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Chelsea overturned a two-goal deficit to secure a 2-2 draw against Liverpool in their first Premier League match of 2022 on Sunday evening. Thomas Tuchel’s side came into the game on the back of a 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Blues needed a win to pull ahead of Liverpool and keep the pressure on Manchester City. Unfortunately, the draw only helped Manchester City’s case as they extended their lead to a whopping 10 points courtesy of their win over Arsenal on Saturday night.
Chelsea started strongly against Liverpool and kept hold of the ball well. Their first chance of the match came in the seventh minute when Kai Havertz’s pressure on Trent Alexander-Arnold forced the Englishman to lose possession in a dangerous area. The ball fell nicely to Christian Pulisic, but Liverpool's stand-in keeper Caoimhin Kelleher was up to the task.
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Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah then put the pressure back on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge with two quick goals, but the hosts refused to give up. Mateo Kovacic scored a stunning volley in the 42nd minute before Pulisic netted the equalizer in first-half injury time.
The two teams continued to come at each other in the second 45, but could not apply the finishing touch to decide the game. The high-octane draw leaves Chelsea in second position with Liverpool in third. The Reds are currently trailing the Blues by a point, but have a game in hand.
Here are the top three Chelsea players who impressed and two who underperformed in their 2-2 draw with Liverpool at Stamford Bridge:
Performed: Christian Pulisic
Chelsea forward Christian Pulisic did not exactly have the game of his life against Liverpool but he was impressive nonetheless.
His miss in the seventh minute was poor, but he made amends for it by scoring Chelsea’s equalizer on the brink of the half-time break.
Pulisic’s work rate and passing were impressive and his footwork proved to be a menace for Liverpool defenders. Having drawn three fouls, he was the most fouled player on the Stamford Bridge pitch on Sunday evening.
Underperformed: Kai Havertz
With Romelu Lukaku left out of the squad for the Liverpool clash, Kai Havertz got the nod to lead Chelsea’s attack on Sunday. The German international had the perfect opportunity to silence his critics, but did nothing to justify his inclusion to the starting XI.
Havertz only attempted one shot against Liverpool, which was blocked. He won five out of 15 duels, gave the ball away six times, and didn’t make a single key pass. Another frustrating night from the former Bayer Leverkusen star in Chelsea colors.
Performed: N’Golo Kante
Reigning European champions Chelsea have a plethora of great players at their disposal, but very few can match the brilliance of N’Golo Kante.
The Frenchman rarely puts a foot wrong and is somehow always available to his teammates. Against Liverpool, he once again proved why he is widely hailed as one of the best midfielders in the world, pulling strings from the middle of the park.
To no one’s surprise, the former Leicester City man shielded Chelsea’s defense with grace and ease. He did not let the Liverpool forwards have a field day and kept the damage to a minimum. Thanks to his disruptive gameplay, James Milner and Jordan Henderson did not get a foothold in the game.
The 2018 World Cup winner also pushed forward when possible and eventually set up Pulisic for his equalizer. He made three key passes, provided three accurate long balls and won five of his seven ground duels. Another perfect performance from Chelsea’s most reliable stalwart.
Underperformed: Trevoh Chalobah
Playing on the right side of a three-man defense, Trevoh Chalobah was responsible for containing the threat of Liverpool left-winger Sadio Mane.
Unfortunately, he looked unprepared against the Liverpool number 10 and gave the ball away more than once.
In the sixth minute, he lost possession to Mane inside his own half. The Liverpool forward found Salah in space, but the Egypt international could not convert.
Three minutes later, Chalobah fluffed his clearance and gave the ball straight to Mane. The Senegalese put his left foot through and scored Liverpool’s opening goal in style.
Performed: Mateo Kovacic
Former Real Madrid man Mateo Kovacic ran the show for Chelsea on Sunday, going above and beyond to prove why he’s loved by the Blues.
Kovacic’s distribution was top-notch as usual. His pressing was as relentless as you would expect. And most importantly, he did it all with no hesitation, forcing Liverpool to be on their toes all night long.
Chelsea’s player of the match, Mateo Kovacic, took 105 touches, completed 63 passes, provided four accurate long balls, and won 13 of his 14 duels. If that wasn't enough, he also scored a screamer in the 42nd minute to get Chelsea back into the game.
Pouncing on Kelleher’s loose clearance, Kovacic dispatched a venomous volley from the edge of the box. The ball touched the post on its way into the top-right corner of Liverpool’s goal. Surely a 'Goal of the Season' contender from the Croat.
