Rarely has Anfield been so angry as Slot targeted by boo boys after Chelsea draw

Rarely has Anfield been so angry with its team and their performance. Liverpool would have been there for the taking but Chelsea never created the conditions to do so, having recovered from the early goal. Chelsea coach Calum McFarlane may have the first point of his second interim spell of the season, but life could be a lot more difficult in ten days’ time when Chelsea face the old enemy Tottenham Hotspur at home in the Premier League. The atmosphere at Stamford Bridge could be every bit as rebellious as Anfield was for Slot.

Both sides had goals disallowed by VAR reviews that discovered offsides in the second half. Virgil van Dijk had a header against the bar. Dominik Szoboszlai struck the post with a shot – but otherwise neither side looked ready to risk what it might take to win.

Full report to follow

03:07pm

Slot reacts to booing from Liverpool fans

“That’s probably got something to do with us not winning. It completely makes sense, people are disappointed if Liverpool don’t win.”

02:58pm

Cucurella reacts

“I think the effort today was really good. I don’t think it was probably our best moments, but we showed if we play together and if we play together then we have a good level. Hopefully we can win a bit of confidence from this game because next week we have a massive game.

“We aren’t happy because we wanted the three points, but we are happy that we showed we’re a really good team if we put in the effort and fight together. Hopefully we can learn from this game and play well in these last few games.”

Marc Cucurella (centre) was voted man of the match - Carl Recine/Getty Images

02:52pm

Fofana reacts

“I think it was mine. Everyone has told me that I touched the ball. I don’t know if I did touch the ball, but if it’s me or Enzo [Fernandez] then I’m happy because it was an important one.

“I didn’t feel myself touch the ball to be honest, but everyone said they saw on the replays that I touched the ball so I guess I did. It was a good shot [from Fernandez]. We worked on that during the week, so I’m happy for him.”

02:41pm

What’s next for Chelsea and Liverpool?

Chelsea have ended a run of six successive Premier League defeats, but the draw keeps them in ninth. Next weekend, Calum McFarlane’s men will take on Manchester City at Wembley in the FA Cup final.

Meanwhile, Liverpool are fourth on 59 points, with just Aston Villa and Brentford left to play this season.

02:29pm

FT: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1

The points are shared as Liverpool and Chelsea draw 1-1 in a thoroughly entertaining encounter at Anfield. The two goals arrived in the first half through Gravenberch and Fernandez. Both clubs had goals disallowed in the second half, before Liverpool hit the woodwork twice. It was a game lacking attacking quality and fluency, with a draw a fair reflection of the match.

02:26pm

90+6 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1

James clips a teasing cross into the box. Mamardashvili does well to come out and claim the delivery. However, the goalkeeper emerges with the ball and tries to release Chiesa on the counter, but he throws it straight to Fofana.

02:23pm

90+4 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1

Isak runs to the byline and slides a cross back into the box. However, he can’t pick out a Liverpool shirt with the delivery and the ball is cleared by the Chelsea defence. Mac Allister is then penalised for a late tackle, receiving a yellow card.

02:21pm

90+3 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1

You can see why both of these clubs have struggled this season. The game has been extremely chaotic at points.

02:19pm

90 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1

There will be seven minutes of added time. Can either side find a late winner?

02:18pm

89 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1

Joao Pedro dances into the Liverpool penalty area and he’s bumped into by Frimpong. There’s a definite tangle of legs, but it has been checked and cleared by VAR. It looked like a simple coming-together and nothing more.

02:16pm

86 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1

Chelsea have dropped off in an attacking sense over the last 30 minutes. Palmer and Joao Pedro have both been quiet. However, Chelsea look on course to end their run of six successive Premier League defeats if it stays like this.

02:12pm

83 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1

Cucurella is given a yellow card for blocking Frimpong’s path. A free-kick is hurled into the box and Liverpool half-heartedly appeal for a handball after James’ clearance strikes a teammate’s arm. It’s quickly checked and cleared.

