{"id":1448257,"date":"2026-05-09T14:45:28","date_gmt":"2026-05-09T13:45:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?post_type=features&p=1448257"},"modified":"2026-05-09T14:45:30","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T13:45:30","slug":"post-match-analysis-liverpool-vs-chelsea-09-05-26","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/post-match-analysis-liverpool-vs-chelsea-09-05-26\/","title":{"rendered":"Liverpool vs Chelsea stats and analysis: Disjointed attacks and full-backs dominate Anfield draw"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Chelsea stopped their losing Premier League streak after a 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Anfield.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All the action came in the first half, with Ryan Gravenberch opening the scoring just five minutes in with a curling effort from outside the box. Enzo Fernandez equalised just after the hour mark as his free-kick evaded everyone to go into the bottom left corner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neither side could get a second after the break and the full-time whistle was met with boos by Liverpool fans. The Reds remain fourth in the Premier League, and are a tad closer to securing Champions League football for next season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chelsea, meanwhile, sit ninth and this will be two points dropped in their European quest — despite it being their first league point since March.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    Chelsea’s interesting tactics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    It was clear that Chelsea needed to try something different to stop their rot. The Blues travelled to Anfield having lost their past six Premier League matches, having only ever lost seven in a row once in their history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Calum McFarlane opted for a back five at Anfield, a decision that immediately brought criticism from fans. And in the opening stages, it was easy to see why. The main reason for the back five was to be flexible, switching between a back four and five. But it made Chelsea disjointed. The Blues backline didn’t look like they knew their roles, and were too slow to close down Ryan Gravenberch for Liverpool’s opening goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    The system also relied heavily on Marc Cucurella going forward. Depending on the situation, the Spaniard was either the wing-back in a back five, or the left-winger in a 4-2-3-1. At times, he was the most advanced Chelsea player — even higher than striker Joao Pedro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    On another day, with an actual winger taking Cucurella’s place, Chelsea might have scored three or four. The Spaniard was getting into key positions inside the Liverpool box, and had moments to test the Liverpool defence. Cucurella timed a run perfectly in the first half but his shot was saved by Giorgi Mamardashvili, with no passing option inside the box. There was another moment not too long after where his first touch let him down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Cucurella had a very good game for Chelsea. But you have to question a system that has a left-back as the biggest attacking threat. Not to mention the unwillingness to rely on Chelsea’s excellent youth academy to fill gaps left by injured wingers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Marc Cucurella's game by numbers vs. Liverpool:

    37 touches
    21\/23 passes completed
    6 touches in opp. box
    4 fouls conceded
    3 duels won
    3x possession won
    1 chance created
    1 shot

    POTM. \ud83c\udfc6     pic.twitter.com\/dEOOndN5qM<\/a><\/p>— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) May 9, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>