A previously relentless and almost invincible Liverpool have now lost three of their last four games, and had
the four major trophies cut down to two. It could be one next week, if this form continues into the
Champions League against Atletico Madrid.
That’s an ‘Invincible’ league season and the classic treble gone in four days, something that will feel more
significant than any single cup elimination.
It is still likely no more than a stutter, with some of it borne out of Jurgen Klopp’s inevitable selection
decisions – not least that of Adrian – but it does make them feel that bit less fearsome.
Chelsea will meanwhile feel that bit more encouraged, and emboldened. This was not just a fine win, but
one of their canniest, not least for the way they picked at Liverpool’s weaknesses and picked them off.
There was also the important impact of some of their players less used of late. The twinkling Billy Gilmour
staked his claim for a place in the main squad more often, goalscorer Ross Barkley staked his claim for a
place in the first XI, and man-of-the-match Kepa Arrizabalaga staked his claim to be number-one again. He
was that good, that defiant.
That is a more basic point to this specific match, mind.
For all the wider implications and complications, it really did come down to something very simple: the
contrasting performances of the goalkeepers.
Lampard’s primary instructions to Chelsea were evidently very simple, too: just hit the ball as hard as
possible at Adrian.
It’s hard not to think there was much else, such was the frequency his side attempted it.
Barkley set the tone – and the pace – by sending the goalkeeper staggering backwards with the first effort of
the game. Adrian did admittedly beat that away, just as then did even more impressively with a stronger
effort from Willian moments later.
The Brazilian, however, was evidently finding his range.
With Willian’s next fierce effort, Adrian could do little more than divert its course into the net. The power
was too much.
As Adrian sat on the turf in dismay, he pointed to his eyes, as if to say he’d been unsighted. He’d really just
been undone, and by pure force.
The contrast with Kepe couldn’t have been clearer, or quicker coming.
In the 20th minute alone, he faced as many shots as Adrian had done in that spell up to the goal, and from
closer range with more venom.
He was equal to all of them.
Sadio Mane first of all tried to force it over from just yards, only for Kepa to get his full body in the way. If
that was about bloody-minded robustness, the next was about brilliant reflexes. The ball almost immediately
fell to Divock Origi, who fired at the top corner, but only found the strongest of hands from Kepa. The
goalkeeper then immediately got up to smother Curtis Jones’ effort, and the way he did so indicated one of
those moments when an adrenaline-fuelled player is fired up by what he’s just done. Psychologists call it
“flow”.
Kepa will hope he’s just called “first-choice goalkeeper” again.