02:09pm

79 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1

Liverpool hit the woodwork for the second time in the half. A corner is launched into the box and Caicedo is marking Van Dijk. It’s a complete mismatch in terms of size and physicality as the Liverpool defender wins the header, which crashes off the bar. The replays show that Caicedo is pulling Van Dijk’s shirt and he’s lucky to escape a punishment.

02:06pm

76 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1

Slot makes a double change with Chiesa and Gomez replacing Gakpo and Konate.

02:05pm

76 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1

Joao Pedro has been quiet today, but all of a sudden, he bursts into life. The Chelsea forward forces his way through a couple of challenges and dances into the penalty area. He cuts inside and shoots, but his arrowed strike flies off target.

02:03pm

75 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1

At least Anfield has found its voice again and the tempo of Liverpool’s play is marginally better, Arne Slot having made an adjustment to get Curtis Jones is a slightly more advanced right-back role. But it hasn’t been good enough, not by a long way. Chelsea are a pale imitation of some of the teams who have represented the club here in the last two decades. They should have been dispatched when Liverpool had the chance.

02:02pm

73 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1

Fernandez receives a needless yellow card for chopping down Jones with a late tackle. Chelsea are sinking deeper and deeper, with Liverpool the team currently seizing the initiative.

01:59pm

71 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1

Szoboszlai takes aim from distance and fires a powerful shot at goal. The strike looks to be heading for the bottom corner, but it cannons off the post. Since their disallowed goal, Liverpool have been the more threatening side.

01:56pm

67 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1

Anfield is not a fan of this substitution. Isak comes on to replace Nguomha, and Slot’s decision is met by a chorus of boos and jeers. Hato then picks up the first yellow card of the match for a late challenge.

That is a “wow” moment. Rio Ngumoha is replaced by Alexander Isak and Anfield has shown its fury to the decision by Arne Slot, booing the change and the crowd singing “Rio! Rio! Rio!” on repeat. It’s the kind of incident that shows how deep the fracturing here has become.

01:55pm

65 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1

Both sides thought they had taken the lead in the second half, only to have the goal ruled out for offside.

Cole Palmer’s celebrations were cut short by the offside flag - Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC

Curtis Jones suffered the same fate as Cole Palmer - Phil Noble/REUTERS

01:51pm

63 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1

Chelsea make the game’s first change with James replacing Santos. The Englishman puts the armband on and looks to be teaming up with Caicedo in central midfield.

01:49pm

60 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1

Liverpool are pushing for a goal and Szoboszlai tests Jorgensen with a venomous long-range strike. The hosts then scream for a penalty as a cross clips Hato’s arm. The referee isn’t interested in the appeals. It would have been so harsh if it was given.

01:48pm

NO GOAL! Liverpool now have a goal disallowed for offside

Szoboszlai curls in a cross for Gakpo, who drifts into an offside position, before nodding the ball back across goal. Jones is the grateful recipient and glances a header into the bottom corner. However, the celebrations are cut short by that offside flag.

01:45pm

57 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1

This game is really starting to open up. It’s becoming a real end-to-end battle.

01:44pm

54 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1

Once again, Chelsea get in behind Jones at right back. Mac Allister does excellently to track back, before making a strong tackle on Cucurella inside the penalty area.

01:42pm

52 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1

Liverpool really need to wake up. That disallowed Chelsea goal was a huge let-off for the hosts. Jones does not look comfortable at right back and has made multiple errors.

01:38pm

NO GOAL! Palmer’s strike is ruled out

The visitors thought they had the lead Anfield, but it’s been wiped out. Caicedo slips a pass through to Cucurella, who tries to slide a cross into Joao Pedro. Van Dijk’s interception forces Mamardashvili into a save, before Palmer slams the rebound into the net. However, the goal is ruled out as Cucurella is marginally offside in the build-up. That is so close. Liverpool have got so lucky there!

01:34pm

46 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1

We are back under way for the second half. Can Chelsea pick up where they left off or will Liverpool wrestle back the momentum?

