UEFA Super Cup: 3 reasons why Liverpool beat Chelsea on penalties

This year's UEFA Super Cup 2019 saw two eternal English rivals, Liverpool and Chelsea take on each other in Istanbul. The Reds came into this game on the back of a comprehensive 4-1 victory over Norwich City in the Premier League.

With Alisson Becker out due to injury, Adrian started as the goalkeeper for Jurgen Klopp's team. The two other changes from the side that faced Norwich were Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Joel Matip and James Milner in for Roberto Firmino, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Georginio Wijnaldum respectively.

Chelsea also made a lot of changes as Christian Pulisic started along with Olivier Giroud and N'Golo Kante. Coming to the match, it was a very closely fought affair. The Blues took the lead in the game through Giroud and went into the second half leading Liverpool.

Sadio Mane equalized for the Reds before scoring his second in extra time and giving Liverpool the lead. Chelsea then equalized through a Jorginho penalty, given away by Adrian. The match ended 2-2 at the end of extra time and the Reds won the game 5-4 on penalties.

It was a pretty interesting game and in this slideshow, we are going to take a look at the 3 reasons why Liverpool defeated Chelsea:

#3 Chelsea weren't clinical in front of goal

The same thing was said about the Blues against Manchester United and in the UEFA Super Cup against Liverpool, Chelsea made the same mistake. They dominated the European champions in the first half and created a lot of opportunities but took only one of them.

Pedro hit the post early on in the game after being one on one with Adrian. Mateo Kovacic was also sent through on goal but he also couldn't get past Liverpool's goalkeeper. In the second half too, Chelsea created a lot of opportunities, with Mason Mount and Kurt Zouma coming close before Tammy Abraham missed a simple tap-in in extra time.

Chelsea really need to work on their finishing, as you just cannot afford to miss chances like the ones they did against a side like Liverpool.

#2 Roberto Firmino changed the game for Liverpool

After his team's dismal showing in the first half, Jurgen Klopp decided to change things as he brought on Roberto Firmino for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The Brazilian shifted the entire balance of the game as it was his smart touch against Kepa Arrizabalaga that shifted the ball in Sadio Mane's path for Liverpool's equalizer.

Firmino brought the much-needed creativity in the second half and he was at the heart of everything Liverpool were doing well in an attacking sense. The Brazilian also got himself an assist for Liverpool's second he played a great laid back pass to Mane, and the Senegalese didn't make a mistake in front of goal.

The 27-year-old is very important to this Liverpool side as not only does he orchestrate things in an attacking sense, he is also the best presser for the Reds. Firmino literally dragged Liverpool back into the game.

#1 Adrian's heroics and Sadio Mane's potency in front of goal

The pressure was on Adrian before the start of the game as he was replacing one of the best goalkeepers in the world, Alisson Becker. And while the Spaniard gave away a penalty to Chelsea, some of his saves on the day were hugely impressive.

Adrian saved two one-on one-efforts on the day and his penalty save was by far the best of the lot. Another player who impressed individually was Sadio Mane. The Senegalese scored a brace for the Reds and his second on the day was an exquisite first time finish into the top corner.

Mane played two positions on the day and while he didn't do much in the first half, he was at the center of every attacking move in the second period. Mane has simply picked up his form from last season and Klopp would have been mightily pleased with his forward.

Edited by Zaid Khan