Liverpool were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw at Anfield by Chelsea, who ended a run of six consecutive Premier League defeats thanks to Enzo Fernandez’s fortunate equaliser. Ryan Gravenberch had given the hosts an early lead, but Liverpool could not hold on, and the Anfield crowd made their displeasure clear by the final whistle.
Liverpool made a bright start. Teenage winger Rio Ngumoha teed up Gravenberch, who finished confidently from the edge of the penalty area to give the hosts the lead they deserved.
Chelsea, however, grew into the game. Marc Cucurella forced a save from Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, and with 10 minutes remaining before half-time, the visitors drew level. Fernandez’s free-kick was softly struck but caught everyone out, creeping into the net untouched to restore parity.
Fernandez nearly turned provider shortly after going level, and Chelsea thought they had taken the lead after the break when Cole Palmer found the net. The goal was ruled out, however, with Cucurella judged offside in the build-up.
Liverpool responded and thought they had retaken the lead when Curtis Jones headed in, only for that effort to also be disallowed. Cody Gakpo, who had headed the ball across to Jones, was ruled to have been in an offside position. Moments later, Dominik Szoboszlai forced Filip Jorgensen into a strong save.
Neither side could find a winner in the closing stages. Szoboszlai struck the post with a shot from distance, and Virgil van Dijk rattled the crossbar with a header, but the scoreline did not change.
Arne Slot made three changes from the side beaten at Manchester United the previous weekend, bringing in Mamardashvili, Milos Kerkez and Ngumoha. Florian Wirtz was absent with a stomach bug.
The decision that drew the loudest reaction from the home support came in the second half when Slot withdrew Ngumoha, who had been one of Liverpool’s brightest players on the day. Loud boos rang around Anfield, with many supporters visibly frustrated by the call. Slot introduced Alexander Isak from the bench in the 67th minute, but the striker could not make the decisive impact Liverpool needed.
Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane made five changes following their defeat at home to Nottingham Forest, and his reshuffled side showed enough resilience to claim a point.
Liverpool remain fourth in the Premier League table, seven points clear of sixth-placed Bournemouth, and edged closer to securing Champions League football for next season. Chelsea stay ninth, but will take considerable encouragement from halting their losing run.
