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Chelsea vs Liverpool: Reds and Blues share points in a 4-goal thriller, Citizens have the last laugh

At 4:30 pm (ET) on Sunday, Jan 2nd, 2022, Chelsea hosted Liverpool at Stamford Bridge for their 21st EPL game. Both giants played firmly and created a breathtaking match but it was a 2-2 draw afterwards. That also meant their gaps with the top team Man City were 10 and 11 points on the standings, making Pep become the person who felt happiest in this race.
Harry Siuu
By: Harry Siuu

Chelsea v Liverpool Preview

Before the crash happened, it was announced that Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was tested positive with Covid-19 so he would not guide the team for this upcoming game. Whereas, Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel also considered ignoring the best striker of the club Romelu Lukaku out of the line-up due to his controversial comments recently. 

 

Although this game would be played between the second and third teams in this Premier League season, it was only considered a crash between 2 big English clubs. They are used to the favourites for the champion title but the advantage now seems to be completely on Man City’s hands when the top team have been rushing to the title with big point gaps to other rivals, including Chelsea and Liverpool (having been led 11 and 12 points behind Man City).

 

Both powers of English football have been in serious crises. The Blues were lack of many important players due to their injuries and Covid-19’s impact. They have also been held back 1-1 by Brighton regretfully in the previous match. Meanwhile, Liverpool lost 0-1 in shock against Leicester and they would play against Chelsea without the guides of their brilliant manager Klopp. Therefore, it was predicted that both teams would be held back by the opponents in the Super Sunday. 

 

Chelsea v Liverpool

Chelsea 2-2 Liverpool

Starting Line-ups:

  • Chelsea (3-4-3): Edouard Mendy, Trevoh Chalobah, Thiago Silva, Antonio Rudiger, Marcos Alonso, Mateo Kovacic, N'Golo Kante, Cesar Azpilicueta, Christian Pulisic, Kai Havertz, Mason Mount.
  • Liverpool (4-3-3): Caoihmin Kelleher, Konsta Tsimikas, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil Van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, James Milner, Fabinho, Jordan Henderson,  Sadio Mane, Diogo Jota, Mohamed Salah.  

 

With the determination to chase Manchester City in the Premier League title race, both Chelsea and Liverpool played attacking right in the first minutes of the game. The Kop opened their scoring just 9 minutes after the ball was kicked off. Defender Trevoh Chalobah misjudged the ball and attempted a low header, but he failed to clear. Sadio Mane picked it up, rounded Mendy and scored. Mane, who was lucky to be on the field, did what Pulisic failed to do earlier. That ended a streak of 9 appearances without any goal for the Senegalese forward.

 

While the Blues were managing with their conceded goal, the Reds attacked in time and got the second goal in the 26th minute. Chelsea defenders were careless, making a chance for Mohamed Salah to speed up from the right-wing. He then passed Marcos Alonso and finished from a tight angle to knock out Edouard Mendy at the near post. 

 

The Blues’ spirit seemed to wake up. Thomas Tuchel’s squad started playing better after having 2 conceded goals. That was Mateo Kovacic’s shining in the 42nd minute. The Chelsea player pulled one back on the heels of a set-piece thanks to a tremendous volley. Kovacic was at the top of the box and flicked the ball into the top corner. He was right there to clean up any rebounds and he got one. 

 

Just 4 minutes later, the home team equalised the score with the visitors. Taking the assist of N’golo Kante, the American forward Christian Pulisic dispatched a fine left-footed half-volley to bring Chelsea level just before the break. It was 2-2 in the first half. 

 

Into the second half, both sides continued showing off their strength but talented forwards like Salah, Mane, Haverts, or Pulisic could not celebrate any other time in the match. In addition, Mendy of Chelsea also had a great performance that night with important saves for the home team.  

 

Both teams played tenaciously

 

It was still a 2-2 draw after the ending whistle resounded at Stamford Bridge. Both teams were regretted it because they could not gain perfect 3 points in this essential game. Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola’s squad, after thrashing 2-1 against Arsenal a day before, were the ones who had the last laugh with the result of this game. Man City dominate the top position in the 2021-22 Premier League with 53 points after 21 matches while Chelsea had only 43 points and Liverpool had 42 points after 20 games. 

Reference Sources

  • premierleague.com
  • sportingnews.com
  • betimate.com
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Harry Siuu
Written by: Harry Siuu
a specialized football specialist with over ten years' experience as a football journalist who works for Betimate.com.

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