PLAYER RATINGS: Thiago Silva a class above in Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea

Liverpool and Chelsea were unable to make big strides in closing the gap to the top four as the struggling sides played out a goalless draw at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.

The Blues saw a Kai Havertz goal ruled out by VAR for offside as Graham Potter attempted to piece together his expensively-assembled squad, with £88million new boy Mykhailo Mudryk impressing off the bench.

For Liverpool, it was another frustrating day at the office, with Cody Gakpo unable to get off the mark while Mohamed Salah remained far from his imperious best.

Here, Sportsmail's Dominic King rates and slates all 22 players and substitutes from the Anfield draw.

LIVERPOOL

Alisson Becker – Faultless handling and in control of everything that came in his direction – 7

James Milner – Robust but started to find the going tougher when Mudryk was introduced – 6

Ibrahima Konate – A couple of big challenges late in the second half in tight moments – 7

Joe Gomez – No-nonsense performance will have done his confidence the power of good – 7

Naby Keita – Didn’t follow up his excellent display at Wolves and was substituted – 5.5

Stefan Bajcetic  – First Premier League start held no terrors, his passing was excellent – 7.5

Thiago Alcantara – Nice shimmies and switches of play but not enough in key areas – 6.5

Mohamed Salah – Isn’t playing with the zest you’d expect and no real chances to score – 6

Cody Gakpo – It’s going to take time to bed in at Liverpool; shooting erratic – 6

Nunez (for Keita 63 mins) 6.5, Henderson (for Elliott 82mins), Jones (for Bajectic 82mins), Jones (for Gakpo 82 mins)

Jurgen Klopp – He was smiling at the end and the clean sheet will have pleased him more than anything – 6

CHELSEA

Kepa Arrizabalaga – Never really tested but comfortable with everything Liverpool tested him with – 7

Trevoh Chalobah – What an education it is for him to be learning his trade alongside Silva; substituted with injury – 6.5

Thiago Silva – The best player on the pitch without any debate. Headed it, tackled, jockeyed, all with absolute class – 8.5

Benoit Badashile – His only mistake was not making a firm connection when given a chance to score – 7

Marc Cucurella – Fought right to the end, literally, when finishing the game in a barging match with Curtis Jones – 6.5

Lewis Hall – Chelsea fans sang his name and no wonder for this was an accomplished display – 7.5

Jorginho – Neat and tidy, as you would expect, never going to do something spectacular – 6.5

Hakim Ziyech – Plenty of danger, whipping in some great crosses and direct with his runs - 7

Mason Mount – Buzzed about, did the job that his manager wanted, but no clear chances to score – 6.5

Kai Havertz – Caught offside by a fraction otherwise he would have played a hand in Chelsea scoring. Came off late – 6

Mudryk (for Hall 55 mins) 7, Azpilicueta (for Chalobah 81 mins) 6, Aubameyang (for Havertz 81 mins) 6, Chukwuemeka (for Mount 82 mins) 6.

Graham Potter – Went through every emotion but relieved to get a point to stop the rot – 6

Michael Oliver – Everything you would expect from the best official in the country, never made a wrong call – 7