Team News: With Sadio Mane back from the ACON and fit for the bench, Liverpool returned to their otherwise first choice team, with Wijnaldum shoring up midfield ahead of Sturridge, meaning Adam Lallana played out wide. Mignolet back in goal as expected, and a boost for Klopp as Clyne passed a late fitness test to start ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Liverpool XI: Mignolet, Clyne, Matip, Lovren, Milner, Henderson, Can, Wijnaldum, Coutinho, Firmino, Lallana
Subs used: Mane, Origi
Georginio Wijnaldum scored a big headed goal as Liverpool fought back to pick up a valuable point against league leaders Chelsea, along with an encouraging performance to assuage some of the doubts that they might not make the top four this season. This was a good point for the Reds, but nevertheless it was an opportunity to get back into the title race missed, and surely now Chelsea are all but home and dry, nine points clear at the top.
It was a frustrating first half for Liverpool, who started brightly, with Wijnaldum’s long range shot testing Courtois as they dominated the opening twenty minutes. But it was all part of Chelsea’s game plan, and Liverpool couldn’t penetrate.
Nevertheless, the opening goal will be one that infuriated Jurgen Klopp, as Simon Mignolet was still trying to sort out his defenders for a Chelsea free kick, won by one of Eden Hazard’s finest uses of the so-called “dark arts”, when David Luiz thundered the ball in off the post. It was a magical hit from Luiz, but Liverpool’s defence was woefully ill-prepared to deal with the most simple of scenarios.
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And it was the case a few minutes later as Hazard hit the deck and a cross from the left was almost touched in by Luiz, with two Chelsea players closest to the ball and Mignolet doing well to turn the ball around the corner. Klopp must be seriously concerned about LFC’s set piece defending, which does not seem to be improving.
But there was much more cause for optimism after the break, as Liverpool stepped it up. The ball broke to Roberto Firmino, who slammed an ease finish miles high and wide. A dreadful lack of composure. However, the Reds got the goal that their second half performance deserved when a wonderful first time diagonal from Henderson freed Milner, whose header back across the box was buried by Wijnaldum with his head. Pandemonium.
With Anfield alive, Liverpool pressed on, and Sadio Mane was introduced to replace Phil Coutinho, yet to rediscover his form or fitness since returning from injury, whilst Chelsea also made an impact sub, Pedro, who would prove a lively customer.
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And Chelsea earned themselves the chance to win the match when Costa ran at Matip, and threw himself to the ground. Matip did catch him, and it was a penalty, but Costa really does love to lay it on thick. But Costa learned quickly that karma can be painful, as his low penalty was brilliantly saved by Mignolet.
From there, Liverpool looked the most likely to win it, and had the chance when a beautiful cross from Sadio Mane was headed straight at Courtois by the poor Firmino. Nevertheless, they were reliant on their captain for one more moment of magic when two minutes from time he pulled a stunning last ditch tackle to deny Pedro a shot at goal.
Overall, this was a real mixed bag from Liverpool, and a draw is probably a fair result. But either way it’s a huge improvement on recent weeks and there are clearly steps being taken in the right direction. They’ll still back themselves to get Champions League football from here.
Key Talking Points:
1. Mignolet goes from zero to hero
Simon Mignolet has his faults as a goalkeeper, but he has to be commended for the way that he recovers from making mistakes. Whether or not he had a chance to save Luiz’s stunning free kick we’ll never know, but either way it was a bad error from him as he was not ready when the referee blew his whistle. But he redeemed himself in the best way possible, saving his sixth penalty for Liverpool, and his fifth out of ten faced in the Premier League. Every bit as important as a goal scored.
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2. Liverpool win the midfield battle
Despite the fantastic performance of N’golo Kante, Liverpool had an extra man in midfield and all three of their midfielders turned in great games. A crucial goal from Gini, a stunning pass and last man tackle from Hendo and a bruising performance from Can in the middle of the park were all critical to LFC’s performance. Those ahead of them and behind them looked shaky but the three central men did exactly what was asked of them.
3. Mane’s return too little too late?
Sadio Mane’s twenty minute cameo off the bench was important for Liverpool, and he looked particularly sharp, but there will be a wistful feeling of what might have been, as the Senegalese winger returns to a Liverpool side out of both cups and struggling in the title race. It’ll be good to have him back for Hull at the weekend, given how decent he was off the bench. We go again.
Player Ratings:
Simon Mignolet – 7/10: If he was bafflingly unready for Luiz’s free kick, he was magnificent in redeeming himself by denying Costa from the spot. Apart from those two major incidents he didn’t have to make many saves, but another encouraging performance from Liverpool’s keeper.
Nathaniel Clyne – 7/10: Quite solid down his flank. Didn’t make many errors if any, and kept Eden Hazard very quiet which is no mean feat. Offered one or two decent runs and crosses coming forward too.
Joel Matip – 5/10: Sloppy at times, including a stupid tackle for the penalty. Yes Costa sold the ref a dummy but if you hang a leg out and catch him then he’s always going to. Sloppy pass almost got LFC in big trouble in the first half.
Dejan Lovren – 6/10: Some poor play on more than one occasion but overall no big errors. He didn’t look secure but didn’t do a whole lot actively wrong.
James Milner – 5/10: On days like today you can really tell that he isn’t a left back. Willian and Moses caused him endless problems, including one huge error that let Moses hit the post. His crossing as usual wasn’t great. He did make a great header back across goal for Gini’s goal though.
Jordan Henderson – 8/10: Mouth-wateringly good pass to Milner for the goal. Plenty of long passes and whilst they weren’t always spot on, on more than one occasion they were made to look worse by poor running. Crucial challenge to deny Pedro. Had a big impact at both ends of the pitch.
Emre Can – 7/10: Another good performance from Emre, who adds solidity and power to the middle of the midfield. Passes, tackles, headers, just plays the game well.
Georginio Wijnaldum – 8/10: Big game player for LFC at the moment. Scored a huge goal against Man City, and again tonight, a huge header when his team needed it. Great passing in the middle of the park, with an 88% accuracy and one key pass. Much better defensively too with joint most tackles.
Phillipe Coutinho – 6/10: Very average performance from Couts tonight with just one key pass, the only one made by the front three and very little impact in the final third. But he kept the game moving nicely and his passing accuracy was much higher than his fellow forwards.
Roberto Firmino – 3/10: Awful. Misplaced about 25 passes, with a shocking accuracy of just 66% and dispossessed joint most of the LFC team. Caught offside sloppily, didn’t get into the box often enough and, worst of all, missed two sitters to ensure that his shot conversion rate is now less than 1 in 9. Needs to be dropped.
Adam Lallana – 5/10: Eight bad touches the worst by a mile in this LFC team. Gave the ball away 13 times from 23 touches first half but improved in the second. Still in wretched form and also needs to be considered being dropped.
Man of the Match: Jordan Henderson
Written by Tom Holmes.
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