While it was strange to see Liverpool scrambling for control towards the end of this pulsating game the reality is they still possessed the mental fortitude to protect their pristine record at the top of the Premier League. Jürgen Klopp’s side simply refused to buckle when Chelsea turned up the heat and, although the European champions were clinging on at times, in the end they were able to celebrate a rare and precious win at the home of one of their big-six rivals.

Winning without playing well is the mark of potential champions and ruthless goals from Trent Alexander-Arnold and Roberto Firmino were enough for Liverpool to restore their five-point lead over Manchester City in testing circumstances. Chelsea, a team transformed by the dynamism of N’Golo Kanté, were relentless during the second half and came within a whisker of completing an impressive comeback from two goals down, only for Mason Mount and Michy Batshuayi to waste presentable opportunities to snatch a point in the dying stages.

Small details make the difference at this level and Frank Lampard, who is still waiting for his first home win as Chelsea manager, took little solace from his side’s frenzied effort after the break. The awkward number confronting Lampard is that Chelsea have conceded 13 goals from their opening six league games, leaving them with a negative goal difference in 11th place. They defended badly from set pieces, stumbled in front of goal and ended up looking what they are, an inconsistent and imprecise side struggling to adjust to life under the most inexperienced manager in the league.

In previous years the sight of the fans in the lower tier of the Matthew Harding Stand unfurling a banner bearing Eden Hazard’s image might have sent a shiver down the spine of the opposition. Those days have gone, though, and as motivational ploys go it seemed a strange choice when Hazard’s face appeared behind Kepa Arrizabalaga’s goal before kick-off.

With Hazard’s jinks down the left consigned to the past, Alexander-Arnold had more freedom to support Mohamed Salah from right-back and it was not long before the visitors exposed one of Chelsea’s biggest weaknesses with a powerful surge through the middle from Fabinho.

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The return of Kanté from a persistent ankle injury allowed Lampard to switch from a 3-4-2-1 system to a 4-3-3 but cracks soon appeared. The visitors started well and the danger was clear when Fabinho, charging past weak challenges from Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho, fizzed a pass into Sadio Mané, who lured Andreas Christensen into making a panicky foul.

The position of the free-kick, a couple of yards outside the area, meant power represented the clearest route to goal. Jordan Henderson acted as a decoy, Salah’s backheel teed up Alexander-Arnold and Chelsea froze as the youngster crashed a tremendous shot high to Arrizabalaga’s left.

Play Video 1:47 VAR decision was 'deflating' admits Frank Lampard after Chelsea's 2-1 defeat to Liverpool – video

The opening period quickly became an ordeal for Lampard. His gamble on Emerson Palmieri’s fitness backfired when the left-back limped off, his defence was further weakened when Christensen made way for Kurt Zouma after suffering a knee injury and, on the one occasion Tammy Abraham managed to sprint away from Virgil van Dijk, the young striker failed to thread the ball past Adrián in the Liverpool goal.

Lampard needed his team to be clinical, though he was encouraged by their willingness to keep probing. Liverpool were surprised that Mount was fit to start on the left after shaking off an ankle injury and Alexander-Arnold struggled defensively at times. He was indebted to VAR after Willian found space to send in a cross that César Azpilicueta converted from close range. The goal was ruled out when replays showed that Mount had strayed offside during the buildup.

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Lampard turned back to his bench with a rueful look and Chelsea’s frustration deepened when Liverpool doubled their lead moments later. Alexander-Arnold touched a free-kick to Andy Robertson and the left-back’s cross allowed Firmino to rise above Marcos Alonso, Emerson’s replacement, and head past Arrizabalaga.

This was not a vintage display from Liverpool’s front three, however, and Chelsea dominated the second half. Kanté took Liverpool on almost single-handedly during the European Super Cup last month and the midfielder was just as inspired here, halving the deficit with a fine shot from 20 yards in the 71st minute.

The Frenchman was everywhere, chasing back to stop Salah bursting clear, and Liverpool, who lost Mané to a knock late on, breathed huge sighs of relief when Batshuayi and Mount wasted those late opportunities. Given how tight this title race is likely to be, Klopp will cherish holding on to this gritty win.