Burnley previous week.

To start off an eighteen-year-old ahead of Naby Keita, Thiago Alcantara and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for a game of this magnitude this was a significant connect with. The truth he stayed on for ninety minutes confirmed it worked.

Harvey Elliott was trusted by Jurgen Klopp and delivered on the big stage for his manager

Harvey Elliott was trusted by Jurgen Klopp and sent on the significant stage for his supervisor

I feel Klopp chosen him simply because of his bravery to retain demanding the ball in dangerous spots. He can do that simply because his touch is immaculate and for a fairly tiny player, he was equipped to get just after people today and be combative.

It’s that deficiency of worry young gamers have that truly assists. They participate in freely, do not get worried about the repercussions and it was a truly fantastic general performance. And his final decision-earning was fantastic — if a straightforward go was wanted, that is what he did.

Klopp will be delighted at how he coped in the cauldron. This was a appropriate match concerning two brilliant soccer groups and Elliott confirmed he belonged.

Rudiger is the ruler

It is really hardly ever easy for a defence to hold out against an more male, even in teaching, so Chelsea’s second 50 % general performance was textbook to leave Anfield with a issue.

The midfield pair of Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho were being fantastic, Andreas Christensen is bettering all the time and Thiago Silva has gained it all.

But the player who stood out most was Antonio Rudiger who is one particular of those people leaders with authority each and every effective team desires.

Antonio Rudiger was involved at every turn for Chelsea and helped his side leave with a point

Antonio Rudiger was concerned at each and every switch for Chelsea and helped his side leave with a issue

Rudiger not often has a undesirable game, places himself about and communicates with his team-mates all the time. And importantly he’s initial in to back his friends when it kicks off. They know they can rely on him.

I do not know why he was not made use of a lot more typically by Frank Lampard, it can transpire concerning a supervisor and player, but it did not surprise me one particular of the initial changes Tuchel made was to convey him back in. The procedure with 3 at the back assists him as perfectly simply because he has a lot more cover.

He’s what I connect with a appropriate defender, like Giorgio Chiellini. Other defenders like John Stones enjoy spraying the ball out. Rudiger can go it but I do not feel he’s bothered. He prefers the tough and completely ready things.

I know from my own career each and every team likes a couple of warriors who will fight your corner. 

When Edouard Mendy and Henderson clashed just after the penalty, of course Rudiger was concerned. Jamie Carragher made use of to do that at Liverpool. It’s an critical component of becoming in a team.

The German loves the rough and tumble and is always involved when tempers boil over

The German loves the tough and tumble and is usually concerned when tempers boil in excess of

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