Chelsea put an end to their Premier League losing streak with a hard-fought draw against Liverpool but all but snuffed out their chances of playing in the Champions League next season.
The Reds meanwhile will face a nervous wait to see if results go their way should they wish to keep hold of their shaky grip on fourth place when the weekend draws to a close.
Arne Slot‘s side looked to be set to enjoy a buoyant afternoon in the Merseyside sunshine when they made a fast start to go 1-0 up inside five minutes, courtesy of a Ryan Gravenberch super-strike ably assisted by Chelsea academy graduate Rio Ngumoha.
But the Reds’ woeful set-piece defensive record this season rolled on, with Enzo Fernandez finding the equaliser from a freekick to make it 18 goals conceded.
Cole Palmer thought he might have wrenched Chelsea back to winning ways shortly after the second-half, but VAR found Marc Cucurella marginally offside in the build-up.
Here, Daily Mail Sport’s Kieran Gill runs the rule over performances in both red and blue at Anfield.
Chelsea ended their dismal six-match losing run with a 1-1 draw against Liverpool at Anfield
LIVERPOOL (4-3-3)
Giorgi Mamardashvili – 5.5
Fooled by Fernandez’s free-kick which went straight in without anyone getting a touch. Stopped him from scoring a second when the Argentinian later broke behind, at least.
Curtis Jones – 5.5
Imagine Jones’ surprise when he saw Cucurella was Chelsea’s left winger. Happy days, he may have thought, and yet Cucurella was arguably the visitors’ biggest threat in attack.
Virgil van Dijk – 6
Captain squandered a six-yard sitter which would have given Liverpool a handy 2-0 lead, and headed into the crossbar when this clash was locked at 1-1.
Ibrahima Konate – 5.5
Where was the defending when Fernandez’s free-kick sailed through the box and bounced in? No defensive organisation in that costly moment for Liverpool.
Milos Kerkez – 5.5
Palmer was Chelsea’s right winger on paper, but Gusto was flying up there to give the visitors their width, which made Kerkez a busy man.
Ryan Gravenberch – 6
Whipped the ball, good and proper, beyond Jorgensen for Liverpool’s sixth-minute opener. Didn’t even need to find the corner to make it 1-0, mind. Other goalkeepers might have stopped it.
Ryan Gravenberch scored a great goal to open the scoring – although it could have been saved
Alexis Mac Allister – 5
There were a couple of ghosts in both midfields, and Mac Allister was one of them, largely finding himself overrun by opponents in a performance of little value.
Dominik Szoboszlai – 6.5
Just wouldn’t go in for him. Sent a free-kick straight into the wall. Saw a 20-yard crack saved by Jorgensen. Another from similar range and driven low came bouncing back off the post. His pressing late on was appreciated by Liverpool’s frustrated fans.
Jeremie Frimpong – 5.5
Unusual role in which he was trying to act as a right winger but also a right back, though Cucurella’s runs behind Liverpool’s defensive line largely went untracked here. Arguably fortunate not to give away a penalty towards the end for tripping Joao Pedro.
Cody Gakpo – 5
First touch of the ball arrived in the 41st minute, which illustrated his lack of involvement. Fofana nudged him out of the way as Fernandez’s free-kick trickled through the box and in.
Rio Ngumoha – 6.5
Left Chelsea’s academy to join Liverpool, and the 17-year-old set up Gravenberch for his goal. You can understand why the home fans booed his substitution after 67 minutes.
Rio Ngumoha’s substitution was loudly booed by fans after the youngster’s shining display
SUBS
Alexander Isak (for Ngumoha, 67) – 6
Oof. The boos were loud. But they were not for Isak. They were for the man he replaces, Ngumoha, because the fans love him here.
Joe Gomez (for Konate, 77) – N/A
Federico Chiesa (for Gakpo, 77) – N/A
MANAGER
Arne Slot – 5
Liverpool fans don’t love him, and you suspect this summer will see a parting of ways between club and manager. Should have done much more to trouble a Chelsea side that came here on an atrocious losing streak.
CHELSEA (4-2-3-1)
Filip Jorgensen – 5.5
We would have expected an elite goalkeeper to stop Gravenberch’s 20-yard crack, given how it was hardly in the corner. Robert Sanchez’s stand-in frustrated a few of his team-mates with his passing choices throughout.
Malo Gusto – 5
It looked as if Gusto had won a competition to play right back to Chelsea at times. Not much of a prize, mind, given he had a 17-year-old live wire Ngumoha charging at him.
Wesley Fofana – 6.5
Back after being an unused substitute in two games. Didn’t try to claim the goal as he told Fernandez he didn’t get a touch. Perhaps he feared he might have been offside.
Levi Colwill – 7
First start of the season after his ACL horror, but no clean sheet for Chelsea, who have now conceded in each of their last 14 Premier League games. They looked more solid overall, though.
Marc Cucurella played left-wing for the entirety of the game and played the role impressively
Jorrel Hato – 6
Up against Frimpong, Liverpool cried for a penalty when the ball struck his arm, but he was using it to support his body while sliding, so VAR wasn’t feeling too kind.
Moises Caicedo – 7
When Liverpool had possession, Caicedo dropped into the back line to make it a five. But when Chelsea had it, he was trying to send balls in behind, usually into Cucurella.
Andrey Santos – 5.5
Fans may not have even realised he was on the pitch for the first half. Replaced by James after 63 minutes. Got to start showing more when he gets these opportunities.
Cole Palmer – 5
Thought he had scored his first goal since March 4, officially marking the end of his footballing hibernation, only for VAR to spy an offside in the build-up.
Enzo Fernandez – 7
Crossed free-kick went straight in without anyone touching the ball. Could, and probably should, have scored a second when through but he blasted straight at Mamardashvili.
Marc Cucurella – 7.5
Cucurella was used as a left winger – yes, really – and most of Chelsea’s best chances came from him latching on to passes over the top from Caicedo. Impressed given the job he was asked to do.
Joao Pedro – 6
Solo-run in the second half nearly led to Chelsea taking a 2-1 lead. Only the finish was missing. Thought he deserved a penalty when Frimpong bundled him over.
SUBS
Reece James (for Santos 63) – 6.5
Came on to add some composure into the central areas so that Chelsea didn’t make it a club-record seven league losses on the trot.
Chelsea interim Calum McFarlane deserves credit for stopping the rot after a poor run of form
MANAGER (INTERIM)
Calum McFarlane – 7
McFarlane has been the latest Chelsea boss to criticise his team for failing to react to setbacks. They did here, at least. Fair play to the interim.
REFEREE
Craig Pawson – 6
