Conor Bradley Dazzles As Liverpool Thrash Chelsea Despite Darwin Nunez Penalty Miss

Liverpool beat Chelsea 4-1 thanks to a goal and two assists by Conor Bradley. Darwin Nunez hit the woodwork four times, including a first-half penalty miss.

Darwin Nunez became the first player on record to hit the woodwork four times in a Premier League game but his catalogue of near misses did not stop Liverpool thrashing Chelsea at Anfield.

The Reds cruised to a 4-1 victory on Wednesday night thanks to goals from Diogo Jota, Conor Bradley, Dominik Szoboszlai and Luis Diaz.

At the other end, Christopher Nkunku netted the second goal of his English soccer career but Chelsea never looked like denying Liverpool a 15th Premier League win of the season.

Conor Bradley pictured celebrating after scoring the first goal of his Liverpool career in a 4-1 win over Chelsea :: IMAGO/PA Images/Peter Byrne

In addition to scoring his first Liverpool goal, 20-year-old right-back Bradley provided two assists.

His first was delivered in the 23rd minute when he tackled Ben Chilwell, carried the ball for 25 yards and then passed to Jota, who darted in between Benoit Badiashile and Thiago Silva before firing beyond keeper Djordje Petrovic.

Bradley scored himself a quarter of an hour later when he drilled home from inside the penalty area after an athletic overlapping run from his own half.

It should have been 3-0 in first-half added time but Nunez rattled the post with a powerful penalty kick.

This was one of 11 attempts recorded by Nunez. Five were saved, but six missed the target - including four that struck either the post or crossbar.

Darwin Núñez is the first player to hit the woodwork four times in a Premier League game since Opta records began in 2003/04. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/GCJKUwAO5R

— Squawka (@Squawka) January 31, 2024

The third goal eventually arrived 20 minutes after the interval when Szoboszlai got his head on the end of a whipped cross from Bradley - who was voted as the official Player of the Match for the second time in four days.

Nkunku denied Liverpool a clean sheet when he spun away from Virgil van Dijk and shot past Alisson Becker inside a congested 18-yard box.

But Liverpool wrapped up a first win over Chelsea since 2020 when Diaz met a Nunez cross with a flying volley 11 minutes from full-time.

Wednesday's triumph at Anfield maintained Liverpool's five-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table.

City - who beat Burnley 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium - have played one game fewer than the leaders.

Highlights: Liverpool 4-1 Chelsea