Match reportCurtis Jones scores the winner as Liverpool beat Chelsea 2-1 at Anfield

The midfielder marked the birth of his first child last week by scoring the winner at Anfield to settle an entertaining clash.

Jones struck in the 51st minute to restore the hosts' advantage moments after Nicolas Jackson had equalised Mohamed Salah's opener from the penalty spot.

The result keeps the Reds at the top of the league standings, one point clear of Manchester City.

Team news

Caoimhin Kelleher replaced the injured Alisson Becker in goal to make his 50th appearance for the club, with Andy Robertson and Dominik Szoboszlai restored to the starting XI.

Kelleher, Van Dijk, Konate, Szoboszlai, Salah, Jones (Mac Allister, 81), Gakpo (Diaz, 65), Jota (Nunez, 30), Robertson, Gravenberch, Alexander-Arnold (Gomez, 81).

Unused subs: Jaros, Endo, Tsimikas, Quansah, Morton.

First half

An even start did not bring about a host of clear-cut chances; in fact, neither side attempted a shot during the opening 20 minutes.

Cody Gakpo cut out an attempted pass from the back by Robert Sanchez, though the rebound was easily catchable for the fortunate Chelsea goalkeeper.

The game, however, exploded into life around the 25th-minute mark.

Jones produced an heroic block to deny Cole Palmer what looked to be a certain goal, while at the other end Salah's appeal for a penalty following a Levi Colwill tackle was turned down.

But Colwill's next challenge inside the box – on Jones two minutes later – was judged to be a foul by referee John Brooks.

Salah stepped up and, after a significant delay, sent Sanchez the wrong way with a powerfully struck effort.

Amid the celebrations, Liverpool were preparing a change as Diogo Jota was unable to continue due to a knock sustained earlier on. Darwin Nunez was the replacement.

Jackson nearly provided a quick response for Chelsea, but his rising drive from a tight angle clipped the top of the crossbar.

On a breakaway from the Reds towards the end of the half, Gakpo played in Szoboszlai, who produced a tame effort that was simple for Sanchez to claim.

The contest remained frantic and Liverpool thought they had a second penalty in stoppage time when Sanchez appeared to bring down Jones. However, a VAR review deemed the stopper had won the ball first and recommended an overturn of the on-field decision.

Palmer was a whisker away from levelling proceedings a few moments before Brooks brought an end to the action-packed first half.

Second half

The theme was similar after the interval.

Three minutes into the second period, Jackson finished from Moises Caicedo's threaded pass to equalise. The assistant's flag was raised immediately afterwards for offside, but replays showed the forward had timed his run and VAR duly awarded the goal.

However, Liverpool soon had their lead back. A clever ball into the box by Salah saw Jones evade the offside trap to nudge the delivery past Sanchez. The celebration was a nod to his recent arrival.

The game grew scrappier as time went on. Substitute Luis Diaz could have added a third for his team, but fired straight at the goalkeeper.

Chelsea's efforts to press for an equaliser in the closing stages were cleverly marshalled by the Reds, although Renato Veiga and Christopher Nkunku did come close to snatching a point.

Attendance: 60,277