Kodi Gakpo during the match between Liverpool and Chelsea. (Image: Getty)
Liverpool stumbled to just one point with a 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Anfield. Arne Slott’s side had the second-best result against a team that entered the game in terrible form, but had struggled since taking the lead in the sixth minute.
Ryan Gravenbirch turned Anfield into an explosive noise with a superb curling effort into the top corner. Chelsea then equalized after Enzo Fernandes’ wide free-kick evaded everyone in the box save for Wesley Fofana’s slight touch, and they came close to equalizing with a goal.
The Reds were sent off when Cole Palmer’s finish was ruled out for offside in the build-up to Marc Cucurella, and then Curtis Jones had his own goal ruled out for chalk in a similar attack, with no team able to score a winner.
Here, Express Sport takes control of Liverpool’s players…
Liverpool vs Chelsea player rating (4-3-3)
Returning from injury for Freddie Woodman, Cucurella and Fernandes made smart stops.
They still struggled at right-back, allowing Marc Cucurella to find his way into space many times. When he got into offensive positions he caused trouble, but very little of it.
He put his teammates in trouble with his wayward passes. Seventy-five minutes later, he staggered away.
Chelsea needed a great header to prevent them from leveling the score immediately after Grabenwerch’s opener. His free shot at the back post in the 11th minute should have doubled Liverpool’s lead. It’s one of his best performances this season, but it’s still not enough to keep a clean sheet. His header from a corner in the second half hit the bar.
At times he linked up well with Ngumoha, but his joy faded as Chelsea increased the pressure.
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Two perfect touches. One played the ball off his feet on the edge of the area and the other curled around Filip Jorgensen inside the Chelsea goal to take the lead.
He was neutralized by Chelsea’s midfield. Fans will wonder why Jones isn’t put in Mac Allister’s position and Frimpong isn’t in the defence.
Ryan Gravenbirch scored the first goal with a shot on the edge of the box. (Image: Getty)
His game in a Liverpool shirt this season was one of his quieter, but he was still a set-piece threat. In the second half, it hit the post.
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There are few future offers and Slott has refused to play the Dutchman at right-back, which is a big problem. Jones was able to attack more freely in the second half and at times appeared unsure of where to position himself.
He should have gone in front of Wesley Fofana to cut out Fernandes’ free-kick, but it turned into a goal. However, Gakpo continues to perform well, and this seems to be the case whether he plays out wide or in the centre. Jones was unnecessarily offside when he nodded home a goal from close range.
He has injected some much-needed unpredictability into the Liverpool squad and the top performers of Liverpool’s front three. There was a chorus of boos at Anfield as the teenager was taken away in front of Gakpo and Frimpong.
Gakpo returned wide and broke through the middle. However, he has hardly been able to get any service and at this point will be desperate for his nightmare season to end.
He came on in place of the injured Konate and almost kept João Pedro at bay. He was booked for a foul on Fernandes.
Federico Chiesa (77′) – 6
Interestingly, given that he was used on the left side instead of Gakpo, he was not able to get on the ball often enough.
