They came to Anfield to see if one of England’s prodigious young midfielders could deliver on the biggest stage. Curtis Jones duly stepped up eclipsing Cole Palmer to keep Liverpool top of the Premier League.

Chelsea’s encouraging start under Enzo Maresca has meant there have been fewer references to their spending but they fielded central midfielders who cost some £280m. Two of them, Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo, attracted big bids from Liverpool in 2023 and the Ecuadorian, in his defence, created a goal with a defence-splitting pass.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot praised midfielder Curtis Jones for the way he ‘controlled Cole Palmer’ in his side’s crucial win over in-form Chelsea.Liverpool climbed back to the top of the