Chelsea vs Liverpool LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction as match ends in goalless draw
Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool: Bruno Saltor takes a point from his first game in charge as Chelsea rue missed chances against Liverpool
Interim Chelsea manager, Bruno Saltor, will be pleased to take a point away from this first game in charge but will be kept awake by the chances his team missed against the still underperforming Liverpool.
After a quick start from the hosts, Joao Felix and Mateo Kovacic should have sent the Blues two goals up inside the opening six minutes but last-ditch defending from Ibrahima Konate and Joel Matip denied them the opener.
Liverpool were sluggish and slow to get into the game. That was perhaps excusable after Jurgen Klopp made six changes to the starting XI that lost to Manchester City at the weekend.
What isn’t excusable is the still shaky defence and the Reds were lucky to be twice reprieved following disallowed goals for Reece James and Kai Havertz - the first for a miniscule offside and the second for a handball.
This must-win match for both teams ended in a whimper and leaves both managers with problems to solve before the weekend.
Relive all the action as Chelsea drew Liverpool in the Premier League:
Comedy show underlines scale of rebuild required at Chelsea and Liverpool alike
It’s remarkable to think that, just months ago, Chelsea and Liverpool offered a domestic cup final of a high quality befitting their status as two of the best sides in the world. By contrast, the only reason you couldn’t say this 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge was one of the worst games of the season was because it was so entertaining for all the wrong reasons. It was sometimes hilarious.
It was also like something out of a different era, which is precisely why both of these clubs are having such serious discussions about what comes next. It was also exactly why this was, when you strip it all away, a mere mid-table match with so little to play for. There was so little play at all.
Far from the elite football of 2022, this game in April 2023 was like something out of the 1970s: thrown together; go out and enjoy yourselves. It was only those looking for a bit of a laugh who did the latter. Whereas the finest modern sides are supremely drilled in the most sophisticated tactical structures, this was instead two XIs that had never played together before, one of them under a stand-in manager who had never picked a team before. Bruno Saltor at least did himself credit with first-ever career point, and a performance when his Chelsea side were the better team, even if that is all relative.
Comedy show underlines scale of rebuild required at Chelsea and Liverpool alike
Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool: Slapstick errors and a marked lack of quality results in a goalless draw which benefits neither club
FT Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool
Chelsea forward Kai Havertz talking to Sky Sports: “I think [we should have won], especially in the first half we had load of chances. Second half, I think it was maybe a tie, maybe in the first half we deserved to score so in the end it’s 0-0.”
“Maybe yes [Chelsea lacking confidence], I think in the moment especially after the loss at the weekend we missed a lot of confidence and that doesn’t make it easier [the sacking]. But we are all professionals and we have to score. We have to keep on pushing.
“With the new technology it was pretty clear. It is tough. I scored also at Anfield and it was small margins when it was disallowed. At the end you have to wait for the VAR and that is how it is and I have to accept that.
“It’s tough. As always when a manager leaves a club. It’s not easy because it is our job to win games and when a manager gets the sack we also have to take responsibility for that. Now we have to accept how it is. We have to be professional and accept the situation. I mean I have to say first of all I have to say it’s really nice and I have to respect Bruno and the coaching staff to stand in front of the team when the manager got the sack. But now it’s not our job to think about who is coming. The owners decide that.
“We have to do the job on the pitch but when you have a manager for the long term it’s easier for us as players. We have the faces out there, everyone sees us and we are all very frustrated to see Graham go but we have to accept the situation.
“There are nine games to play in the league and Chelsea doesn’t deserve to be 11th. It’s not nice to be there but we all have to stick together.
“We are in the quarter-final of the Champions League and we have to get as much confidence as possible in the upcoming game. As players on the pitch we need the fans as well. We are in the last eight of the best teams in Europe. It’s not nice but we have to stick together.”
FT Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool
Chelsea interim boss Bruno Saltor to BBC Sport: “It’s difficult to enjoy this type of experience because you’re really focused on the game. I tried to help the players from the touchline as much as I could.
“After what happened on Sunday, yesterday we had a recovery session. I tried to spend time with the players and talk to them. I thought they gave everything.
“It’s been hard, we are very close friends [with Graham Potter]. It’s difficult to stand here without him but I’m trying my best.
“We created chances. We scored, offside. It will come to the boys because they deserve it.
“We left Liverpool without anything [up front]. They put their bodies on the line, I’m really happy with back three. We had players on Ramadan, some back from injury.
“N’Golo Kante is incredible. His performances are good. He’s a leader with his performances.”
What now? “I’m going back home, rest, focus on the next game. We will just focus on every day. The boys are giving their best. It’s been a really hard season. They’re human beings, we have to help them.”
FT Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool
Post match reaction from Jurgen Klopp who spoke to BBC Sport saying: “Both teams played last year in two finals, two of the best 0-0s I ever saw. Today it was two teams low on confidence but really fighting. We’re fine with a point, a lot of good stuff. We showed a lot of fight. We have to keep going.
“We struggled with the last line in the beginning but changed three times. The balls in behind were tricky but then we recovered well. We got better into the game. The midfield was well connected. We had our opportunities up front. It was not speculator. It was a step. That’s what we have to do – make steps. Sometimes smaller steps.
“We need to have these chances. You need to keep having chances. I’m not disappointed about that. They scored twice but both goals were disallowed. I didn’t expect a team with six changes to play the best game of the season. The boys who came in used their opportunity and showed they were ready.
“We cannot talk about the goals we have if we don’t get points. We don’t give up, we will fight. We can talk a lot but we have to show. We saw a step in the right direction tonight.
“Some needed a rest.”
On whether he has had a season like this: “No, thank God. I wouldn’t be manager of Liverpool if I had a couple of these seasons. We have to get through it. That’s how life is. You have to fight to change your fortunes.”
FT Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool
Chelsea have 38 points and have scored 29 goals in their 29 Premier League fixtures this season.
It is their lowest points tally at this stage of a league campaign since 1994-95 (37) and their lowest goals tally at this stage of a top flight season since 1978-79 (29).
FT Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool
Chelsea rue a lack of quality in front of goal and have to settle for a point against Liverpool.
Full-time: Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool
90+5 mins: Enzo Fernandez strikes one from range and for a moment has Alisson worried in the Liverpool goal. The shot continues to rise though and curls wide of the far post.
The full-time whistle goes and both teams have to settle for a point.
Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool
90 mins: Five minutes of added time to play.
Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool
88 mins: Time is ticking away at Stamford Bridge with neither team looking likely to score a winner. Raheem Sterling ventures offside trying to make a run down the right.
Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool
85 mins: Can Raheem Sterling provide a spark of joy for Chelsea? His return from injury is a good sign for the Blues going forward but a bit of magic would help them tonight.
There are five minutes plus stoppage time for him to make his mark.
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