Liverpool: Ten Chelsea players deliver a good defensive display as they hold on to a 1-1 draw against Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday after defender Reece James was sent shortly before the first round of Premier League matches.
After signing in at the break at 1-1 and down a man, European champions Chelsea were happy to take a point against title chasing rivals as they maintained their unbeaten start.
Chelsea are second in the level with Liverpool on seven points from three matches, with both teams having identical goal difference.
‘Bravo Chelsea!’ 👊- Chelsea FC (@Chelseafc) 1630185360000Th dismissal of James, after a handball on the goalline, turning what has become the tempo and entertaining games become more tactical affair Chelsea boss after double substitution at the interval.
The first clash of the season between the two title contenders bring hope and noise to Anfield, with KOP back with full voice and with a team of Juergen Klopp started on the front foot, Chelsea struggled to hold it.
Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson should have scored in the 10th minute when he was picked up by Trent Alexander Arnold Cross extraordinary but made a mess of the side beside volley that drifted harmlessly.
It is contrary to the game, when Chelsea took the lead in the 22nd minute, Kai Havertz met a corner James in a close match and glanced his header into the far corner past a helpless Alisson Becker.
Sublime.
👌 https://t.co/b885isdxkv- chelsea fc (@chelseafc) 1630184401000chelsea, Champions League winners over Manchester City in May, buzzing and Mason mount should have doubled their advantage when he entered by Romelu Lukaku.
But then came the incident that changed the game.
Joel Matip’s header out of the bar and Sadio Mané effort bounced in front of James stopped him from crossing the line.
But referee Anthony Taylor was called to monitor pitchside where he saw a picture that showed the ball had hit the arm of James after bouncing off her thighs.
Taylor not only gives a penalty but sent from James – a result that is hard to right-back and highly protested by his team mates.
But despite the delay, the Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah Mohamed remained calm and beat Edouard Mend with a textbook penalty to raise scores.
Calm and collected from 👌 # livche https://t.co/7trxpumfkt- liverpool FC (@LFC) 1630184401000Chelsea Are quiet with Mendy clash with Henderson after the penalty and the keeper and defender Antonio Rudiger both booked for their role in the resulting fracas.
German Manager Tuchel not only soothe his team at the interval but made two changes to Havertz and Injury N’golo Kante way for defender Thiago Silva and midfielder Mateo Kovacic.
That means the turn of the defense while Lukaku five people and more isolated in attack, Londonpers cope well with the inevitable pressure from Liverpool.
There is a long-term effort of Virgil van Dijk and Henderson but the home side gradually ran out of ideas and energy against a formidable Chelsea defense.
Chelsea threatened to sneak a winner when Kovacic exploded from the left, six minutes from the end, but it was rejected by Alisson.
“We got a double penalty, red card and a penalty – and two yellow cards in the same act.
We are angry.
But you have to calm down and find a way to fight together as a team,” said Chelsea Skipper Cesar Azpiliicueta.