📰 Table Of Contents
Pre-Match Social Media Commentary
Who could Chelsea being looking to hire as their next manager and what would the timeline look like?@David_Ornstein provides some insight.
📺: @USANetwork & @peacock #MyPLMorning | #CFC pic.twitter.com/CEG1JouVZG— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 4, 2023
Jurgen Klopp has dropped Salah, Gakpo, Robertson and Alexander-Arnold to the bench this evening! 🤨 pic.twitter.com/PgMRTEQHV7
— 90min (@90min_Football) April 4, 2023
🗣️ “It’s a difficult moment for us. We knew today that one day ago that Graham Potter is not with us anymore. We have to keep the concentration.”
Kalidou Koulibaly on the sacking of Graham Potter. 🔵 pic.twitter.com/083wHQnPMP
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) April 4, 2023
For the fourth consecutive competitive fixture, Chelsea and Liverpool fought to a 0-0 draw as two of the biggest clubs in England remain on the hunt to reverse their fortunes in the final months of the 2022-23 Premier League season.
It was the six-time in their last six meetings the two sides ended matters all square, which will leave both fanbases disappointed after neither could claim all three points on a night where any chance of achieving a finish in the European places hit yet another snag.
0-0 – Chelsea v Liverpool is only the third ever fixture between two English top-flight sides to finish goalless four times consecutively, after Everton against Liverpool (1974-1975) and Arsenal against QPR (1992-1994). Snoozefest. pic.twitter.com/zpVY9mA1B7
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 4, 2023
Both sides came out of the blocks swinging immediately after kick-off as Chelsea and Liverpool are in the same rickety boat that is far from seaworthy of late, with the pair of Premier League giants desperate to bank three points against a big scalp as motivation to kick on for the rest of the 2022-23 domestic campaign.
It would be Chelsea that thought a lead in the 25th minute was theirs when Reece James smashed a low volley past Alisson after Liverpool failed to clear their lines from a Ben Chilwell corner, but Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernández was judged to have been offside just before the England international struck.
Despite having a goal disallowed, the Blues had begun to test Jürgen Klopp’s men on account of their ability to break forward at pace while taking note of the absences of Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Andrew Robertson.
There hasn’t been a goal between Chelsea and Liverpool in the last 420 minutes of football between the two sides.
The last goal was scored by Christian Pulisic on January 2nd 2022. 🥱
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) April 4, 2023
8 – Chelsea have failed to score in the first half of each of their last eight Premier League games at Stamford Bridge, their joint-longest such run in the competition, with the previous instance coming between November 1992 and March 1993. Chore. pic.twitter.com/DFtpunJY9h
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 4, 2023
French international defender Wesley Fofana denied Liverpool a golden opportunity to take a 1-0 lead on the stroke of halftime after Fabinho unleashed a rasping low drive destined for the bottom far corner after the Blues couldn’t clear their lines from a corner. The young center-back headed clear expertly to force the combatants to walk down the tunnel at the half-time interval all square at nil-nil despite Chelsea arguably deserving to be in front.
The Blues once again thought they took a well-deserved lead in the 50th minute through Kai Havertz when the German forward bundled his effort past Alisson after being put through on goal by N’Golo Kanté, but Havertz was judged to have committed a ‘factual’ handball before the goal was disallowed.
Despite a wealth of changes later in the second half, and the Blues looking the likelier side to finally find a way to break the deadlock, it just would not drop for the under-pressure capital side on a night where they held the Reds to a 0.35 xG when compared to their own 2.21 according to Squawka.
While many Chelsea supporters can still see the guts of what could truly become a very good side, questions remain whether or not just midfield purchases in the summer are enough for Liverpool to set the record straight in 2023-24.
Key Stats & Performers
Wesley Fofana’s first-half by numbers vs Liverpool:
100% passing accuracy (14/14)
29 touches
6 duels won (joint-most)
4 tackles made (joint-most)
2 interceptions
2 clearancesLooking good. 💪 pic.twitter.com/BU0ZnDWH6v
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) April 4, 2023
Reece James’ first half by numbers vs. Liverpool:
79% pass accuracy
7 ball recoveries
4/4 ground duels won
3/3 dribbles completed
2/2 aerial duels won
1/1 long ball completed
1 key passGetting everything right. 🌟 pic.twitter.com/89fg5ZUoOh
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) April 4, 2023
Kalidou Koulibaly’s first half by numbers vs. Liverpool:
81% pass accuracy
50 touches
2 clearances
2 blocks
2 interceptions
2 crosses completed
1 clearance off the line
1 tackle wonMonster first half. 💪 pic.twitter.com/YVPNYkulnf
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) April 4, 2023
Enzo Fernandez’s game by numbers vs. Liverpool:
98 touches
86% pass accuracy
76 passes completed
12 final third passes
12 ball recoveries
9 long balls completed
4/4 ground duels won
1/1 dribble completedExcellent in build up. 💫 pic.twitter.com/j1RMw0LusD
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) April 4, 2023
Chelsea Player Ratings
- GK: Kepa Arrizabalaga – 7
- RCB: Wesley Fofana – 8
- CB: Kalidou Koulibaly – 8
- LCB: Marc Cucurella – 7
- RWB: Reece James – 7.5
- DM: N’Golo Kanté – 7.5
- LWB: Ben Chilwell – 7
- RCM: Enzo Fernández – 7
- LCM: Mateo Kovačić – 6.5
- RF: Kai Havertz – 6.5
- LF: João Félix – 7
- Sub: Conor Gallagher – 6
- Sub: Mykhailo Mudryk – 6
- Sub: Raheem Sterling – 6
Liverpool Player Ratings
- GK: Alisson – 7
- RB: Joe Gomez – 7
- RCB: Ibrahima Konaté – 7
- LCB: Joel Matip – 6.5
- LB: Konstantinos Tsimikas – 6.5
- DM: Fabinho – 7
- RCM: Curtis Jones – 6
- LCM: Jordan Henderson – 6.5
- RW: Diogo Jota – 6.5
- LW: Darwin Núñez – 6.5
- CF: Roberto Firmino – 6
- Sub: Mohamed Salah – 6
- Sub: Andrew Robertson – 6
- Sub: James Milner – 6
- Sub: Cody Gakpo – 6
