Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea: Player Ratings

After their disastrous draw against Seville in the UEFA Champions League that saw them slip up after a 3-goal lead, Liverpool hosted Chelsea on Saturday in what was believed to be the big match of the weekend. However, goal scoring opportunities came sporadically and it was not until the 65th minute that the game came alive, courtesy of Mohamed Salah’s 15th goal of the season in all competitions.

With Chelsea chasing the game, Conte threw Willian into the fray in a search for the equaliser and the Brazilian responded with the all-important equaliser in the 85th minute.

Here are the player ratings from the game between the Reds and the Blues:

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Liverpool

Liverpool v Chelsea - Premier League

Simon Mignolet – 7

The Belgian made a couple of vital saves in the first half to keep Liverpool in the game. However, his positioning came under question for Chelsea’s equaliser and we thought his distribution of the sphere was not effective enough against a side that did not leave spaces to operate in.

Alberto Moreno – 6

Moreno came under a lot of criticism for his performance against Seville and it looked like he would struggle with the pace and physicality of Zappacosta. However, to his credit, Moreno dealt appropriately with the threats that came his way while also ensuring he provided the required width to his attacking colleagues with his overlapping runs.

Joel Matip – 7

Prior to the game, many believed that Matip would struggle against the pace and skill of Morata and Hazard. However, the Cameroonian put in a solid performance that warrants the deserved praise as he stuck to the task of closing down Morata and ensured that the Spaniard found little joy going forward.

Ragnar Klavan – 5

If there was one player from the Liverpool defence who struggled to come to grips with the pace of the game, it was Klavan. The Estonian looked vulnerable to the pace and skill of Hazard and looked a bundle of nerves when Hazard ran directly at him.

Joe Gomez – 7

The England international has won himself a lot of admirers over the course of the last few months and the performance against Chelsea should further strengthen his credentials. He was industrious as ever, offered the Chelsea attack no time and space on the ball and kept things tight on the right flank throughout the game.

James Milner – 6

Safe as ever, Milner was industrious in the middle of the park but we believe he could have contributed a lot more going forward. Deployed on the right side of a three-man midfield, the Liverpool vice-captain failed to create any real opportunity until very late in the game.

Jordan Henderson – 5

Does Henderson deserve a place in this Liverpool line-up ahead of Emre Can.

The Liverpool captain came under a lot of criticism from the fans after his horrific showing against Seville in mid-week and this was an apt opportunity to redeem himself. While his passing was decent (he averaged pass completion of 85%), he failed to provide his defenders with the requisite cover defensively (he won none of the 6 tackles he entered into, did not make any interceptions, and failed to win any aerial duels).

Philippe Coutinho – 6

Coutinho had a difficult first half as he was contained well by the Chelsea midfield and burst into life only sporadically during the opening 45 minutes. However, the Brazilian burst into life in the 2nd half and constantly found time and space to operate in to trouble the Chelsea defence.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 6

It was only after the 60-minute mark that Oxlade-Chamberlain began to make an impact on the game as Chelsea had kept him quiet for a long period. The former Arsenal man’s short pass created Liverpool’s opening goal and threatened the Chelsea defence constantly after the hour mark.

Mohamed Salah – 8

The Egyptian just can’t stop scoring, can he? Salah had a lot to prove when he lined up against his former employers and after coming close once in the first half with a shot very similar to his goal against Southampton, Salah scored a vital goal to give his side the lead in the 65th minute.

The Egyptian, however, could not apply the finishing touches to a late chance that could have seen his side take all the 3 points on offer.

Daniel Sturridge – 5

Sturridge is no longer as sharp as he used to be and it was evident against Chelsea.

There exists an evident gulf in quality between a Liverpool side with Roberto Firmino and without him and Sturridge’s inability to link up well has contributed immensely to that. The England striker was unable to have an effect on the game and it might be time for him to move to a club which can afford him regular game time to remain sharp.

Substitutes:

Georginio Wijnaldum – 6

Wijnaldum was brought in for Sturridge with Liverpool in the lead and went about his task of containing Chelsea diligently.

