Liverpool started the better of the two sides, but after Chelsea weathered the initial storm, we quickly grew into the game and it was a quite evenly matched game for most of the first-half.
Both teams were pressing high and recovering quickly, with most of the chances coming from the occasional turnover or a big ball over the top. Chelsea were the first to make one of those count, with Werner poking the ball past Alisson and then into the empty net, but VAR chalked it off for a minuscule offside, in yet another instance of technology that’s not good enough implemented not nearly well enough.
Chelsea recovered from that disappointment, and would eventually take the lead thanks to Mason Mount turning into Eden Hazard, cutting inside from the left and finding the bottom corner just a few minutes before half-time.
Liverpool also started the second half the better of the two sides, but Chelsea again quickly rose to the necessary levels, and in fact created several great opportunities, including a Ziyech shot from a Chilwell shot-rebound that Robertson had to clear off the line. At the other end, Kante survived what would’ve been a harsh handball call in the area (but who even knows what handball is these days).
The host started pressing in earnest for the equalizer around the hour mark, leaving even more potential spaces for counters, but Chelsea were not able to take advantage, with Werner drawing one excellent save from Alisson.
Fortunately, at the other end, Chelsea were equally excellent, and save for maybe one panicky moment (with Chilwell scrambling away from the six-yard box), kept Liverpool out.
Carefree!
- Three changes from the weekend, with Jorginho, James, and Werner coming in for Kovacic, Hudson-Odoi, and Giroud
- Pulisic on for Ziyech just past the hour mark to add more speed up top, Kovacic on for Mount for the final 10 to add more midfield presence in a 3-5-2. Havertz for Werner in added-on time to waste some time.
- Chelsea back into fourth, with West Ham idle until the weekend.
- Next up: another massive game for top-four/-six considerations, at home against Everton on Monday
- KTBFFH