Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeSportsAdrian the hero as he saves Tammy Abraham of Chelsea spot kick...

Adrian the hero as he saves Tammy Abraham of Chelsea spot kick to ensure Liverpool win another shootout in Istanbul and lift the UEFA Super Cup

Adrian saved Tammy Abraham’s penalty in the shoot-out as Liverpool won the Super Cup in nerve-wracking style on a hot night in Turkey.

Frank Lampard’s Chelsea were much improved from Sunday’s heavy defeat at Manchester United and were the better side during a first half that saw them take the lead through Olivier Giroud.

As for Liverpool, they were way off in the opening period but recovered like good teams do. Clearly affronted by playing so poorly early on, they levelled through Sadio Mane early in the second half and at times threatened to run all over Chelsea. 

But for a superb save from Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga to deny Virgil van Dijk with 15 minutes to go, Liverpool would have won in regulation time.

Lampard has already found a way to get the best out of the impish Spaniard Pedro who had a fitting accomplice in the newly-signed American Christian Pulisic, who made his first competitive start for the club and was also terrific.

The former Dortmund player is quick, has great vision and the confidence to turn players in to areas they don’t like. He had a goal disallowed for offside in the 40th minute.

Although it was the correct call, it was a shame because the way he turned Joel Matip and Joe Gomez to beat goalkeeper Adrian low to his right was typical of all that he brought to the game.

By then, Chelsea were already ahead.

Early on, the Champions League winners were the better side. Liverpool looked fresh and purposeful, using the width of the pitch to bother Chelsea.

A lovely ball from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain — starting for the first time since April 2018 — allowed Mo Salah to outpace Emerson in the 16th minute and Chelsea goalkeeper Arrizabalaga was forced to save well.

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