Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea: Entertaining clash ends even at Anfield

Chelsea’s caretaker boss Calum McFarlane has been speaking after the draw and seemed pretty happy overall with the draw.

“It’s a good point, a good performance, I thought it was a game that could have gone either way. We had moments where we could have won the game, which is disappointing to not do that, but you come here and you play against a really good side. Much improved performance in every aspect, so we are pleased,” McFarlane told the BBC’s Match of the Day.

McFarlane added: “I thought we were finding the spare man in midfield a lot which gave us a lot of control in their half. We scored the goal, finished the half really well. Enzo has a big chance to maybe go 2-1 up. Cucurella gets in-behind two or three times. We just don’t quite connect the cross. I was really pleased with how we ended the first half.”

He also praised the defensive display of his team: “There are moments you have to defend and you have to show your quality individually and collectively. As a whole the effort, commitment and desire to defend our box when we needed to was really good.”

McFarlane also reserved special praise for Levi Colwill on his full return from a long injury layoff, and Reece James after returning from injury: “I thought they were both exceptional today. Levi’s played his first 90 minutes in a very, very long time. I thought he was the best player on the pitch. He gives us such a balance with his left foot to play out from the back. He allows you to defend man for man. He’s a leader. I am really pleased for him. Reece as well, 30 minutes I think he played. He was exceptional when he came on. We were losing a bit of control at that moment and he and Moises in the middle allowed us to get moments of control.”

On being in a better place today than Monday’s defeat to Nottingham Forest, especially ahead of the FA Cup final next weekend: “Monday was disappointing. We reviewed it. We spoke about the reaction that we wanted and I think we got that today. Hopefully we can build on that.”

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been speaking after the game and address the boos from home fans both to subbing off Rio Ngumoha and at the final whistle after the draw.

On the boos from fans when Rio Ngumoha came off and why he thought it was right to bring him off: “I don’t think it was some of them, there were a lot that didn’t agree with that change,” Slot laughed. “Which I completely understand if you just look at how he played. But it does make sense that three minutes before he goes to the floor and to the ground and having problems with his muscles and then I ask him, he said ‘hmm, not sure if I can continue’ and the idea was maybe not to take him off. But when he gave the signal he wasn’t completely ready to continue then it makes complete sense. I knew this would have been the reaction because he is such a popular figure and played a good 65 minutes. As is so often in football people don’t know everything and that how it works. It is what it is. I’m the manager I need to make decisions. Sometimes people are happy with them, sometimes they don’t. Today clearly they weren’t. Maybe knowing now why makes more sense for everyone.”

On the boos on the final whistle: “That probably has to do with us not winning. So a draw for the last five games we’ve won three, lost last week and today a draw, that is not what we want, we want to win all five. Last week we had a negative balance in our set piece, today again conceding a set piece and we were very, very close with Virgil to score one ourselves, so it completely makes sense if people are disappointed if we don’t win. Because that is what we want. We want to win. It should be like that. If Liverpool doesn’t win then no one can be happy with that.”

Here is Arne Slot’s reaction to the game in full.

Liverpool’s Dutch midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, who scored a beauty, has been speaking about the draw against Chelsea.

Gravenberch didn’t hold back his emotions when asked about the feeling in the dressing room after the game was one of disappointment.

“Yeah, of course because we have to share the points. We wanted the three points but obviously they are a good team. They did very well here. I think at the end they deserved a point as well,” Gravenberch told TNT Sports.

He added this when asked how to sum up Liverpool’s season as they still have a little bit of work to do to clinch a Champions League spot: “It was not a great season from us. We still have two games left. We have to try and win these games and secure the Champions League spot.”

A corner is whipped in and Virgil van Dijk powers a header towards goal but it hits the bar and goes over.

Van Dijk wants a penalty kick as he thinks he was fouled when trying to head towards goal, but after a quick check he’s not getting that.

Liverpool are well on top as we enter the final minutes at Anfield.

Double sub late on for Liverpool as Chiesa is on for Gakpo in attack and Gomez is on for Konate.

