Liverpool beat Milan: Slot's set pieces too good for Pulisic & Co.
Liverpool's set-pieces prove too strong for Chelsea in Dubai Super Cup
Graham Potter's Chelsea lost 3-2 to Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool in the Dubai Super Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
Liverpool's victory was largely down to their prowess from set-pieces, with Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk scoring the winning goal from a corner in the 89th minute.
Chelsea had taken the lead twice, first through Raheem Sterling and then through Hakim Ziyech. However, Liverpool hit back both times, with Mohamed Salah equalizing in the first half and Darwin Nunez equalizing in the second half.
Trent Alexander-Arnold also scored a stunning free-kick for Liverpool, while Chelsea missed a penalty through Mason Mount.
The loss was a disappointing one for Potter, who is still trying to implement his philosophy at Chelsea. However, there were some positives to take from the game, such as the performances of Sterling and Ziyech.
Liverpool, meanwhile, will be buoyed by their victory. They have now won two of their three pre-season games and will be confident heading into the new season.
Van Dijk's late header seals victory for Liverpool
Liverpool's victory was sealed by a late header from Virgil van Dijk. The Dutch defender rose highest to meet Trent Alexander-Arnold's corner and power a bullet header past Kepa Arrizabalaga.
It was a cruel blow for Chelsea, who had fought back from two goals down to level the match.
However, Liverpool's set-pieces were simply too good on the day. They created a number of chances from corners and free-kicks, and eventually made their pressure count.
Chelsea's set-piece woes continue
Chelsea's defeat was partly due to their poor defending from set-pieces. They conceded three goals from corners or free-kicks, which is a major concern for Potter.
Chelsea have struggled to defend set-pieces for a number of years, and it is an area that Potter will need to address if he wants to be successful at the club.
The Blues have a number of good defenders, but they need to be more organized and disciplined when defending set-pieces.
Pulisic's struggles continue
Chelsea's defeat was also compounded by the poor performance of Christian Pulisic. The American winger was anonymous for much of the game and was eventually substituted in the second half.
Pulisic has struggled for form in recent months, and his performance against Liverpool was another disappointing one.
The American is a talented player, but he needs to find some consistency if he wants to be a regular starter for Chelsea.
Conclusion
Liverpool's victory over Chelsea was a deserved one. They were the better team on the day and their set-pieces proved to be the difference.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have some work to do. They need to improve their defending from set-pieces and they need to find some more consistency from their attacking players.
However, there is still plenty of time for Potter to implement his philosophy at Chelsea. The Blues have a number of talented players and they will be confident of challenging for trophies this season.
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