Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea: 5 Hits and flops as 10-man Blues hold Reds to a battling draw | Premier League 2021-22

#3 Hit: Edouard Mendy (Chelsea)

Eduard Mendy was excellent in goal for a depleted Chelsea side.

Mendy made an instant impact after joining Chelsea last season, stacking up a series of clean sheets in a hugely successful season. The Senegalese shot-stopper seems to have carried that form into this season as well, as he delivered an excellent performance against Liverpool.

From making acrobatic diving saves to clutching crosses out of the air, Mendy was equal to virtually everything Liverpool threw at him. In fact, the only way Liverpool were able to breach his defence was from the penalty spot.

6 - Édouard Mendy made six saves at Anfield against Liverpool, his most in a single appearance since joining Chelsea in any competition. Resilient. #LIVCHE pic.twitter.com/DkNfm9NdaT

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 28, 2021

While Chelsea’s entire backline deserves immense credit for the way they defended as a unit, Mendy was undoubtedly one of the stars of the show.

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#2 Flop: Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea)

It was not the most memorable outing in Chelsea colours for Romelu Lukaku (right)

One of the main sub-plots in the lead-up to this game was the prospect of Romelu Lukaku going up against the equally formidable Virgil van Dijk. Unfortunately for the Belgian, it was Van Dijk who had the best of the exchange on the night.

While he was not helped by his side being a man down, Lukaku was unable to replicate his excellent showing from the previous weekend. Both his hold-up play and dribbling fell a bit short of the mark, as he often gifted possession back to his opponents. Furthermore, the occasional physical tussles he did win usually came against Joel Matip rather than Van Dijk.

Lukaku is sure to have several excellent outings in Chelsea blues, but this was definitely not one of them.

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#1 Hit: Kai Havertz (Chelsea)

Kai Havertz opened the scoring for Chelsea with a deft flicked header.

Although he took some time to get accustomed to the English game, Kai Havertz is slowly but surely coming into his own at Chelsea. His performances at the end of last season and at the start of the ongoing 2021-22 campaign show why he is so highly regarded in footballing circles.

Trusted to start games against both Arsenal and Liverpool, Kai Havertz repaid his manager’s trust by scoring the opener at Anfield. The German international’s deft looping header was a fine example of the variety of ways he can contribute in attack.

5 - In all competitions, only Mason Mount (6) has scored more goals for Chelsea under Thomas Tuchel than Kai Havertz (5). Looping. #LIVCHE pic.twitter.com/mSDwSdxGQv

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 28, 2021

Reece James’ first-half sending off forced Thomas Tuchel to sacrifice Havertz at half-time, but the German did enough by then to make a hugely positive impression.