Chelsea and Liverpool deny each other in Premier League's first derby

Moises Caicedo is set become either Chelsea’s or Liverpool’s player during next week. And boy do they need one player like that! The price is dictated by the market and will surely be too high for a not yet proven youngster, but today’s derby between these clubs showed that they desperately need a holding midfielder. Caicedo or other, but they need one now. From a pure tactical point of view, it was a very frustrating day for both managers, as they couldn’t field a proper holding midfielder, but for fans, it was a joy to behold. The game ended with goal apiece (1-1), but the performance, especially in the first half was wild, quick, on the edge, with lots of chances, two goals and two nullified goals due to offsides.

The result of absence of a Caicedo-type of player was that there was no real control in midfield, which resulted in lot of chances and the flanks looked particularly alive. Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah had excellent games, while Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell on the opposite side were also very dangerous. Debuts were given to Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, but also to four Chelsea players, Axel Disasi and Levi Colwill, among them. And that three-man defense, led by veteran Thiago Silva endured a lot of pressure, especially Disasi, who was ‘killed’ by Diaz. Luckily for the fans, the game didn’t finish 0-0, which was the score in the last four meetings between those clubs. Last season Chelsea managed just 38 goals in the Premier League, and their top scorers for the last three seasons - Kai Havertz (7 in 2022/23), Mason Mount (11 in 2021/22) and Jorginho (7 in 2020/21) - have all left the club in the past eight months. Nicolas Jackson led the line for the Blues, but failed to score, even thou he had two chances.

Liverpool took the lead after a great chance in which Salah produced a great assist and Luis Diaz finished the job in the 18th minute. The first sign of Salah’s great display was seen in the 13th minute, when his effort finished off the bar. The Egyptian continued with his excellent display with another big chance, before he scored Liverpool’ second in the 29th minute. But a lengthy VAR check ruled it was a very tight offside. Chelsea managed to level the game in the 37th minute, with a sloppy goal by debutant Disasi and wo minutes later, Stamford Bridge crowd were on their feet when Chilwell scored the second goal, but just like with Salah’s goal before, VAR nullified it due to offside position. Until the end of the half, it was the home team who got more confidence after the equalizer and started to create more pressure. Jackson had a big chance but his shot was not precise.

Just in the Brentford – Tottenham game earler today, when both teams scored four goals in the first 45 minutes but dropped the high level of performance in the second half, both the Blues and the Reds played a bit more careful now, but created chances here and there. Chelsea had better control in the second half and Jackson was a danger again, but his shot was saved by Allison in the 72nd minute. Despite his great performance, Salah didn’t manage to score in the debut game of the new season, since he was replaced by a 17-year old Ben Doak (who?) in the 75th minute. Needless to say, he was furious. It’s not quite sure what was Klopp thinking at this stage, as he changed another great player Luis Diaz with Harvey Elliot, but replacing his two most dangerous players didn’t bring him any tactical advantage, as the Reds finished the game with only one goal scored in the first half.

PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 1

Friday

Burnley - Manchester City 0-3 (0-2)

/Haaland 4, 36, Rodri 76/

Saturday

Arsenal - Nottingham Forest 2-1 (2-0)

/Nketiah 26, Saka 32 - Awoniyi 82/

Everton - Fulham 0-1 (0-0)

/De Cordova-Reid 73/

Brighton - Luton 4-1 (1-0)

/March 36, Joao Pedro 71 pen, Adingra 85, Ferguson 90+5 - Morris 81 pen/

Sheffield United - Crystal Palace 0-1 (0-0)

/Edouard 50/

Bournemouth - West Ham 1-1 (0-0)

/Solanke 82 - Bowen 51/

Newcastle United - Aston Villa 5-1 (2-1)

/Tonali 6, Isak 16, 58, Wilson 77, Barnes 90+1 - Diaby 11/

Sunday

Brentford - Tottenham 2-2 (2-2)

/Mbeumo 26, Wissa 36 - Romero 11, Royal 45-4/

Chelsea - Liverpool 1-1 (1-1)

/Disasi 37 - Diaz 18/

Monday

22:00: (1.37) Man.Utd. (4.90) Wolverhampton (8.50)

***odds are subject to change***