Liverpool are pouring forward now and taking real risks in attack.

Chiesa has a knack for popping up late with important goals, so Arne Slot would love him to continue that trend.

Gomez on for Konate is a bit concerning as the French international seemed to take a whack early in this game. Maybe it’s just about managing fatigue.

Just over 10 minutes to go in this game.

Liverpool so close to retaking the lead as Dominik Szoboszlai spanks a low effort off the post.

Oh my, that is some hit from Liverpool’s runaway player of the season, as the Hungarian midfielder drills a low shot towards the bottom corner but it hits the foot of the post and comes back out.

Filip Jorgensen in the Chelsea goal was beaten. This really could go either way in the final 15 minutes or so.

Liverpool have regained some control but Chelsea will be dangerous on the counter if the hosts take too many risks late on.

That is a really intriguing reaction from the home fans as Arne Slot takes off Rio Ngumoha.

Alexander Isak is on in his place as we approach the final 20 minutes of normal time.

Slot didn’t seem too happy either with the reaction from the Liverpool fans.

Isak has looked pretty decent recently, so let’s see if he can grab a late winner for Liverpool as he’s gone up top and Cody Gakpo has gone out to his usual position on the left flank.

Brilliant second half, this!

A cross to the back post is nodded down by Cody Gakpo and Curtis Jones finishes. He starts to celebrate but the offside flag is up.

Gakpo just strayed offside when the cross came in. That is a clear offside.

Both teams have now had a goal chalked out for offside.

That was coming! Chelsea score right at the start of the second half, but it’s ruled out after a VAR check for offside.

Marc Cucurella made a dash behind Jeremie Frimpong and his cross eventually found its way to Cole Palmer who slotted home and celebrated wildly.

But VAR took a look and Cucurella clearly just went a little too early behind Frimpong and was offside. The goal is ruled out but that is yet another warning for Liverpool.

Chelsea well on top at the start of the second half and look the more likely to go ahead.

The half time whistle blows at Anfield and that 1-1 scoreline is a pretty fair reflection on an intriguing first half.

Liverpool were good early on and deservedly took the lead through a Ryan Gravenberch banger, but they then sat back and let Chelsea back into the game.

The Blues had some big chances and Enzo Fernandez saw his free kick miss everyone and curl into the far corner.

Big 45 minutes coming up for both teams and we can surely expect to see the likes of Alexander Isak for Liverpool and Liam Delap for Chelsea very soon.

It is allllll Chelsea now and they are pushing to go ahead before the break.

Enzo Fernanez is played in and thumps an effort on goal but Giorgi Mamardashvili stays tall and beats the effort away.

Arne Slot looks very concerned on the sidelines and rightly so. Liverpool are all over the place at the back and a couple of slick passes from Chelsea is cutting right through them. This is way too easy for Chelsea.

The Blues deserve that equalizer as they’ve been well on top in the last 15 minutes.

Enzo Fernandez’s free kick is whipped in to a really dangerous area and Wesley Fofana attacks it but doesn’t seem to get any contact on the ball.

Chelsea deservedly equalize and make it 1-1 in the 36th minute. What a great open game this has become!

That is a great stop from Giorgi Mamardashvili down low and he celebrates accordingly.

Chelsea get in down the left, as they’ve done a few times now, and a slot shot across goal from Marc Cucurella is on target but Mamardashvili gets a touch on it and Liverpool clear.

After plenty of early struggles Chelsea are now getting into this. They have settled down now.

Liverpool still ahead after 30 minutes but a few moans and groans are breaking out at Anfield.

Chelsea first real sight of goal today as Joao Pedro is played in through the middle.

That is much better from the Blues as a ball is played in behind the Liverpool defense centrally and finds Joao Pedro.

He has a look at goal but Giorgi Mamardashvili rushes off his line to clear the danger. Good goalkeeping from Liverpool’s second-choice stopper.

Some hope for Chelsea there but Liverpool are looking pretty comfortable for the most part. 22 minutes in, and it’s still Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea.

A cross to the back post finds Virgil van Dijk totally unmarked.

