In a hard-fought match at Anfield, Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernandez were the standout players as Chelsea secured a point.
Chelsea visited Anfield on Saturday for matchday 36. It followed a pattern that has been repeating too often in the Blues’ recent matches: starting behind on the scoreboard. This was after a goal by Gravenberch from outside the area that put the Reds ahead.
The home team had control of the match during the first few minutes. Still, Chelsea, little by little, began to become a more dangerous opponent, thanks to Marc Cucurella and his offensive work, where he crazily left the outer lanes to get closer to the opponent’s area and even managed to take a shot on goal on one occasion.
The goal would come from Enzo Fernandez, who took a free kick precisely and at mid-height. With the support of Wesley Fofana, who made a fake that completely disoriented Mamardashvili, the ball went in without any deflection to the far post, tying the score at 1-1.
The match would continue with important chances for both teams. Still, we must highlight the physical work of Cucurella, who, on multiple occasions, was seen moving up to the opponent’s area, asking for the ball, and delivering dangerous balls near the opponent’s goal. One of those balls culminated in Cole Palmer’s goal, which, after VAR review, ended up being disallowed.
After a closing stretch in which Liverpool looked more imposing than Chelsea, with a header off the crossbar and a disallowed goal, the match ended with the score tied and a split of points.
A point that means little to Chelsea, because remember that the team’s main objective is to qualify for the Champions League. To do that, it needs to place itself in sixth position in the table. The same position as Bournemouth, who won their match and are 6 points behind the Blues.
With only 6 points remaining to play for, the team requires a complete miracle to finish the season in that position. So, realistically, the most likely outcome is that next season we will see the club competing in a second- or third-tier European tournament. Something completely unacceptable for an institution with Chelsea's history and spending power.
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