Connor Bradley, the 20-year-old, scored his first goal for Liverpool and assisted another for Dominik Szoboszlai, helping manager Jürgen Klopp's team to a commanding 4-1 victory over Chelsea on Wednesday, extending their lead to five points at the top of the Premier League table.
Liverpool has 51 points from 22 matches and remains unbeaten at Anfield this season across all competitions. Manchester City, who have a game in hand, is in second place tied on points with third-place Arsenal, both having 46 points. Chelsea is in tenth place with 31 points.
Liverpool, in what was Klopp's 200th win as manager—having announced last week that he will leave at the end of the season—started intensely, putting Chelsea under pressure from the first whistle. Darwin Núñez took seven shots on goal in the first half, with Diogo Jota opening the scoring in the 23rd minute by breaking through two Chelsea defenders to find the net.
Bradley ignited joy among Anfield fans in the 39th minute with a powerful shot into the far corner following a strong run. The young player from Northern Ireland then left one defender behind in the 65th minute before delivering a precise cross that Szoboszlai headed past goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic.
Christopher Nkunku brought the score to 4-1 in the 71st minute, but Liverpool's Luis Díaz responded with a goal eight minutes later, prompting many Chelsea fans to leave the stadium.
Liverpool took 27 shots compared to Chelsea's four, with 12 of those on target, mostly from Núñez, who also hit the post with a penalty in the first half. The Uruguayan became the first player since the 2003-2004 season to hit the frame of the goal four times in a Premier League match.
The referee denied Chelsea two penalty appeals after VAR checks, first when Virgil van Dijk tackled opponent Conor Gallagher, and secondly when it appeared the Dutch defender kicked Nkunku.
