Liverpool took a point away from the new Premier League champions with a 1-1 draw against the Blues on Monday morning.
Another stubborn performance from Jose Mourinho’s men kept an impeccable home record intact, once more in the face of an opposition team which controlled much of the match.
Promising early signs saw the hosts moving the ball with a dangerous intent that had not been seen in weeks, ensuing in a fifth minute breakthrough when John Terry was picked out by a Cesc Fabregas corner.
But proving a thorn in the side of Chelsea right until the end of his time in England, it was Steven Gerrard who levelled the scores on the stroke of half-time, unusually left alone inside the 18-yard area by the Chelsea defence to send home a Jordan Henderson cross.
While all the makings were had of a second-half showdown, Liverpool found themselves on the wrong side of the blue defensive wall which has plagued so many others this campaign,
Formations
With the domestic goal reached, Mourinho signalled his intentions for the rest of the season by making five changes to the team which had put the Premier League race beyond doubt a week earlier. Much hype surrounded the starting debut for academy product Reuben Loftus-Cheek, lining-up in the holding-midfield role, while Kurt Zouma, Filippe Luis and veteran John Obi Mikel provided respite for names such as Nemanja Matic and Gary Cahill, afforded a brief, yet deserved moments on the bench. A returning Loic Remy provided the target up-front.
Chelsea starting XI: Courtois (GK), Ivanovic, Terry, Zouma, Luis, Loftus-Cheek, Mikel, Willian, Fabregas, Hazard, Remy.
In contrast, Brendan Rodgers made no changes to the side which defeated QPR 2-1 last weekend and stayed in the 4-3-3 formation. Lambert took up the striker’s role once more, with Philippe Coutinho and Jordan Henderson ready to snap into counter-attack mode.
Liverpool starting XI: Mignolet (GK), Can, Skrtel, Lovren, Johnson, Henderson, Gerrard, Coutinho, Sterling, Lambert, Lallana
Blues looking keen on the finish line
Although securing the English crown, it was another performance typical of Chelsea which ended in a share of the spoils. There was still an impression that a weight had been lifted off of the team’s shoulders, some bright early play leading to Terry’s opener within the first 10 minutes as the captain tipped-in a corner, exploiting the Reds where they have been at their most weakest all season.
Yet even with the pressure-off and playing at their home ground, after taking the early lead the Londoners appeared content to try and ride out their slim advantage, with only three shots on target coming in total. But this time around it did not look as though the manager was looking to park the bus, rather, Chelsea’s attackers could not get themselves onto the ball, something lower teams on the table have had no problems with against Liverpool over this campaign. Still struggling with the absence of Diego Costa there was little threat inside the 18-yard box and integral playmakers Hazard and Willian in particular looked drained, unable to generate the individual moments which have seen the Blues take maximum points on days when they have been far from the best team.
A match that sums up the season for Rodgers
This relaxed approach from the hosts also allowed Liverpool the space to play some of their best connective football of the season, building counter-attacks from the midfield that could have led to goals. But there were a number of opportunities that went begging, as Brendan Rodgers decided to make Lambert the focal point of the offense for the majority of the match.
It is no secret that the only real weapon against Chelsea’s stonewall defence is pace, which made the decision to start the Englishman somewhat baffling, illustrated by the statistics as he was unable to manage a single shot on goal. Seemingly, Jordon Ibe would have been a better selection, yet the 19-year-old was introduced into the game after the Blues had gone into their shell and beyond the point where an impact was likely to be made.
Another name for the Merseysiders which should change matches like these, more could have been expected of Raheem Sterling, who only produced one shot on goal from outside of the box. Sterling has only scored one domestic goal since the New Year, and his decision making when on the ball has been increasingly shaky over recent weeks, an issue when trying to justify a wage increase or move to Europe.
Chelsea Conclusion
It seems there is little that can rouse the Blues from their defensive cocoon, and if Manchester City’s current form had come about a few weeks earlier, we may have been looking at a race that was very much still up in the air. Two games now remain until Chelsea lift the Premier League title, yet it has been a long time since they have looked unbeatable.
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Liverpool Conclusion
Undoubtedly it was the Reds who turned in the more positive performance in this game, yet in terms of the standings a win was probably all that would have interested Brendan Rodgers’ team in their faint pursuit of a top four finish. Though this result shows that the manager is starting to settle on a regular line-up that when given their chances, can put the League’s best on the back-foot.
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