Liverpool lifted the Super Cup after overcoming Chelsea in a penalty shoot-out.

Olivier Giroud had put the Londoners ahead in the all-English clash with a slotted close-range finish in the 36th minute after being teed up by Christian Pulisic.

A swift response by Jurgen Klopp’s side after the half-time interval saw Sadio Mane equalise from a lay-off by substitute Roberto Firmino.

In extra time, Mane struck again with a slotted effort into the roof of Kepa Arrizabalaga’s net when Firmino squared to his teammate in the penalty area.

But Chelsea levelled just five minutes later courtesy of a penalty from Jorginho after Adrian was adjudged to have brought down Tammy Abraham.

Here were the key talking points from Besiktas Park:

In Istanbul…

 

Trailing at half-time and victorious on penalties – Liverpool clearly know the Istanbul script off by heart after their second triumph in Turkey.

Granted, the Super Cup may not linger as long in the memory as the iconic Champions League win of 14 years prior but still followed a similar pattern.

Adrian’s heroics to deny Tammy Abraham in the shoot-out channelled the spirit of Jerzy Dudek while the Reds’ second-half fightback carried shades of 2005.

That the Spaniard had conceded a penalty in extra time to the Chelsea striker which levelled up the encounter will have only added to his delight.

Melwood’s honours board will now need a swift revision on Thursday morning.

Firmino: the power behind the throne

 

Roberto Firmino has never been shy of dues in Liverpool’s attacking trident.

Yet the Brazil international may enjoy a new-found level of appreciation after a second-half introduction which proved a catalyst for the European champions.

Two assists for Sadio Mane did not tell the full story of Firmino’s impact in a Liverpool team which had appeared largely bereft in the first 45 minutes.

Barely three minutes after the restart, he had set up Mane for an equaliser and continually wreaked havoc in a Chelsea back line that was there for the taking.

For all the emphasis on Mane’s pace and Mohamed Salah’s goal-scoring potency, Firmino appears to be the real power behind the throne for Liverpool.

Still question marks over defence

 

Even in victory, Liverpool are still not above scrutiny.

Question marks about their defence will have only amplified with an alarmingly high line that allowed Chelsea regular breaks either side of the half-time interval.

The right-back position is also a conundrum which Klopp needs to address, with neither Trent Alexander-Arnold nor Joe Gomez appearing all-round solutions.

While Alexander-Arnold may be too adventurous but Gomez is by no means the antidote despite a formidable second half display in the Community Shield.

Pedro, in particular, was able to draw the former Charlton man in at will as Chelsea continually made inroads down their left-hand side.

Drastic action is not what Liverpool require but some fine-tuning would not go amiss, especially before they face the Londoners again on September 22.

Half-hour of farce needs to go

 

Maybe the Football Association had the right idea all along.

When Liverpool and Manchester City traded blows earlier this month in the Community Shield, Wembley chiefs immediately reverted to a penalty shoot-out.

It is hardly a new phenomenon for the competition in the modern age, but their European counterparts would do well to follow that particular lead.

An additional 30 minutes of open play had zero benefits for the bodies and minds of players who will be taking to the field again in little under 72 hours.

Extra-time clearly had a place in the ‘golden goal’ era of continental football – Liverpool benefited from it in the 2001 UEFA Cup final – but it no longer serves a purpose.

Time for UEFA to follow the FA’s lead and do away with this half-hour of farce.