Last update on.From section Premier League
Chelsea was furious that Reece James, defender, was given a straight red card
Chelsea defeated Liverpool in a furious Anfield encounter. Despite being down to 10 men following Reece James’ first-half sending off, they still managed to score a hard-earned point.
Liverpool tried to push hard throughout the battle between the two Premier League superpowers, who are fully expecting to challenge the title this season. However, the Champions League holders were brilliantly organised and will eventually be satisfied with the draw.
Liverpool began at a fast pace, but Chelsea were composed and took control when Kai Havertz sent a glancing header past Alisson from James' corner in front the Kop.
Mason Mount missed a golden opportunity to double Chelsea’s advantage. The game was roiled in controversy in the final minutes of the first period.
After a goalmouth scramble, Joel Matip hit the bar while James swept Sadio Mae's shot off of the line with his right hand. Liverpool were given a penalty. After consulting VAR, referee Anthony Taylor gave the spot-kick. Chelsea was further insulted by the decision to give the defender a red card.
Mohamed Salah scored the penalty to establish a second-half Liverpool siege, but Chelsea rose to the occasion.
N'Golo Kaante was injured and the Blues brought in Thiago Silva, Mateo Kovacic, and held off the hosts with a brilliant defensive display. Edouard Mendy, goalkeeper, saved well from Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho and Diogo Jota, and also had a chance with a header.
Chelsea: Mixed emotions
Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea manager, will be delighted with how his team responded to the blow of conceding penalty and being numerically behind in the final seconds before the break. But he might still wonder what could have been.
Liverpool tried to press Liverpool, but Chelsea were able to play comfortably in the opening period despite the animated cheerleading of Jurgen Klopp (who even played as an Anfield cheerleader at times).
Chelsea's discipline and shape limited Liverpool's chances, while Mendy was protected by Mendy. At the other end, the threat brought Havertz's goal as well as that missed opening from Mount.
It will be a huge source of frustration for Tuchel that the game was altered by the Chelsea fight that Chelsea so passionately contested. This incident brought down a red card for James, and yellows for Mendy Rudiger and Antonio Rudiger.
Tuchel will be happy to have scored his second consecutive win at Anfield. However, he was proactive at half-time and compensated for James's loss.
Brazil's veteran defender cruised and controlled the second half. He was a calm presence in front Kop's wall.
Chelsea's Tuchel has maintained their unbeaten record but he might have been thinking of more up to the dramatic end of the first half.
Liverpool misses big opportunity
Liverpool had a great chance to win the title race early on when they seemed to have Chelsea exactly where they wanted them to be at the beginning of the second half.
Liverpool were ready to move forward in front Of The Kop who was in good form since the beginning whistle. Chelsea was right to point out that, despite Liverpool having so much possession, it wasn't a case where chances fell on Mendy.
Liverpool had created some openings, but Salah and Mane were quiet, and Roberto Firmino was injured in the first half. They lacked the guile and the skill to break down Chelsea's formidable defence.
Klopp can take comfort in Joel Matip's outstanding performance as a defender, who was unsurpassed throughout the match and kept Romelu Loukaku quiet. However, Chelsea's striker of 97.5m was left to his own devices in the second period, with Chelsea playing to just 10 players.
Lukaku had one chance in the second period, but it was Matip who provided the crucial block as Alisson began to threaten Alisson's goal.
The honours were split between the two great sides, but Liverpool will be less happy with the draw, as they have the support of Anfield and the opportunity to challenge Chelsea with their smaller numbers.
Klopp also demonstrated his great faith in Harvey Elliott (18 years old), by starting him in a match against European champions. He displayed some lovely touches that are so promising for the future.
Liverpool will however feel that there was a missed opportunity in the fact that they could only end the match against one of their title competitors with a draw.
