Liverpool's position after their dominant victory over Chelsea.

According to Premier League expert Alex Keble, Liverpool solidified their status as title contenders with one of their best performances of the season so far, thrashing Chelsea 4-1 at Anfield.

Liverpool's first match after Jurgen Klopp announced his departure encapsulated an era, a nostalgic look at the legacy the German manager left behind at Anfield. The 90-minute performance was a whirlwind of energy, with relentless counter-attacks and numerous chances, embodying the essence of Klopp's Liverpool.

Liverpool dominated from start to finish, delivering one of the best Premier League performances of the season so far. They blew away Chelsea, tactically, technically, and psychologically, and this could be a sign that Klopp's reign at Anfield may end with a second Premier League title. The 56-year-old manager's announcement of his departure seems to have excited the players, making them more determined than ever and bringing them back to the top at just the right time.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp greets the fans after the 4-1 victory over Chelsea in the 22nd round of the Premier League at Anfield on January 31st. Photo: AP

Klopp's identity

"No playmaker in the world can be as good as a well-executed counter-attack," is a famous quote by Klopp. And this detail has become a prominent tactical characteristic that he has brought to English football.

This was clearly demonstrated in the match against Chelsea at Anfield on January 31st, when Liverpool showed abundant energy in attacking situations, relentlessly counter-attacking, and striving to regain possession immediately after losing it. Liverpool had 13 instances of controlling possession in the final third of the pitch – their best statistic in all competitions this season.

The home side also had 20 successful tackles – their second-highest tally in the Premier League this season. Klopp's men made a total of 23 tackles, achieving a success rate of 87% – the best among the 20 Premier League clubs this season.

Tackling and winning the ball back in the opponent's half were the guiding principles of everything Liverpool did, playing a key role in orchestrating the game and also holding Chelsea back, forcing them to surrender. Thanks to this, the Anfield side always had the advantage when transitioning with incisive passes that disrupted Chelsea's disorganized system.

Dominik Szoboszlai successfully tackled Enzo Fernandez as Liverpool beat Chelsea 4-1 in the 22nd round of the Premier League at Anfield on January 31st. Photo: AP

More importantly, these world-class counter-attacks prevented Liverpool players from being confined to a single position or area. They constantly moved, pressed, and confused Chelsea, causing them to quickly lose possession. Once again, that was Klopp's signature style.

Dominik Szoboszlai's touch map reveals just how bizarre Liverpool's ball control is, with the Hungarian midfielder moving all over the pitch to press and contest for the ball. It's difficult to follow this pattern of movement, from Diogo Jota appearing in various roles to Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones swapping positions.

Map showing Szoboszlai's touches during Liverpool's 4-1 win over Chelsea at Anfield on January 31st. Photo: premierleague.com

That's Klopp's hallmark: high-pressure pressing combined with tight positional rotation to create the paradox of chaotic attacking football that is always under control. Chelsea couldn't cope with Liverpool's "crazy" style of play.

Liverpool's discovery

In the 58th minute, Conor Bradley, in his second Premier League start, made a superb tackle, beating his opponent and earning Liverpool a free kick. Liverpool fans were thrilled by the play and chanted, "There's only one Conor Bradley!"

It was an outstanding performance from the 20-year-old right-back – who demonstrated his ability to read the game, anticipate danger, make tackles, participate in attacks, and had a running style reminiscent of his compatriot on the opposite flank, Andrew Robertson.

Bradley had four key passes – the highest number in the match – and committed four fouls. Even more impressively, Bradley is the youngest Liverpool player to both score and assist in a Premier League match since Raheem Sterling in August 2014.

Bradley contributed to Liverpool's first three goals and was voted Man of the Match. For the opening goal, Bradley intercepted the ball in his own half, sprinting into Chelsea's half to draw defenders away, creating space for Jota to surge into the center and finish from close range. In the 39th minute, also from a midfield interception, the Northern Irishman sprinted down the right wing, received a pass from Luis Diaz, and fired a diagonal shot beyond the reach of goalkeeper Dorde Petrovic. He capped off a brilliant performance with a cross from the right wing for Szoboszlai to head home, making it 3-0 in the 65th minute.

Defender Conor Bradley (in red) scored the goal that made it 2-0 in Liverpool's 4-1 victory over Chelsea in the 22nd round of the Premier League at Anfield on January 31. Photo: AP

Chelsea's weaknesses on the flanks.

From Chelsea's perspective, all three goals contributed by Bradley exposed their biggest tactical weakness in the match. Chelsea's wingers failed to mark effectively, leaving their respective full-backs with plenty of space. In Bradley's goal, Chelsea left the right flank exposed because Raheem Sterling didn't manage to get back in time.

Liverpool also exploited this weakness to the fullest with long diagonal passes – a key characteristic at Anfield when the home team spreads their play from one side to the other. One such instance led to Szoboszlai's goal.

As a result, Liverpool had 28 shots on goal – their highest tally against Chelsea since the 2003-2004 season. Conversely, "The Blues" had only four shots, including a goal from substitute Christopher Nkunku.

Chelsea were outmatched in every aspect by Liverpool's total football and superb one-touch play in midfield, led by Alexis Mac Allister - a midfielder who excelled with eight tackles.

"In short, the performance against Chelsea showed the identity of Liverpool under Klopp. It was a memorable symbol of what they may have missed when the German coach left, but it also opened up the final four months of the season to look forward to," Keble commented.

Hong Duy (according to Premier League )

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