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.

Mohamed Salah scored a first-half penalty after Curtis Jones was brought down by Levi Colwill. Liverpool briefly thought they had a second spot-kick after Robert Sanchez sent Jones crashing to the floor, but a VAR review showed the Chelsea keeper got the ball first and the decision was overturned.