01:31pm

Lacklustre Liverpool

It has been a very poor first half performance from Liverpool after a relatively bright start. Against a Chelsea team that is on a run of six straight Premier League defeats, Liverpool have allowed themselves to be dominated. They have given Cole Palmer far too much space. It has been very easy for Chelsea to get in behind.

01:24pm

Unhappy Liverpool fans

There were a smattering of frustrated boos at half-time from the home fans. They will be a good deal louder at the final whistle if this continues.

01:23pm

HT: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1

We’re at the break in this Premier League encounter between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield. The visitors started terribly and fell behind after just six minutes, when Gravenberch curled a delightful effort into the top corner. However, Chelsea have gradually grown into the game and they were undoubtedly the more dominant side over the last 15 minutes of the half. Chelsea deservedly levelled through Fernandez’s free-kick, which travelled all the way into the bottom corner without a touch. Half-time arrived at the perfect point for Liverpool, who have allowed Chelsea to grasp control of this match.

01:16pm

45 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1

There will be two minutes of added time. Liverpool need the half-time whistle. Chelsea have really grown in confidence over these last 15 minutes.

01:15pm

43 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1

That Chelsea equaliser reflects their growing influence in the game. Doesn’t look like Fofana got a touch on the Fernandez free-kick. The home crowd is very unhappy. Lots of advice from the stands on positioning and queries over general energy levels. Gakpo looks isolated and lots of Liverpool attacks breaking down quite feebly.

01:13pm

41 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1

Chelsea’s earlier strike means that Liverpool have now conceded 18 set-piece goals (excluding penalties) in the Premier League this season – their highest total in a single campaign, surpassing the 16 they allowed in during 1992/93.

01:10pm

39 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1

Caicedo threads a perfectly-weighed through-ball into Fernandez, who sprints through a huge gap between Jones and Konate. The Chelsea captain is one-on-one with Mamardashvili, but the Liverpool goalkeeper makes a massive stop to deny the midfielder.

01:06pm

GOAL! Chelsea are level in bizarre circumstances

Fernandez whips a low free kick into the box and a number of Liverpool players lose their men. Fofana escapes from Konate at the near post and tries to get a touch. Nevertheless, the ball travels all way into the bottom corner. It’s such poor defending from Liverpool. Chelsea deserve that goal and will look to push for another before half-time.

01:03pm

31 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 0

Caicedo clips a teasing ball over to Cucurella, who makes a great run. The Spaniard beats Gravenberch to the ball and chests it down. However, his touch is slightly too heavy as Mamardashvili rushes out to collect. Chelsea are beginning to look more threatening now.

01:01pm

30 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 0

We wrote on Telegraph Sport earlier this week about Liverpool’s need to sign a holding midfielder and there was another indication just before of why that position must be filled: Alexis Mac Allister was caught out and Chelsea ended up clean though on Giorgi Mamardashvili, who preserved Liverpool’s lead. It’s been puzzling how the hosts have taken their foot off the gas and allowed Chelsea - a horribly ordinary Chelsea - to get some stability. The pace of the game is pedestrian.

12:59pm

28 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 0

Cucurella is released behind the Liverpool defence and, from a tight angle, he forces a save from Mamardashvili with a low, driven effort.

12:57pm

25 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 0

Liverpool have been the better side in these opening 25 minutes - ASH ALLEN/EPA/Shutterstock/Shutterstock Editorial

12:55pm

23 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 0

Some delightful link-up play between Mac Allister and Gravenberch releases Ngumoha on the wing. He youngster cuts inside and is immediately surrounded by a group of Chelsea players. The ball is eventually worked to Gakpo, but the Dutchman was caught in an offside position.

12:52pm

20 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 0

Palmer drifts into a central position and receives a line-breaking pass from Colwill. The playmaker turns and tries to thread a ball into Joao Pedro’s path. However, the pass is slightly overhit, allowing Mamardashvili to rush off his line and gather.

12:49pm

18 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 0

Liverpool are pressing really well and keep winning possession back. Palmer was lucky to get a free-kick after he was hunted down by Mac Allister in a dangerous area.

