Cody Gakpo during Liverpool’s match with Chelsea. (Image: Getty)
Liverpool stumbled into a point against Chelsea with their 1-1 draw at Anfield. Arne Slot’s side were second-best against a team heading into the match in a woeful run of form, but struggled ever since they took the lead in the sixth minute.
Ryan Gravenberch turned Anfield into an explosion of noise with a supreme curling effort into the top corner. Chelsea then equalised when Enzo Fernandez’s wide free-kick evaded everyone in the box apart from a slight Wesley Fofana touch, to equalise in a goal that had been coming.
The Reds were let off when Cole Palmer’s finish was ruled out for an offside in the build-up on Marc Cucurella, before Curtis Jones had a goal of his own chalked off for a similar offence and no team were able to find a winner.
Here, Express Sport runs the rule over the Liverpool players…
Liverpool player ratings vs Chelsea (4-3-3)
Back in for Freddie Woodman after injury and made some smart stops from Cucurella and Fernandez.
Still struggling at right-back and Marc Cucurella was able to get into space time and time again. Caused trouble when he got into attacking positions, but they were few and far between.
Some wayward passing left his team-mates in trouble. Hobbled off after 75 minutes.
Needed to make a sublime header to keep Chelsea from drawing level just moments after Gravenberch’s opener. Should have doubled Liverpool’s lead, also, after finding himself free at the back post on the 11th minute. One of his better performances this season but still not enough to keep a clean sheet. Crashed the bar with a late header from a corner.
Combined well with Ngumoha on occasion but had less joy going the opposite way when Chelsea turned up the pressure.
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Two perfect touches. One to get the ball out of his feet on the edge of the area, and another to curl an effort around Filip Jorgensen in the Chelsea goal to open the scoring.
Rendered ineffective by the Chelsea midfield. Fans will be wondering why Jones isn’t put in Mac Allister’s position and Frimpong in defence.
Ryan Gravenberch opened the scoring from a strike on the edge of the box. (Image: Getty)
One of his quieter games in a Liverpool shirt this season, but remained a threat from set-pieces. Hit the post in the second half.
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Offered little going forward and is becoming a big problem, with Slot refusing to play the Dutchman at right-back either. At times appeared unsure of where to position himself, with Jones given more freedom to attack in the second half.
Should have got in front of Wesley Fofana and cut out Fernandez’s free-kick, which ended up in the net. But Gakpo put in another aject performance going forward, which seems to be the case regardless of whether he plays out wide or through the middle. Needlessly offside when nodding back for Jones to score from close range.
Added a much-needed injection of unpredictability to the Liverpool team and the top performer of the Liverpool front three. Anfield launched into a chorus of boos when the teenager was taken off before Gakpo and Frimpong.
Went through the middle as Gakpo reverted back to his spot out wide. But he got very little service and at this point, will be desperate for a nightmare season to be over.
On for an injured Konate and kept Joao Pedro largely at bay. Booked for a foul on Fernandez.
Federico Chiesa (77′) – 6
Given the nod to replace Gakpo, interestingly on the left, but could not get on the ball often enough.