Player of the Match: Havertz Kai Havertz, with an average of 8.53 Liverpool Liverpool Liverpool Liverpool
Chelsea Chelsea Liverpool Avg Squad Number 67 Player Elliott Average Rating 5.96 Squad Number 11 Player player name van Dijk Player rating Player rating Player rating Player rating Player number Roberto Firmino Player rating 4.07 Chelsea Avg Squad Number 29 Player player name Havertz Player rating 8.53 Squad numbers 16 Player named Thiago Silva Player rating Player rating Player rating Player number Tsimikas Player rating Average rating 5.99 Squad numbers 9 Player number Henderson Average rating rating 5.49 Squad #9 Player number Thiago Jota Player rating Player number 3 Squad 9 Player number 15 Player number 14 Player number 12 Player number 14 League rating of 6.80 Squad for 7 Player number 13 Player number 14 Player called Chalobah.
Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text Line-ups Liverpool Formation 4-3-3 1 Alisson 66 Alexander-Arnold 32 Matip 4 van Dijk 26 Robertson 67 Elliott 14 Henderson 3 Fabinho 11 Salah 9 Firmino 10 Man 1 Alisson
66 Alexander-Arnold
32 Matip
4 van Dijk
26 Robertson Substituted at 86' for Tsimikas
67 Elliott
14 Henderson substituted for Thiago alcntara at the 74' minute
3 Fabinho
11 Salah
9 Firmino Substituted at 43' Minutes for Jota
10 Man Substitutes 5 Konat
6 Thiago Alcntara
8 Keta
12 Gomez
15 Oxlade-Chamberlain
18 Minamino
20 Jota
21 Tsimikas
62 Kelleher Chelsea Formation 3--4-2-1 16 Mendy28 Azpilicueta4 Christensen2 Rdiger24 James 7 Kant5 Jorginho3 Alonso29 Havertz19 Mount 9 Lukaku16 Mendy Booked @ 45mins
28 Azpilicueta
4 Christensen
2 Rdiger Booked at 45mins
24 James Booked in 45mins
7 Kant substituted for Kovacic in 45' minutes
5 Jorginho substituted for Chalobah in 87' minutes
3 Alonso
At 45' minutes, Thiago Silva is Substituted by 29 Havertz
19 Mount
9 Lukaku Substitutes 1 Arrizabalaga
6 Thiago Silva
8 Kovacic
11 Werner
12 Loftus-Cheek
14 Chalobah
20 Hudson-Odoi
21 Chilwell
22 Ziyech Referee, Anthony Taylor Match Stats Live text Post update Match ends at Liverpool 1, Chelsea 1. Full Time Second half ends, Liverpool 1, Chelsea 1. Liverpool, Post update Corner. Andreas Christensen conceded. Post update Foul by Diogo Jota, Liverpool Post update Mateo Kovacic, Chelsea (Chelsea), wins a free kick at the defensive end. Liverpool, Post-update Corner Conceded to by Mendy, the douard. Post-update: Attempt saved. The goalkeeper saved the header of Diogo Jota from Liverpool's centre box. Trent Alexander-Arnold assisted with a cross. Liverpool, Post-update Corner Trevoh Chalobah conceded. Update: Attempt blocked. Blocking of Diogo Jota's left-footed shot from the left half of the six yard box by Liverpool Konstantinos Tsimikas assisted with a cross. Substitution Substitution Chelsea. Jorginho is replaced by Trevoh Chalobah. Substitution Substitution, Liverpool. Konstantinos Tsimikas replaces Andrew Robertson. Post update: Attempt saved. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool, right footed shot from right side box to save the goal's top centre. Mohamed Salah assisted. Post-update: Attempt saved. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), right footed shot from the outside of the box is saved in central goal Post-update: Attempt saved. Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea), right footed shot left from the box's left side is saved in the lower left corner. Romelu Lukaku assisted. Update: Attempt blocked. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool, left footed shot outside the box is blocked Thiago assisted with a head pass. Post update Foul by Sadio man (Liverpool). Post update Jorginho (Chelsea), wins a free kick at the defensive half. Foul by Fabinho, Liverpool. Post update Jorginho (Chelsea), wins a free kick at the defensive end. Substitution Substitution, Liverpool. Thiago will replace Jordan Henderson. Page 1 of 5 Rewind Previous Navigate to Next Navigate To The Last Page Forward