12:47pm

14 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 0

Chelsea fans won’t be impressed with their side’s start. The visitors are looking to avoid their seventh straight defeat but alarming bells are already ringing for McFarlane’s men.

12:43pm

11 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 0

Liverpool take a short corner, allowing Szoboszlai to whip a cross into the box. Van Dijk loses Fernandez at the back post and meets the delivery, but he side-foots an effort over the bar. That was a huge chance for the home side.

12:41pm

8 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 0

Cucurella travels up the wing and delivers a deep cross towards the back post. Gusto reaches it and knocks the ball across the six-yard box. Joao Pedro challenges for it, but he’s beaten to the ball by Van Dijk, who excellently reacts to stop the striker from nudging in from close range.

12:37pm

GOAL! Gravenberch whips a beauty into the top corner

Caicedo bumps into Kerkez, gifting Liverpool a free-kick in a dangerous area, but Szoboszlai smashes a long-range effort straight into the wall. The hosts recycle the ball well as Nguomha feeds Gravenberch. The midfielder takes a touch before a curling a gorgeous effort into the top corner from the edge of the area. What a disastrous start for Chelsea.

A quite beautiful goal from Ryan Gravenberch has set Liverpool on their way and enabled The Kop to burst into life with the chant, which goes back to the days of Rafa Benitez and Jose Mourinho being at loggerheads, about Chelsea having no history. What would be more helpful for the home crowd today is Chelsea not to be given any chances in this game. Liverpool haven’t gone through the gears against anyone this season. It’s about time they did.

12:34pm

3 min: Liverpool 0 Chelsea 0

Cucurella, who looks to be playing in a more advanced role, takes a quick throw in and finds Joao Pedro. The Chelsea forward swivels and shoots, but drags an effort wide. Since that half chance, both teams have popping the ball around the defence, with the game being played at a relatively leisurely pace so far.

12:30pm

Kick-off

Palmer gets us under way at Anfield.

12:28pm

The players emerge from the tunnel

Van Dijk and Fernandez lead their sides out onto the pitch at a sun-soaked Anfield, with kick-off just minutes away.

12:22pm

A shocking statistic for both clubs

12:21pm

Virgil van Dijk reaches an impressive milestone

12:17pm

Chelsea also out for their warm-up

Enzo Fernandez needs to step up if Chelsea are to leave Anfield with a result - Carl Recine/Getty Images Europe

Chelsea players are getting ready for this mouthwatering clash against Liverpool - Chelsea Football Club/Chelsea FC

12:10pm

Arne Slot’s pre-match words

12:03pm

Liverpool emerge for their warm-up

12:01pm

Massive day for Levi Colwill

The centre-back is starting a Chelsea game for the first time since the dominant 3-0 victory in the Club World Cup final against Paris Saint-Germain back in July 2025.

11:56am

An explanation for Florian Wirtz’s absence

11:55am

Chelsea’s winger crisis

Alejandro Garnacho, Pedro Neto, Estevao, Jamie Gittens and Jesse Derry are all missing with injuries, leaving Chelsea short of numbers in attacking areas. This has forced Calum McFarlane into a change of shape, with Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez starting as the two playmakers behind Joao Pedro up top. Malo Gusto and Marc Cucurella will provide the width from their wing-back positions.

Chelsea’s injuries have prompted Calum McFarlane to name a rotated line-up - Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC

11:46am

Calum McFarlane’s pre-match thoughts

11:45am

Oliver Brown’s scathing view of BlueCo

Following that horrendous defeat to Nottingham Forest, our Chief Sports Writer Oliver Brown analysed BlueCo’s failings:

“Little crystallised the dysfunction at Chelsea quite like the sight of João Pedro scoring a goal-of-the-season contender, a bicycle kick struck with raw venom, just when Stamford Bridge had all but emptied. Barely credibly, it was their first goal in the Premier League since March 4, but still it changed nothing. A midfield that had cost more than £250m to create was still dismantled by Ryan Yates and Nicolás Domínguez in a heavily rotated Nottingham Forest line-up. A glance at the table confirmed the awful truth for this cluelessly run club: zero points in two months, and not a single home win in the league since January. Around £1.9bn has been spent in transfer fees since BlueCo’s arrival; rarely, if ever, has so much added up to so little.”

