Liverpool could only go blank against Chelsea without winning the Premier League in 2023, and a 0-0 draw marked the middle of the season.
Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea
Premier League (19) | Anfield
January 21 , 2023
Jurgen Klopp was expected to make changes, but some may have been surprised to find that there were only three, and the midweek performances at Wolves were fairly rewarded.
Alisson, Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah are the only participants, while 18—year-old Stefan Baisetic earned his first Premier League start to continue his impressive rise this season.
Hearts sank just three minutes later when Kai Havertz scored after failing to defend from a corner, not for the first time this season, but fortunately Chelsea’s joy was short-lived.
The VAR system intervened, not noticing the call for early release, and Enfield roared in its approval.
But the Reds made life difficult for themselves by giving the ball to Chelsea, who did not immediately get used to the match, and the guests believed in Liverpool’s missteps.
Cody Gakpo’s radar was aimed at the stands, grabbing him with two attempts, but as the break approached, Klopp’s team started asking questions, but a meaningful goal kick continued to slip away.
Half-time: Liverpool - Chelsea 0:0
- 3 changes from Wolves; Bajcetić’s first start in the league
- Klopp’s 1000th match as a coach
- Liverpool’s fifth draw of the season
Ibrahima Konate’s cross-kick almost caught Kepa and caused early pressure from the Reds to start the second half, an intention that was lacking in the first 45.
However, there were still not enough shots on target, and Klopp called for a reshuffle just after the hour mark, when Darwin Nunez replaced Naby Keita, who started in the league for the first time since May.
The replacement moved Harvey Elliott to the right in midfield, Gakpo remained in the center, and Nunez took a place on the left flank – but perhaps it should have been the other way around.
Chelsea’s new signing Mikhail Mudrik for £88 million posed a threat and Klopp turned to Trent Alexander-Arnold as dominance passed to the visitors.
But there was no sharpness on either side in the match, there were few good moments, which testified to their respectful position in the table.
In the middle of the Premier League season, Liverpool scored 29 points, which is the lowest figure since the 2015/16 season.
The best player of the match according to TIA: Tiago
Referee: Michael Oliver
Liverpool: Alisson; Milner (Alexander-Arnold, 72′), Konate, Gomez, Robertson; Baisetic (Fabinho, 82), Keita (Nunez, 62), Thiago; Elliott (Henderson, 82′), Gakpo (Jones, 82′), Salah
Unused substitutes: Kelleher, Matip, Tsimikas, Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Chelsea: Kepa; Chalobah (Aspilicueta, 81′), Thiago Silva, Badiashile, Cucurella; Gallagher, Jorginho; Ziech, Mount (Chukwuemeka 82′), Hall (Mudrik 55′); Havertz (Aubameyang, 82′)
Unused substitutes: Bettinelli, Humphries, Coulibaly, Loftus-Cheek, D.Fofana.
Next match: Brighton (A) — FA Cup fourth round — Saturday, January 29, 13:30 (GMT)
