Sadio Mane scored twice in four second-half minutes as Liverpool put title rivals Chelsea to the sword following Andreas Christensen's sending-off.

Christensen was dismissed for denying Mane a goalscoring opportunity moments before half-time, and the Senegalese proceeded to head Liverpool in front shortly before capitalising on yet another Kepa Arrizabalaga error.

Box-office signing Thiago came on at the break for his debut and handed Chelsea a lifeline when he fouled Timo Werner in the area, but Alisson denied Jorginho from the spot.

Liverpool have made a perfect start to their title defence.

Story of the game

It was a first-half bereft of clearcut opportunities, with Liverpool controlling the ball but refusing to overcommit in the face of Chelsea's counter-attacking threat.

The biggest chance of the first 45 was fortuitously presented to Liverpool early on, the ball ricocheting invitingly into the path of Mohamed Salah. Arrizabalaga rushed out to meet the forward, but Salah had time to pull the ball back for Roberto Firmino, thwarted from close-range by a well-positioned Christensen.

Chelsea did not muster their first attempt until after the half-hour mark, with Werner finding a pocket of space 20 yards out and rather skewing a shot harmlessly wide.

In fact, the Blues' most dangerous spell would effectively prove their undoing. It ended with a tame header from Marcos Alonso at the back post following Reece James' dangerous ball-in, and Liverpool were able to pounce with Chelsea's having briefly thrown their caution to the wind.

Alisson quickly dispatched the ball to Jordan Henderson on the edge of the Liverpool area and the skipper, noticing that Mane had set off, arrowed a precise, defence-splitting ball the way of the left-winger.

With Mane looking to set to nick the ball past Arrizabalaga and find himself with an open goal, Christensen deliberately bundled him over.

Initially, Paul Tierney left Liverpool incredulous with the award of a yellow card, but after consultation with the pitchside monitor he correctly awarded a red. 

Frank Lampard withdrew the again-peripheral Kai Havertz at the interval, forced to send on Fikayo Tomori to fill the void. Could his players form a shackling defensive bloc and keep the champions bay?

As it transpired, it would only take Liverpool five minutes to unlock the deep-lying Blues. Firmino cleverly exchanged passes with Salah before lifting in a cross for Mane to attack. The Senegalese international sprung across the front of James and his header was unstoppable.

Arrizabalaga was rooted to the spot that time, but the second goal was another to add to the Spaniard's humiliating catalogue.

Mane, frustrated after losing possession, charged down the 'keeper and, almost inevitably, was presented with the ball and a simple finish. 

From there, you could sense from the demeanour of both sets of players that the game was presumed to be over.  

But perhaps there would have been creeping nerves for the visitors in the closing stages had Jorginho scored a rather abruptly-awarded penalty on 75 minutes.

The battling Werner picked up the ball on the left and optimistically drove inside, going to ground after a subtle trip from the otherwise impressive Thiago.

Jorginho had had nine opportunities from 12 yards since joining Chelsea, and had nonchalantly rolled in each and every one.

But that streak ended here as Alisson, whose best form had eluded him of late, got down to his left to make the save and Virgil van Dijk hammered the ball to safety.

For Chelsea, that was all she wrote. Liverpool thrice threatened a third, with a Salah cross evading Van Dijk, Arrizabalaga preventing a Mane hat-trick and Georginio Wijnaldum failing to compose himself from point-blank range.

Perhaps 3-0 would have more accurately captured their dominance. No matter, for the Reds had capped off a joyous week by clearing the season's first meaningful hurdle with aplomb. 

Takeaways

Outstanding Fabinho calls a halt to Liverpool's business

Timo Werner, destined for a move to Anfield before the pandemic struck, was poised to show Liverpool what they were missing. He was up against a backline which newly-promoted Leeds had carved open on occasion, and it appeared further weakened by the absence of both Joe Gomez and Joel Matip.

With no replacement for Dejan Lovren materialising during the window, Fabinho had slot in alongside Van Dijk. And crucially, he carried out the unfamiliar role with distinction. Assured from start to finish, he won the duel with Werner. Mane scored twice but Fabinho is a deserving man of the match. 

He played so well, in fact, that Klopp will confidently move forward with three established centre-halves, two of whom are prone to injury. Fabinho has shown once again that he is supremely dependable.

Mane's tenacity sets him apart

The execution of Sadio Mane's deadlock-breaking header was superb, but it was also a goal which showcased his desire. It should have been James' ball, but Mane wanted it more and quite literally jumped the queue.

The second was an even more obvious display of appetite. Mane was visibly annoyed to have ceded possession and looked a man possessed as he profitably struck fear into Kepa. 

It leaves us to reflect that Mane is both a sublime footballer and an exemplary role model. His attitude has been crucial in his ascent to the very top.

Cause for optimism, but Chelsea will be bruised

This is not the Chelsea team which will hope to mount a genuine title assault this season. Fittingly, the camera panned during the game to the section of Stamford Bridge seating where Ben Chilwell, Thiago Silva and Hakim Ziyech were surveying the action. Christian Pulisic, magnificent following last season's restart, joined them.

Chelsea will be a vastly more menacing proposition when all four are fit, and especially when Eduoard Mendy replaces the universally-maligned Arrizabalaga. At some point this season, when the revamped squad begins to gel, they will build fearsome momentum.

But this was an undeniably gruelling afternoon. Chelsea are only three points behind Liverpool but they'll leave the pitch feeling belittled, regardless of their solid display before the red card.

Indeed, maintaining his players' belief will be Frank Lampard's biggest post-match task.