Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea: Blues end losing run with spirited Anfield draw | Football
Chelsea have picked up their first point in seven Premier League matches after an entertaining draw with Liverpool at Anfield.
The Blues had lost their last six league outings leading up to Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off, scoring just one goal in that run.
But ahead of next Saturday’s FA Cup final against Manchester City, they turned in a much-improved performance on Merseyside.
It started out looking like another bleak day for Calum McFarlane’s side.
After just six minutes, Ryan Gravenberch was picked out on the edge of the box, turning to brilliantly curl one past Filip Jorgensen in the Chelsea goal.
The hosts searched for a second but Chelsea found their feet as the half wore on with Marc Cucurella causing plenty of problems down the left.
They drew level 10 minutes before half-time courtesy of Enzo Fernandez’s free kick that somehow beat everyone in the box before finding the far corner.
Wesley Fofana swung a boot at it but didn’t appear to make contact with the Argentine credited with the goal.
Cole Palmer put his side ahead early in the second-half but the goal was ruled out with Marc Cucurella ruled to have been offside in the build-up.
Metro’s LIVE matchday blog will bring you all the build-up, confirmed team news and starting XIs, goal updates and minute-by-minute coverage.
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FULL-TIME! Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea
Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea
75 mins | Nothing separating the two as we reach the final 15 minutes.
Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea
53 mins | MacAllister comes flying in on Gusto – but just about comes away with the ball. Getting wild out there.
GOAL DISALLOWED
Hang on, VAR has had a look and judged Cucurella to have been offside in the build-up.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-2 Chelsea | Cole Palmer, 48 mins
SECOND-HALF UNDERWAY!
And here we go with the second-half.
HALF-TIME! Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea
Liverpool were cruising at one stage – but it is level at the break.
Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea
39 mins | Liverpool have fallen asleep and they’ve been punished. Fernandez whips the free kick in – Fofana is claiming he’s got a touch – either way, it’s found the back of the net.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea | Wesley Fofana, 36 mins
Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea
30 mins | Cucurella is getting in down the left more and more now – if Chelsea are to get a goal today, you feel it will come from there.
Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea
25 mins | More than halfway through the first-half here and it’s looking like another bleak afternoon for Chelsea.
Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea
19 mins | A sniff of goal for Chelsea as Palmer pokes a ball through for Pedro. He’s racing through one-on-one but Mamardashvili is out first to collect.
Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea
13 mins | Liverpool are completely at ease here. A lovely stroll in the sunshine.
Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea
10 mins | What a chance for a second! Van Dijk is left completely free at the back post as a cross comes in but he blasts it well over the bar.
Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea
6 mins | Szoboszlai’s free kick is charged down but Liverpool keep the pressure up. It’s played into the feet of Gravenberch just outside the box. His first touch is superb, spinning towards goal and curling a beauty past Jorgensen.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea | Ryan Gravenberch, 5 mins
Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea
3 mins | Caicedo is forced to give away the free kick after Chelsea clumsily lose possession, bringing down Kerkez.
Szoboszlai might fancy this…
Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea
2 mins | Liverpool lose possession deep in their half and Palmer is onto it, breaking into the box. He takes the shot on from a tight angle but it’s an easy save for Mamardashvili.
KICK-OFF!
Kick-off approaching
The teams are out of the tunnel with Anfield bathed in sunshine. Lovely day for it.
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