Ben Chilwell outmatched the Premier League's top scorer in Mohamed Salah in Chelsea's 1-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield.
The left-back was tasked with keeping the 17-goal forward quiet and he did just that as Thomas Tuchel's side condemned the Reds to a fifth consecutive defeat at home for the first time in their history.
With Jurgen Klopp's side a goal down, thanks to Mason Mount's first-half strike, the Liverpool manager decided to withdraw the Egyptian in the 62nd minute and sent on midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on in his place.
According to Sky Sports, this was the earliest the 28-year-old had been substituted in a Premier League game since September 2017 and he was not at all happy about it, shaking his head as he walked off the pitch.
After the game, Klopp explained why he took off their star player.
"I’m happy when the boys look disappointed, that’s not a problem," he said. "I didn’t see it from Mo. The reason for the sub was I could have changed other players as well but the reason was he looked like he felt the intensity and I didn’t want to risk him. That’s all.
"It’s really rare and usually Mo looks surprisingly fresh until the end. I thought he didn’t look fresh anymore. The last two or three years have nothing to do with that.”
But there was one key moment that led to Klopp making the controversial call and Chilwell was at the heart of it, making Klopp so angry he made the controversial big change.
Just moments before the substitution was made, Klopp was seen screaming at Salah to track back as Chilwell and Chelsea went forward, as spotted by journalist Matt Critchley.
That perceived lack of effort led to Klopp turning to his assistant Pep Lijnders, with the substituion coming shortly afterwards.
Former Liverpool player Jamie Carragher was surprised by the decision to take off Salah.
"Klopp's never been shy in taking Salah off the pitch. It's not a case where he's worried about taking his main player off. He's taken him off in certain games where Salah has been poor," he said.
"He's a big goal threat, but a lot of the time where he's been taken off in the past, Liverpool's attacking play has been breaking down. You could understand it.
"He wasn't at his best tonight, but it wasn't one of those games where he was losing possession. He just didn't have much of the ball.
"You've got to remember that Salah is not a great player with the ball. He's better off the ball, making runs and scoring goals.
"Salah is a great goalscorer and what Liverpool have lacked is a goal, and it's what they needed in that second half.
"I was thinking whether there was something in the number of games he's played, but I don't know. It's hard to question Klopp, but I did think it was a strange one.
"When you need a goal late on, you need as many people on the pitch who can score you a goal, basically.
"It's not the first time he's done it and it won't be the last. At this moment, even with Salah on the pitch for an hour, Liverpool didn't look like scoring and that for me is a bigger problem than what's going on at the back."
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Salah and the Liverpool attack got very little out of the Chelsea defence, with the hosts registering just one shot on target.
Tuchel has shored up their defence since taking over six weeks ago.
His side have conceded just two goals in 10 games in all competitions.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiXmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmZvb3RiYWxsLmxvbmRvbi9jaGVsc2VhLWZjL3BsYXllcnMvY2hpbHdlbGwtY2hlbHNlYS1saXZlcnBvb2wta2xvcHAtc2FsYWgtMTk5NzE2MzfSAWJodHRwczovL3d3dy5mb290YmFsbC5sb25kb24vY2hlbHNlYS1mYy9wbGF5ZXJzL2NoaWx3ZWxsLWNoZWxzZWEtbGl2ZXJwb29sLWtsb3BwLXNhbGFoLTE5OTcxNjM3LmFtcA?oc=5
2021-03-05 14:00:00Z
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