If Darwin Nunez couldn't believe it, then Arne Slot was almost apoplectic with bewilderment on the touchline.

The decision, deep into a tense and lengthy period of additional time, to penalise the Liverpool striker for what appeared a fair challenge up against Chelsea substitute Benoit Badiashile was just one of many poor calls from lamentable referee John Brooks.

But it also highlighted the appetite and hunger Nunez brought to the game having been thrown in earlier than expected when Diogo Jota was forced off injured before the interval.

Clearly keen to impress, sometimes, as with a late tackle during part of a running battle with Badiashile, Nunez overstepped the mark, although he managed to keep himself in check despite the outrage at his late wrongdoing.

But his impressive showing can prove a foundation for Nunez after such a stop-start beginning to the season. Should Jota be sidelined for any period of time, Liverpool are going to need the Uruguayan to step up.

Liverpool learning Slot way

The Arne Slot era is now officially underway. Yes, there had been 10 games before this arrival of Chelsea at Anfield, resulting in a record-breaking nine victories.

But there has always been a sense this Liverpool team hadn't yet truly managed lift-off, Slot still to properly experience the power of both his side and their supporters.

The wait, then, is over as his players and the Anfield crowd combined to produce the first memorable home occasion of the Dutchman's tenure.

And the manner in which Liverpool had to dig out this latest triumph will have particularly pleased Slot, the Reds ceding 57% of possession but restricting Chelsea to just two shots on target.

Not that the home side were without attacking threat, scoring twice, having one penalty award overturned and managing more shots on target.

But it was notable Liverpool took a collective step back during the final quarter in an effort to successfully protect their hard-earned lead, the control and composure Slot has been keen to instil in his team this time not demonstrated with what they did with the ball but rather the manner in which they ensured Chelsea didn't overly threaten. Certainly, the Reds' game management was on point.

The cheer that greeted the final whistle was different to what had been previously heard this season. Slot now knows. This is what Liverpool and Anfield are all about.

Trent responds to Keane barbs

Trent Alexander-Arnold is destined to forever be a punching bag for those who find it difficult to grasp the fact his defending might not be quite on par with his world-class forward play.

Nobody could manage that. But to suggest the Liverpool right-back cannot defend - Roy Keane the latest to nail his colours to that particular mast - is frankly preposterous.

And there was compelling evidence of that here, with Alexander-Arnold being asked to quell two of the Premier League's more tricky wingers in Jadon Sancho and Pedro Neto.

It says much that Sancho was replaced at half-time while Neto's main threat came when he briefly appeared on the other flank late on.

Chelsea ambitiously claimed a penalty when Alexander-Arnold tangled with Sancho in the first half while, in the second half, there was one occasion when Neto finally escaped out of range of the Liverpool man when drifting inside.

A tiring Alexander-Arnold was replaced by Joe Gomez soon after, with it later emerging the right-back almost missed the game due to fitness concerns. It put a fresh perspective on a pointedly good afternoon for the player.