He almost had too much time to think about the finish but he scuffs the volley into the ground and it bounces up and over the bar.

Van Dijk may have been offside as Enzo Fernandez just let him go, but it was tight. Great back to the back post to find VVD and it is all Liverpool early on.

Chelsea are dropping deeper and deeper and just can’t get out. Anfield is loving it!

What a hit from Ryan Gravenberch to give Liverpool the lead against Chelsea!

The Dutch midfielder is found by Ngumoha on the edge of the box and his curler beats Jorgensen and hits the back of the net. It wasn’t right in the corner so the Chelsea goalkeeper may be disappointed with that one.

But still, that is some hit from Gravenberch and Anfield is buzzing.

After a rousing rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone, Chelsea get us underway at Anfield in glorious sunshine.

Liverpool are on the ball and are trying to ease into the game early on and dictate the tempo of play.

Chelsea look to have Cole Palmer on the right wing in a very free role drifting around. Cody Gakpo, as expected, is lining up centrally for Liverpool.

Seeing the red and blue kits on this lovely green pitch just feels right. Proper football.

The team news has landed and there are quite a few surprises from both Liverpool and Chelsea.

Chelsea starting lineup

Jorgensen; Fofana, Colwill, Hato; Gusto, Caicedo, Andrey Santos, Cucurella; Fernandez, Palmer; Joao Pedro

McFarlane looks to have gone to 3-4-2-1 formation to add some defensive solidity.

Liverpool starting lineup

Mamardashvili; Jones, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkrz; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Frimpong, Szoboszlai, Ngumoha; Gakpo

Arne Slot has Isak on the bench in attack, while Mamardashvili is back in goal after his injury.

This is usually a feisty clash between two Premier League giants but both are a little subdued heading into this one.

Reigning Premier League champions Liverpool have struggled for consistency and were never in the running to defend their crown, as Arne Slot’s side will instead be delighted with rallying and rescuing Champions League qualification. They can clinch their UCL spot with a win today and other results going their way.

Chelsea are all over the place after six-straight league defeats. Caretaker boss Callum McFarlane is looking to make Chelsea more solid defensively and their season is all about winning the FA Cup final against Manchester City next weekend to salvage some kind of pride.

Here is the full Liverpool vs Chelsea preview with team news and a score prediction.

It’s simple for Liverpool: win and they are all but in the UEFA Champions League.

Their spot in the Champions League next season could be confirmed this weekend if they win and other results go their way. Sealing that top five spot as early as possible is the main motivation for Slot, as he will then likely give plenty of his players a rest.

Chelsea’s main motivation is also clear: restore pride after a disastrous run of form.

A few weeks ago Chelsea looked certain to finish in the top five and qualify for the Champions League. Now they’re in ninth spot heading into this weekend and in real danger of not being in Europe at all next season. Yes, they have the FA Cup final against Manchester City next weekend, but before that their young, talented players need to show some kind of spark to give their fans hope of a big upset against City.

Here’s a look at how we can expect both Liverpool and Chelsea to lineup today at Anfield:

Liverpool predicted lineup

Mamardashvili; Jones, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak

It is possible Mamardashvili could return from injury to replace third-choice Woodman in goal, while Curtis Jones is likely to remain at right back. In attack the quartet of Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Gakpo and Isak should start once again.

Chelsea predicted lineup

Jorgensen; Gusto, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Lavia; Palmer, Fernandez, Joao Pedro; Delap

Reece James may be fit to play some part, while Colwill could make his first start as he made his comeback last weekend from his long-term injury. Andrey Santos or Romeo Lavia will partner Moises Caicedo in midfield. Pedro Neto and Robert Sanchez are out with injury, so Filip Jorgensen and Liam Delap will likely come in with Joao Pedro moving to a wide role.

Okay, before we get into things a bit deeper, here’s how you can watch Liverpool vs Chelsea live across the USA:

How to watch Liverpool vs Chelsea live, stream link and start time

Kick off time: 7:30am ET Saturday
Venue: Anfield — Liverpool
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Stream live on Peacock