Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea: Visitors end losing streak at disgruntled Anfield

Chelsea halted their six-game losing run in the Premier League by battling to a 1-1 draw with Liverpool in front of a disgruntled Anfield crowd.

Arne Slot saw his decision to substitute teenage winger Rio Ngumoha booed by the home fans as Liverpool missed a chance to all but secure Champions League qualification.

They could still be assured of a top-five finish by the time they visit Aston Villa next Friday, but it was another frustrating result for the 2024-25 champions against a much-improved Chelsea side. 

Liverpool were without Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike, but they still started quickly and hit the front in the sixth minute, with Ryan Gravenberch curling past Filip Jorgensen after being fed by Ngumoha.

Virgil van Dijk then steered over from a great position before Chelsea started to control proceedings, with Marc Cucurella's drive tipped away by Giorgi Mamardashvili.

They drew level 10 minutes before half-time as Enzo Fernandez's deep free-kick travelled all the way through the Liverpool area and bounced in off the post, with the Argentine awarded the goal despite Wesley Fofana claiming a touch.

Chelsea then thought they were in front five minutes into the second half, but Cole Palmer's close-range finish was ruled out for an offside against Cucurella in the build-up.

Liverpool had a goal of their own chalked off soon afterwards, with Curtis Jones' finish counting for nothing due to an offside against Cody Gakpo, who had nodded the ball back into the danger zone. 

Dominik Szoboszlai was thwarted by a flying Jorgensen save before firing another long-range effort against the post, either side of Ngumoha's contentious withdrawal in favour of Alexander Isak, and Van Dijk's header rattled the crossbar in Liverpool's last real chance. 

More boos greeted the final whistle with Slot remaining under pressure, while Chelsea failed to bolster their hopes of gatecrashing the top six, which could still bring Champions League qualification if Aston Villa win the Europa League and finish fifth.

Data Debrief: Chances at a premium as Liverpool let lead slip

Saturday's game featured just 14 shots, with Liverpool attempting eight and Chelsea recording six, while the Reds edged the expected goals (xG) battle by 0.51 to 0.47.

The only Premier League game to feature fewer shots this season was Sunderland versus Newcastle United in December, with just 11 shots on that occasion.

Ngumoha's assist for Gravenberch was the 55th goal either scored or assisted by a teenager in the Premier League this season, the most in a campaign since 2006-07 (58). He also successfully completed four of five dribbles, both team-highs.

But Liverpool were pegged back and have now dropped nine points from winning positions at Anfield this season, their most at home in a single campaign since 2015-16 (14).

Chelsea avoided matching the longest losing run in their league history (seven in a row in 1952), but their seven-game winless streak in the Premier League (D1 L6) is still their longest since May 2023.