Adam Lallana – NA

Was brought in too late to make an impact on the game.

Sadio Mane – NA

Was brought in too late to make an impact on the game.

Chelsea

The Brazilian came on to score late in the game.

Thibaut Courtois – 6

The often reliant Belgian shot-stopper almost embarrassed himself when he let a weak shot from Salah squirm from under him. However, there was very little that he could have done to prevent Liverpool’s goal and did well to make a few crucial saves in the 2nd half.

Davide Zappacosta – 6

The Italian’s presence was believed to be a big concern for Liverpool going into the game and while he did began the game well, he failed to add to his side’s attack. However, we must also acknowledge that the Italian was very good defensively and provided Liverpool with no time and space to operate in, and if not for his erroneous passing, he could have had a higher rating.

Gary Cahill – 6

The England international ensured that his side remained in a commanding position throughout the first half. However, he was taken out of the equation by Chamberlain’s short pass in the build-up to Liverpool’s game and could not do anything to stop the Reds from scoring.

Andreas Christensen – 7

When Conte brought in Christensen to replace David Luiz, the idea must have been to provide the Chelsea back-line with a lot more stability and the Dane has done that perfectly thus far.

He was tidy with the ball at his feet and worked well with his other centre-backs to squeeze the opposition for space in and around their own box and his performance will not go unnoticed amongst the Chelsea fans.

Cesar Azpilicueta – 7

The Spaniard has to be amongst the best in the Premier League on current form.

Though the Spaniard was at fault for Liverpool’s goal, there is no denying that he was by far Chelsea’s best defender on the evening. He won 75% of the 8 tackles that he entered into, made a couple of interceptions and was vital in ensuring that the Reds did not win the game courtesy of his timely intervention.

Marcos Alonso – 5

Alonso was amongst the Chelsea players who struggled on the night. The Spaniard struggled against the pace of Salah and Gomez and failed to contain them and Liverpool ensured that a majority of their attacking moves came from the right flank. His night went from bad to worse when he failed to hit the target from close range in the 82nd minute to bring Chelsea on level terms.

Danny Drinkwater – 7

It was his first Premier League start for Chelsea and the former Leicester man did not disappoint with his performance. He was unafraid to put his body on the line for the cause of his side and was better than his England midfield counterparts Henderson and Milner and could have scored via a wonderful run in the first half. Gareth Southgate, we hope you were keeping an eye on this game.

N’Golo Kante – 7

The Frenchman put in another performance that has become typical of him. He closed spaces well and did not afford the Liverpool midfield any time and space to operate in while also disrupting their rhythm constantly with a mix of tackles (he won 4 of the 9 tackles he entered into), interceptions and blocks while ensuring that he helped his midfield colleagues maintain the tempo of the game.

Tiemoue Bakayako – 5

Bakayako is still coming to grips with the pace and physicality of the Premier League and the game against Liverpool was an indication of the same. The midfielder failed to have any positive impact on the game and was largely restricted to being a spectator.

Eden Hazard – 8

Hazard was the best player on the pitch by a mile.

The Belgian was by far the best player on the evening as he constantly troubled the erratic Liverpool defence with his pace on and off the ball as well as skill. He completed a whopping 9 take-ons during the game and had every Liverpool fan at their edge of their seats as he looked the most likely of Chelsea players to threaten the host’s goal.

He came close to scoring in the 21st minute when he let fly from distance but was eventually rewarded for his persistence when his pass was converted (inadvertently?) by Willian.

Alvaro Morata – 6

Morata was his industrious self throughout the game but found the going tough especially with Matip ensuring that he found little time and space to operate in.

However, he often dropped deep in order to create opportunities for his teammates but was deemed ineffective by the Liverpool players.

Substitutes:

Cesc Fabregas – NA

The Spaniard was brought in for Drinkwater to infuse some creativity with Chelsea chasing the game.

Pedro – NA

Pedro was another Spaniard who was brought off the bench to infuse some creativity with Chelsea chasing the game.

Willian – 6

He scored the vital equaliser in the 85th minute to ensure that both the sides went home with a solitary point.