The marquee matchup from the opening weekend of the 2023/24 Premier League season saw Chelsea and Liverpool clash at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
After differing degrees of disappointment last season, both clubs have aspirations of returning to the Champions League and perhaps even challenging for the league title.
When all was said and done at Stamford Bridge, the points were shared.
The game began in very open fashion, with Chelsea looking nervous when in possession at the back.
The Blues struggled to deal with the runs of Dominik Szoboszlai down the right wing, which allowed Mohamed Salah to cut inside.
Chelsea’s only real attacking threat early on came from long balls forward, with Mauricio Pochettino seemingly eager to rely heavily on his wing-backs to provide the creativity.
Reece James caused Liverpool a lot of pressure down Chelsea’s right, putting in an excellent ball to Nicolas Jackson who was inches away from getting a shot off.
It was Liverpool who took the lead, however. Mac Alister pinged a lovely ball to Salah who himself produced a perfect ball across the box to Luis Diaz.
From one end to the other in the blink of an eye and Luis Díaz makes no mistake with the finish! ⚡ pic.twitter.com/IiPcv5Fugs
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 13, 2023
Salah came close to adding Liverpool’s second 25 minutes in but Thiago Silva made a great block. Silva could do nothing four minutes later, though, when Trent Alexander-Arnold played in Salah for what he thought was his first goal of the season but it was ruled out for offside.
Despite Chelsea being carved open several times early on, they did equalise towards the end of the first half via Axel Disasi.
Debut goal in front of the shed end for Disasi ⚽ pic.twitter.com/dWZKaZ6fF0
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 13, 2023
Less than a minute later, Ben Chiwell thought he had put Chelsea in front but he was offside.
Nicolas Jackson then smashed an effort over after more good work from Chelsea down their right. The Chelsea striker nearly gave away a penalty early in the second half for handball but it was not given after a VAR check.
Chilwell went down the other end a minute later and forced a good save from Alisson.
The Brazilian was forced to make another good save 70 minutes in, this time from Jackson.
Chelsea continued to dominate the second 45 and with Liverpool’s star man taken off in Mo Salah, they lacked much of an attacking threat.
Sanchez’s poor pass nearly gifted Liverpool a goal late on but Darwin Nunez’s first touch was poor. Nunez had another chance to win the game but it took a deflection and went just wide. The resulting corner allowed Chelsea to counter but Mudryk was smothered by Alisson.
📰 Table Of Contents
Player ratings
Chelsea
- GK: Robert Sanchez (6)
- RWB: Reece James (7)
- CB: Levi Colwill (6.5)
- CB: Thiago Silva (7)
- CB: Axel Disasi (7)
- LWB: Ben Chilwell (7.5)
- CM: Conor Gallagher (6)
- CM: Enzo Fernandez (7)
- RW: Raheem Sterling (6.5)
- ST: Nicolas Jackson (6)
- LW: Carney Chukwuemeka (6)
Substitutes
- Malo Gusto (5
- Mykhaylo Mudryk (4)
- Ian Maatesen (N/A)
- Lesley Ugochukwu (N/A)
Liverpool
- GK: Alisson (6)
- RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold (6)
- CB: Ibrahima Konate (6)
- CB: Virgil van Dijk (6)
- LB: Andy Robertson (5)
- CM: Alexis Mac Alister (7)
- CM: Dominik Szoboszlai (7)
- CM: Cody Gakpo (6)
- RW: Mohamed Salah (7)
- ST: Diogo Jota (6)
- LW: Luiz Diaz (7)
Substitutes
- Darwin Nunez (4)
- Curtis Jones (4)
- Harvey Elliot (5)
- Ben Doak (N/A)
Match reaction
#CFC could do with putting some passes together. #LFC have made the much better start. #CHELIV
— Simon Johnson (@SJohnsonSport) August 13, 2023
Very good start by Dominik Szoboszlai. Finding some space just inside the right channel. Lovely run into the box and just as he’s about to shoot, Jota takes it off him and fires over. #CFC 0-0 #LFC
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) August 13, 2023
Enzo Fernandez running into the box isn’t a sight you’d have seen last season.
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) August 13, 2023
We’re going to call it a back three with wing backs because it’s Chilwell, but if someone who normally plays in midfield was taking up those exact positions, we’d be calling it a four with Colwill LB.
— Grace Robertson 🏳️⚧️ (@GraceOnFootball) August 13, 2023
Mac Alister to Salah to Diaz. Wonderful team goal and a perfect start for Liverpool.
— Roberto Rojas (@RobertoRojas97) August 13, 2023
What a pass from Mac Alister!!!!
— .ۗۗۗۗۗۗۗۗۗۗۗۗۗۗۗۗۗۗۗۗۗۗۗۗۗۗۗۗۗۗۗ𓆏)λ/e( (@SetLessSet) August 13, 2023
Colwill is quietly running the show btw.
— Chels HQ (@Chels_HQ) August 13, 2023
Terrible marking in the box yet again #LFC
— Mac Smith (@MaccAttacc17) August 13, 2023
A chance you’d expect your striker to convert 10 times out of nine https://t.co/SFMzKruJq2
— James Benge (@jamesbenge) August 13, 2023
Reece James and Raheem Sterling are running riot down Liverpool’s left side.
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) August 13, 2023
Robertson is getting worked differently by James and Sterling
— Kylian Mbappe (@PAkinmosa) August 13, 2023
12 – Mohamed Salah has been directly involved in 12 goals in seven appearances on MD1 of a Premier League season, scoring eight goals and providing four assists. Guarantee. pic.twitter.com/S3kMZoCl77
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 13, 2023
Mohamed Salah was 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 about being substituted 😬 #CHELIVpic.twitter.com/gTXdkHkt7i
— 101 Great Goals (@101greatgoals) August 13, 2023
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