A bright start, which saw Luis Diaz open the scoring on 20 mins, saw Liverpool escape Stamford Bridge, with a barely-deserved point. Wasteful, lethargic and far too easy to play against, it was easy to see why Klopp is scouring the market for a defensive midfielder.
With both new midfield signings making their debuts on the King’s Road, a front three of Diaz, Mo Salah, and Diogo Jota gave Chelsea a torrid opening half hour. It was therefore no surprise when Diaz slotted home a defence splitting pass from Salah. The Egyptian thought he’d doubled Liverpool’s lead just minutes later, but a tight VAR call dampened the celebrations, especially when the home side equalised, and from that moment on, Chelsea grew in confidence, dominating large parts of the game. Liverpool, with gaping holes in midfield, had their own reason to thank VAR just minutes later, as a calm finished by Chilwell was deemed off-side.
Surely Liverpool would not be so open in the second period. Alas, no. Chelsea played through Jurgen Klopp’s men at will, despite promising performances from both Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai and it merely looked like a matter of time before Pochettino’s team took the lead. Yet, somehow, despite problems being created down both flanks, and through a by now tiring midfield, the home team failed to turn possession into goals. Liverpool though, were hanging on, and lacked any forward threat, until Klopp rang the changes. Darwin Nunez, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliot and Ben Doak, all being introduced, with Salah, clearly livid to be substituted, one of those to make way. Liverpool even looked like they might snatch an unlikely three points in the closing stages, however unjust it would have been.
So a barely-deserved draw for Liverpool, and the obvious need for a defensive midfielder if a title challenge is to materialise. If not, the season ahead promises plenty of spills and thrills, along with many goals at either end of the pitch. Klopp looked relatively pleased in his post-match interview. He’ll be happier still if reinforcements arrive by September 1st.
