Chelsea and Liverpool played out a thrilling 1-1 draw in their opening match of the season at Stamford Bridge today, August 13.
The Egyptian then had a goal chalked off for offside by VAR before the Blues levelled when £38.5m summer signing from Monaco, Axel Disasi, stabbed in Ben Chilwell’s knock-on on 37 minutes.
Chilwell almost completed a fine first-half recovery two minutes later, but he too had a goal ruled out by VAR for offside after rounding Alisson and tucking into an empty net.
Chelsea dominated throughout the second period but could not find a way through with Chilwell and another debutant, Nicolas Jackson who were repeatedly stopped by Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
Both sides also had a look at goal in second-half stoppage time when Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez and Chelsea’s Mykhailo Mudryk nearly scored.
Liverpool lined up without a defensive midfielder and the performance exemplified just why they are desperate to bring in the likes of Caicedo or Romeo Lavia. Indeed, the club’s owner John Henry was in the Stamford Bridge stands to witness the team struggle to keep the hosts at bay when they countered at speed, and he will leave well aware of where they need to improve.
Chelsea’s midfield issues were less conspicuous with Enzo Fernandez and Conor Gallagher hugely impressive throughout the contest. Instead, the same issues in attack that blighted last season appear to be their major concern with the hosts failing to make the most of some excellent second-half opportunities.
While Mauricio Pochettino is leaving the match satisfied with his team’s performance, Jurgen Klopp will still need to iron out the creases in a system that leaves them looking fragile at the back far too frequently.