Chelsea 2 Liverpool 2
500 words, Player Ratings and 2 dropped points for each team in a frenetic and typically English “Match of the Day”.
500 words, Player Ratings and 2 dropped points for each team in a frenetic and typically English “Match of the Day”.
My Sports Editor gets rather testy whenever I reach for a digital pen and begin formatting a match review in my Red tinged mind, but she’s still fuming at James Milner’s silly tackle that led to the goal that let Chelsea back into a game that was all but over, and rather than try her patience, it is only the second day of a New Year after all, there follows a very brief capsule review and then an old school Player Ratings (out of 10) and probably a lament at the two points dropped to finish with. Who knows? My editor might still be steaming at one of her favourite players and I might need to keep hiding out in my writing den.
“The game was over” she keeps crying. The game was over.
Capsule Review:
And it was, really, as a contest. Stamford Bridge was humming, loud, brash and intimidating as usual but after the Reds smashed and grabbed their way to a deserved 2–0 lead you could hear the proverbial mouse squeak in a House of God. It was as quiet as could be, save for the loud contingent of Reds fans in the corner who were singing like beautiful songbirds. Mane’s strike on 9 minutes was clinical, Salah’s on 26 minutes was exquisite: one touch control, a feint to the left, a drag of the ball to the right, and a ridiculous clipped finish at an incredibly difficult angle. The Reds were thoroughly on top and the game was meandering to a relatively comfortable 2–0 lead at Half-Time and then Mr Reliable James Milner gave away a thoughtless and stupid free kick and from the resultant set piece Kovacic cracked a brilliant volley in off the far post for an incredible goal, but a complete New Year giveaway from Milner.
Worse was to follow as the Reds defence just capitulated a minute into injury time and the busy and impressive American Pulisic ran clear to thump an equaliser and from an unfussy and relative stroll at 2–0, the Reds went in at Half-Time 2–2. The second half failed to live up to the billing given it by it’s predecessor but on the balance of the match as a whole (and wholly biased that I may indeed be), the Reds should have won this game as they should’ve easily won their previous away game at Leicester City. Alas, two away games, one point, and Manchester City, irritatingly far into the distance as the Title race turns for home in this New Year of ours, 2022.
Player Ratings (out of 10)
EDOUARD MENDY (8)
The Chelsea goalkeeper could do nothing for either of the Liverpool goals and pulled off a miraculous save from Mohammad Salah when he clawed away an instinctive shot that looked destined for the top corner.
TREVOR CHALOBAH (4)
Limped off in the second half and replaced by Jorginho, but this was as poor a display as I’ve seen from the young England defender. Was at fault for the Reds goal and was the Blues weak defensive link all game.
THIAGO SILVA (7)
The classy Brazilian defender always seems to have far too much on his hands and makes the game look easy. Impressive and rarely ruffled.
ANTONIO RUDIGER (8)
Although playing in a Blue shirt, any team in the world would want this 28 year old German international in their team and a favourite oppositional player of mine. A bloody nuisance!
CESAR AZPILICUETA (6)
One of the quietest games I’ve seen from the Chelsea Skipper.
N’GOLO KANTE (6)
Grew into the game along with the Blues goals but as above, a feared player who was fairly quiet all game.
MATEO KOVACIC (9)
Scorer of Chelsea’s spectacular first goal and all round Blues Man of the Match. Always busy and buzzing around and whilst always impressive, particularly so today, and just edging out his American teammate Christian Pulisic.
MARCOS ALONSO (7)
Steady, unspectacular performance.
MASON MOUNT (6)
Alongside his midfield partner N’Golo Kante, I feared for the young England International and Portsmouth born playmaker, but he was quietly ineffective.
CHRISTIAN PULISIC (8)
Scorer of the Blues thumping equaliser and annoying pest of a performance from someone who so often flatters to deceive. Impressive today.
KAI HAVERTZ (4)
Barely in the game and no surprise when he was subbed and replaced by Callum Hudson-Odoi.
CAOIMHIN KELLEHER (8)
No chance with either of the Chelsea goals and was mighty impressive standing in for Alisson Becker.
TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD (6)
Looked defensively frail at times today but that could be a blanket description for all of his defensive partners today. Except for:
KOSTAS TSIMIKAS (8)
Another impressive performance standing in for Andy Robertson and whilst he doesn’t always impress, he always gives his all, stands tall and ready for the fight and stood out today.
IBRAHIMA KONATE (7)
A so so display from the French man mountain. Perfectly in keeping with his more senior centre back’s performance.
VIRGIL VAN DIJK (6)
So our wonderful and supremely gifted Dutch central defender has feet of clay after all! Took an early knock and never seemed to settle into the match at all and this was arguably VVD’s least effective Reds performance today.
JAMES MILNER (5)
One of my favourite Reds players but his silly foul (that led to the free kick that led to the first Chelsea goal) was indefensible, reckless and thoughtless. This wasn’t Mr Dependable’s day, and that can be said for his fellow midfield partners.
FABINHO (6)
As above, not Fab’s day and looked flustered when Chelsea fought their way back into the match. I have long said that as long as Fabinho and Skipper Henderson play, Liverpool play. My theory was tested to the limit today!
JORDAN HENDERSON (5)
I adore the Reds Skipper but this wasn’t his day. Tried but out of the game for long periods and ineffective.
DIOGO JOTA (6)
Busy, but busily ineffective before being replaced by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
SADIO MANE (7)
Replaced by Curtis Jones, scored a cool headed goal that gave the Reds the lead but could and possibly should have been sent off in the opening seconds of the match with an incredibly reckless challenge on the Chelsea Captain. Sadio could start a fight in an empty house, and one day he’ll find someone in the house with him wanting a scrap.
MO SALAH (9)
Easily the Reds stand out player and always busy, searching and probing. Scored yet another classy goal and a goal that looked verging on the impossible in real time.
An end of match lament
1 point from 2 consecutive away matches and instead of the deserved 6 points the Reds gained just 1. Similarly, they have taken just 2 from the 6 available against Chelsea this season and as at today they stand 11 points behind an in form Manchester City with a game in hand. There’s a long way to go in yet another Covid crazy season, and as at today the Reds are still in every possible competition.
Tis a long way until May!
