After last week”s title confirmation, defeat was surely not unexpected for a lacklustre Liverpool. Yet, a 3-1 defeat to a Chelsea team chasing Champions League qualification may well have confirmed what Arne Slot already knew.
We probably saw why those who don’t start too often, don’t start too often. At least, not together.
Harvey Elliot lacks physicality, and is more effective when afforded more space against tired limbs.
Jarell Quansah lacks both intensity and composure on the ball, whilst own goals seem to follow him around. He also, again, showed naivety in giving away a last-minute penalty.
Kostas Tsimikas, whilst an able backup, simply isn’t of the required standard, neither defensively nor in possession. A new left-back for next season must surely be a priority, in what could be a busy summer of comings and goings at Anfield.
As for Curtis Jones, whilst he doesn’t look out of place when surrounded by better midfield players, he simply fails to elevate those around him. Too often caught on the ball; too often, one too many touches; too often, misplacing his passes.
Of course, Chelsea always had more to play for in this fixture, and in Cole Palmer, had the best player on the pitch. Not only did he cap his performance with his side’s third goal fron the penalty spot, but created the space for Chelsea to open the scoring inside five minutes. Liverpool meanwhile, though with the lion’s share of possession after falling behind, failed to create anything approaching a decent chance. Cody Gapko wasting their best chance to equalise, choosing to shoot when he should have sought out a red shirt in the penalty area.
Once again, when trailing, Slot resisted the urge to make any changes to the starting eleven at half-time. Maybe he should have done, as Liverpool continued to labour. It wasn’t until they were trailing two-nil, did he bring on Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Darwin Nunez and Federico Cheisa. Wataru Endo, who’d been Liverpool’s best midfielder, may count himself a little unfortunate to be removed from the fray. Others not so much.
The changes however, did little to alter the dynamics of the match. Even when Virgil van Djik got his side on the scoreboard, with a bullet header following a corner, his ‘celebration’ appeared to betray a lack of intensity. Chelsea though looked nervous in trying to close out the game, even without Liverpool threatening an equaliser. Nunez all too predictably getting his finish, this time with his head, all wrong, just six yards from goal. It was an effort that seemed to sum up his career in Liverpool red.
With the game looking likely to finish 2-1 to the hosts, they were given the opportunity to put any lingering doubts of failure to win three points aside. The hapless Quansah giving away a penalty in the 95th minute. Palmer finished with ease fron the spot, consigning Liverpool to just their third league defeat of the season.
