Liverpool played with renewed intensity at Anfield but their visitors unveiled a more vigilant blueprint that could prove crucial in holding off their title rivalsLiverpool and Chelsea’s 1-1 draw at Anfield on Tuesday promised to be a fascinating tactical battle between two well organised sides, but ultimately was largely about energy and intensity rather than master strategy. Chelsea’s manager, Antonio Conte, will be delighted with the result, as it harms Liverpool’s chances of overhauling his side – and we may see this cagier, more defensive approach again against Arsenal on Saturday.Liverpool, after three extremely sluggish performances and three damaging defeats, delivered the type of energetic display we became accustomed to in the first half of the campaign. With Daniel Sturridge...
Liverpool benefited from returning players, spirit and verve against Chelsea but the visitors’ Premier League-winning credentials still shone throughSimon Mignolet denied Diego Costa the chance to extinguish Liverpool’s lingering title hopes from the penalty spot, Anfield went wild and so did Jürgen Klopp in the face of the fourth official, Neil Swarbrick. A release from a month of torment, a moment of defiance, but Mignolet’s performance was in keeping with a conflicting night for Liverpool: one tinged with regret.The Belgium international’s 76th-minute penalty save sparked brief jubilation and ensured Klopp avoided Liverpool’s worst run of home defeats – four – in a little over 93 years. Deservedly so. Related: Liverpool’s Simon Mignolet saves penalty to gain point against Chelsea Related:...
Celtic do not need to sell and the striker is not agitating for a move but the money being demanded from Chelsea may not reflect reality – even for a blue-chip assetIf only the valuation of players was an exact science. Instead, issues of fitness, form, the desperation of either the buying or selling club plus contractual status play a part. Sometimes they combine. In a fluctuating player-club power struggle salaries don’t multiply to the extent of desired transfer fee in the case of a meteoric rise. Where Celtic and Moussa Dembélé are concerned, a high price tag links to great debate; should Scottish football’s lowly status negatively impact on the value of a player when pursued from England?What a...
Defeat against Chelsea on Tuesday would derail Liverpool’s campaign. After such a bright start, questions are being asked about why it has started to go wrongJürgen Klopp said Liverpool require “faith, belief and confidence” to arrest their sudden slump when Chelsea visit Anfield on Tuesday, when a fourth consecutive home defeat would equal an unwanted club record dating back to December 1923. He and his players must also find solutions for dealing with opponents who rely on disciplined defending and the counterattack as their problems have been repeated on a loop this month. Related: Wolves’ Paul Lambert proud but Jürgen Klopp admits: ‘We’re not flying’ Related: Jürgen Klopp: ‘Why do people listen to what football managers have to say?’ Continue...
Liverpool’s defence needs to find cohesion fast, Lincoln felt the force with Alan Power and Bastian Schweinsteiger is welcomed back by José MourinhoIt was an afternoon when the ball would not go in for Ruben Loftus-Cheek. The Chelsea attacking midfielder was twice denied by the Brentford goalkeeper, Daniel Bentley, and, when he clipped over him on 58 minutes, the effort came back off the crossbar. Loftus-Cheek had two other moments when he jinked inside the area but could not find a finish. It was, nonetheless, an eye-catching performance from the 21-year-old – in front of the watching England manager, Gareth Southgate – in which he advertised both his power and the deftness of his touch. Could it offer him a...