Liverpool left frustrated as Chelsea end winless run with draw at Anfield

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chelsea/4fGZN2oK/"]The Blues[/a] must have thought the early danger had passed when their wall blocked a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/szoboszlai-dominik/dERKtqoo/"]Dominik Szoboszlai[/a] free-kick, with the Hungarian seeking what would have been a spectacular sixth direct free-kick goal of the season.[/p][p][b]But the ball found its way out to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gravenberch-ryan/Y5aFd8V4/"]Ryan Gravenberch[/a], who came up with a brilliant strike of his own, curling it into the top corner from the edge of the box. A great cross from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cucurella-marc/QTynbZd3/"]Marc Cucurella[/a] almost led to a quick response, but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-dijk-virgil/U59RNqOr/"]Virgil van Dijk[/a] put his head among the boots to repel the danger from within the six-yard box.[/b][/p][image alt="Match momentum" id="6768a020-6f39-4046-8b16-e753156a5f20" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="978486e9-ae6a-41f5-ac5b-78881d76b3bb" original-width="1920" original-height="1080" /][p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/liverpool/lId4TMwf/"]Liverpool[/a] captain then had a golden chance to double the advantage at the other end, finding himself all alone at the far post from a Szoboszlai cross, but it was a defender’s finish, looping harmlessly over the crossbar.[/p][p]Cucurella threatened to make the Reds rue that wastefulness, forcing a couple of smart interventions from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mamardashvili-giorgi/lxnsUkIc/"]Giorgi Mamardashvili[/a], and the mounting pressure eventually told shortly beyond the half-hour mark.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fernandez-enzo/nZnbEVWP/"]Enzo Fernández[/a] whipped in a low free-kick, and it ended up going all the way in, albeit with some debate as to whether it grazed the studs of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fofana-wesley/Aw7tVHPM/"]Wesley Fofana[/a]. [/b][/p][p]The visitors ended the half in the ascendancy, and Fernández should have put his goal-scorer status beyond all doubt before the break, with only a good save keeping things level.[/p][p]Chelsea looked to have claimed the lead within minutes of the restart, the threat once again coming down Liverpool’s right side. But [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/palmer-cole/h8agbDt7/"]Cole Palmer[/a]’s goal was chalked off after a VAR review, with Cucurella adjudged to have been leaning marginally offside in the build-up.[/p][p]Then it was the hosts’ turn to be denied by the flag, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gakpo-cody/pWyuBud0/"]Cody Gakpo[/a] straying slightly beyond the last man before heading it down for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jones-curtis/OnQz9w8h/"]Curtis Jones[/a] to convert. [/p][image alt="Match stats" id="f0b0a054-c765-4e8c-8b3a-96c0da8a319a" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="3734838c-5fcc-40b5-997c-a90af6868083" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/slot-arne/lnG1OUjk/"]Arne Slot[/a] invoked rare boos from Anfield when he withdrew [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ngumoha-rio/rejpF30d/"]Rio Ngumoha[/a] midway through the half, replacing him with record signing [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/isak-alexander/p41IV42c/"]Alexander Isak[/a].[/p][p]Despite the disquiet, Liverpool did begin to take control of the contest again, and only the post denied Szoboszlai the go-ahead goal, before the bar repelled Van Dijk. But ultimately, neither side could find the winner, leaving a dissatisfying result all round.[/p][p]Chelsea are just four points clear of 13th, which would mark their worst-ever PL finish, while the Reds will have to wait another week to confirm UCL football unless [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bournemouth/OtpNdwrc/"]Bournemouth[/a] lose at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/fulham/69ZiU2Om/"]Fulham[/a].[/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/colwill-levi/CQXNItIG/"]Levi Colwill[/a] (Chelsea)[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/chelsea-4fGZN2oK/liverpool-lId4TMwf/?mid=8j1NPVnm"]Click here for all the stats of the match[/a][/b][/p]