Liverpool, ask Chelsea how – fewer chances, three points; more chances, one point

In two matches where the home sides were clear favorites, only one lived up to expectations. Chelsea, despite an unconvincing performance, managed to secure a very important 2–0 victory over Brentford, while Liverpool, despite creating a host of good chances, were held to a 1–1 draw by the second-bottom team in the table.

Talking about Liverpool game, the hosts threatened as early as the third minute when Kerkez played a neat one-two with Szoboszlai and looked to pick out Curtis Jones, only for Tuanzebe to intervene at the crucial moment.

Burnley responded quickly, as Anthony tried his luck from distance in the fifth minute after a defensive lapse, but his effort sailed over the bar. Liverpool continued to press, with Szoboszlai heading wide from Frimpong’s right-wing delivery in the 12th minute, while Burnley caused concern of their own soon after, Florentino narrowly clearing the crossbar with a long-range strike.

Ekitike tested Dubravka in the 21st minute with a powerful shot from outside the box, which the goalkeeper dealt with confidently. The key moment came on the half-hour mark when Liverpool were awarded a penalty after Gakpo was brought down by Florentino, but Szoboszlai struck the crossbar from the spot.

The pressure did not ease, and Dubravka was again called into action to deny Gakpo with a strong save in the 34th minute.

Liverpool’s persistence finally paid off three minutes before the interval, as Wirtz finished clinically after Ekitike’s initial effort was blocked and Jones teed up the German midfielder, sending the Reds into halftime with a 1–0 advantage.

Burnley came out with far more intent after the restart and nearly stunned the hosts in the 48th minute, when Edwards found space inside the box but dragged his shot just wide. Liverpool responded immediately, Frimpong racing onto a loose ball in the area two minutes later, only to lift his effort over the bar. The game began to stretch, and in the 53rd minute Wirtz slipped in behind the Burnley back line, but Dubravka reacted sharply to block at close range.

Liverpool continued to push and thought they had doubled their lead in the 55th minute after a moment of brilliance from Wirtz down the byline, but Gakpo’s goal-bound effort was sensationally cleared off the line by Humphreys. Burnley rode their luck again on 69 minutes when Ekitike unleashed a powerful shot that Humphreys once more hacked away from the goal line. In between those chances, Liverpool had a huge scare of their own, as a defensive mix-up saw Konate deflect the ball toward his own net, only for Alisson to react quickly and prevent an own goal.

Burnley’s pressure was finally rewarded in the 65th minute. Liverpool lost possession deep in their own half, Florentino threaded a perfectly weighted pass through to Edwards, and the forward showed composure to beat Alisson and level the score.

The hosts thought they had snatched the winner late on when Ekitike bundled the ball into the net after Van Dijk’s effort caused chaos from a corner, but celebrations were cut short as the assistant flagged for offside. Despite late pressure, Liverpool were denied a decisive second goal in a tense and frantic second half.

Chelsea - Brentford 2-0 (1-0)

On the other side, Chelsea produced an eventful and entertaining first half against Brentford, edging it thanks to a moment of quality from Joao Pedro. The visitors showed their intent immediately, testing Robert Sanchez inside the opening minute as Schade broke forward and fired straight at the Chelsea goalkeeper.

The Blues grew into the contest and thought they had a golden chance in the 10th minute when Enzo Fernandez split the Brentford defence with a perfectly weighted pass for Joao Pedro, who failed to get a touch before going down under a challenge from Kayode. A lengthy VAR check followed, but the officials waved away Chelsea’s penalty appeals.

Fernandez continued to dictate the tempo in midfield and almost created the opener again on 14 minutes, picking out Cole Palmer with a sublime pass. Palmer shifted inside onto his left foot but sent his effort high over the crossbar. Chelsea were made to pay for their missed opportunities moments later when Brentford came agonisingly close to scoring. Schade found space inside the box, sent Trevoh Chalobah to the ground with a clever feint, but instead of shooting tried to square for Damsgaard, allowing the Chelsea defence to recover and clear in dramatic fashion.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 26th minute. Fernandez pressed high to win the ball back on the edge of the Brentford area, and Joao Pedro reacted quickest, turning sharply before calmly rolling a precise finish past Kelleher. After a brief VAR review, the goal was confirmed, sparking celebrations among the Chelsea supporters as the Brazilian’s composure proved decisive.

Brentford refused to fold and almost hit back before the break. On 38 minutes, Damsgaard cleverly flicked the ball into the path of Jensen, whose powerful strike clipped the outside of the post with Sanchez beaten. Chelsea had the final big chance of the half two minutes before the interval when Pedro Neto danced past Damsgaard and Henry before whipping a dangerous ball across the face of goal, but Garnacho somehow failed to convert from close range. Despite missed chances at both ends, Chelsea headed into halftime holding a slender but hard-earned advantage.

Chelsea managed the second half with growing authority, weathering early pressure before striking decisively late on. Brentford threatened an equaliser five minutes after the restart when Jensen threaded a superb through ball to Schade, who burst clear on goal, but Robert Sanchez reacted brilliantly, racing off his line to produce a vital save. The visitors continued to probe and caused brief anxiety in the 72nd minute as a long ball was launched into the Chelsea area, Thiago rising to meet it, though his effort drifted harmlessly past Sanchez and out of play.

As Brentford pushed forward, gaps began to appear at the back, and Chelsea took full advantage in the 75th minute. A loose back pass from Collins put Kelleher under pressure, with Delap chasing it down. The Brentford goalkeeper rushed out and clattered into the Chelsea forward, leaving the referee with no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Cole Palmer stepped up and showed trademark composure, sending Kelleher the wrong way and blasting home the penalty to put Chelsea 2–0 ahead, effectively sealing the contest.

PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 22

Saturday

Man. United - Man. City 2-0 (0-0)

/Mbuemo 65, Dorgu 76/

Chelsea - Brentford 2-0 (1-0)

/Pedro 26, Palmer 76 pen/

Leeds - Fulham 1-0 (0-0)

/Nmecha 90+1/

Liverpool - Burnley 1-1 (1-0)

/Wirtz 42 - Edwards 65/

Sunderland - Crystal Palace 2-1 (1-1)

/Le Fee 33, Brobbey 71 - Pino 30/

Tottenham - West Ham 1-2 (0-1)

/Romero 64 - Summerville 15, Wilson 90+3/

20.30: (6.00) Nott.Forest (4.25) Arsenal (1.55)

Sunday

17.00: (4.80) Wolverhampton (4.00) Newcastle (1.75)

19.30: (1.70) Aston Villa (4.00) Everton (5.30)

Monday

23.00: (1.90) Brighton (3.80) Bournemouth (4.20)

***odds are subject to change***