Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea: Enzo Fernandez Free-Kick Cancels Out Gravenberch Opener

There was frustration at Anfield as Liverpool drew 1-1 with Chelsea, a result that ended the visitors’ six-game losing streak and left the home faithful venting their discontent long before the final whistle.

Liverpool had, at least, some pre-match encouragement. Giorgi Mamardashvili was back in goal, Alexander Isak returned among the substitutes after a groin issue, and Rio Ngumoha was handed a start on the left wing with Jeremie Frimpong continuing on the right and Cody Gakpo through the middle. Florian Wirtz, however, was absent with a stomach bug, and the bench leaned heavily on youth, with four teenagers among the options.

The mood inside Anfield could hardly have been better when Ryan Gravenberch curled the ball high into the net from distance in just the sixth minutes — a finish of real quality that briefly lifted the stadium and suggested a controlled afternoon might be in store. Ngumoha’s work on the left wing had opened the space for the Dutchman on the edge of the penalty area, with just one touch needed before a beautifully curled shot found the top corner.

Yet what followed was anything but controlled. There has been plenty of criticism for Liverpool’s slow starts this season, and once the opener settled, that familiar lethargy crept in. Chelsea were invited to probe as the Reds lacked the intensity to press or win the ball back, and Anfield grew frustrated. Chelsea finished the first half with 16 touches in the box to Liverpool’s four — a damning statistic that told the story of how badly the hosts had surrendered the initiative.

The leveller looked likely long before it arrived in the 35th minute, when Enzo Fernandez’s low free-kick nestled in the net with Wesley Fofana getting the slightest of touches. The defending was indicative of a performance that had quickly become lethargic and without shape or intent, with 11 players looking like individuals rather than a team on the same page.

The right side of Liverpool’s defence was an obvious weakness, with Curtis Jones struggling to cope with Marc Cucurella’s movement. The Reds were fortunate that the Spaniard strayed offside in the build-up to a Cole Palmer goal that was disallowed, with VAR coming to Liverpool’s rescue immediately after the break before the Chelsea forward could punish a defence that had been pulled apart.

Arne Slot’s decision to withdraw the popular youngster Ngumoha — who had completed the most dribbles and had the joint-most touches in the opposition box of any Liverpool player — was booed by the Anfield crowd. The teenager had been one of the few bright sparks, and his replacement by Alexander Isak felt like a signal the manager was chasing the game he had already allowed to slip away.

Liverpool did hit the frame of the goal twice through Dominik Szoboszlai and Virgil van Dijk but could not find a winner. Van Dijk was adamant he had been pulled back when heading against the crossbar and appealed for a penalty, but VAR was unmoved, as it was for subsequent handball appeals that further inflamed the home support.

More boos greeted the full-time whistle, with frustrated fans pointing their anger at the manager. Chelsea, led by interim head coach Calum McFarlane, grew in confidence as the afternoon wore on and will feel they deserved their point, if not more. That Liverpool were fortunate to finish level against a side with six successive league defeats and only one goal in that run was as damning an indictment as any.

The draw sees Liverpool stay fourth as they edge closer to Champions League qualification — but with Slot still very much under pressure. For a club of Liverpool’s ambitions, grinding out draws at Anfield against struggling opposition is not a blueprint for the future, and the supporters made sure those in the dugout knew it.