You can read Oliver’s article in full here.

11:37am

Florian Wirtz is absent

No Florian Wirtz in the squad raises an eyebrow. He missed training on Wednesday as he was ill and Liverpool were hoping he would train on Friday but his absence indicates he has not recovered.

11:33am

The teams in full

Liverpool: Mamardashvili, Jones, Konate, van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Frimpong, Szoboszlai, Ngumoha, Gakpo.

Subs: Woodman, Gomez, Isak, Chiesa, Robertson, Nyoni, Morrison, Ndiaye, Wright.

Chelsea: Jorgensen, Colwill, Fofana, Hato, Gusto, Santos, Caicedo, Cucurella, Palmer, Fernandez, Joao Pedro.

Subs: Slonina, Adarabioyo, Delap, Chalobah, James, Acheampong, Lavia, Kavuma-McQueen, Eboue.

Referee: Craig Pawson

11:18am

Chelsea team news

Chelsea make five changes from the loss to Nottingham Forest, with Levi Colwill coming in for his first start of the season following a lengthy knee injury. Calum McFarlane looks to have shifted to a back five as Wesley Fofana and Jorrel Hato also start. The other alterations see Filip Jorgensen and Andrey Santos begin the contest.

11:17am

Liverpool team news

Arne Slot has made three alterations to the Liverpool side which narrowly lost at Old Trafford last weekend. Giorgi Mamardashvili, Milos Kerkez and Rio Ngumoha all come into the line-up. Mo Salah and Florian Wirtz are absent, while Alexander Isak returns to the squad and takes a place on the bench.

11:10am

Today’s setting

11:03am

The underachievers

Good morning and welcome to our live blog for this Premier League encounter between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield.

Liverpool’s miserable season was compounded by a defeat to bitter rivals Manchester United in their previous top-flight outing last weekend at Old Trafford. The reigning Premier League champions started woefully, allowing United to score inside the opening 14 minutes.

Arne Slot’s side rallied at the beginning of the second half as Dominik Szoboszlai’s composed finish and Senne Lammens’ calamitous error, which gifted a goal to Cody Gakpo, pulled the scoreline back to 2-2. However, Kobbie Mainoo’s late strike won the match for the hosts, leaving everyone to question Slot’s credentials and the team’s hunger. Liverpool look like a shadow of the side that hammered United 5-0, 4-0 and 7-0 over an 18-month period under Jurgen Klopp.

With just three games of the campaign remaining, Liverpool are fourth, six points ahead of sixth-place Bournemouth, meaning that Champions League football is practically confirmed for next season. However, there is no hiding for this underperforming squad, who have abysmally defended their Premier League title.

The comforting news for Liverpool is that today’s opponents are in a far deeper crisis. On Bank Holiday Monday, Chelsea crashed to a dismal 3-1 loss against a second-string Nottingham Forest side. A run of six consecutive Premier League defeats has left Chelsea floundering in ninth and in serious danger of missing out on European football altogether next season.

On and off the pitch, Chelsea look disjointed, with fans turning on BlueCo and questioning the club’s direction. Against Leeds United in their FA Cup semi-final, Chelsea’s players looked motivated and fought hard to claim an important 1-0 victory. But all the goodwill generated from that Wembley display has evaporated, following that inexcusable display against Forest.

If their disastrous form continues, Chelsea could be set to finish outside the top 10 in the Premier League for the second time in four seasons since BlueCo took control in 2022. Calum McFarlane’s men are clinging onto the possibility of bringing an FA Cup trophy back to Stamford Bridge, if they can overcome Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, but ultimately, that would only be a small consolation for a club in real turmoil.

Both sides have endured torrid seasons, falling well below expectations. The battle of the underachievers kicks off at 12.30, with team news coming shortly.

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