Chelsea ended a worrying run of defeats with a 1-1 draw against Liverpool at Anfield, but the result does little to ease their concerns as they remain outside the European places with just two games left to play.
Liverpool drew first blood when Ryan Gravenberch curled a superb strike into the top corner from the edge of the box after Chelsea’s wall had blocked a Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick. The Reds then had chances to extend their lead, with Virgil van Dijk squandering a gilt-edged opportunity when left completely unmarked at the far post, looping his header over the bar.
Chelsea grew into the game and equalised just after the half-hour mark through an Enzo Fernández free-kick, though there was some debate over whether it took a touch from Wesley Fofana on its way in. Fernández should have put Chelsea ahead before the break but was denied by a good save.
The second half was full of drama but short on goals. Cole Palmer had a goal ruled out after a VAR review, with Marc Cucurella adjudged marginally offside in the build-up. Liverpool also had a goal disallowed, with Cody Gakpo caught offside before Curtis Jones converted. Substitute Alexander Isak, brought on for the lively Rio Ngumoha to jeers from the Anfield crowd, could not find a winner, and the woodwork denied both Szoboszlai and van Dijk late on.
In the end, both sides were left frustrated. Chelsea sit just four points above 13th place, while Liverpool must wait at least another week to confirm their Champions League football for next season.
