Liverpool, Chelsea (foto: Getty Images)
Chelsea ended their long run of Premier League defeats at Anfield after fighting back for a dramatic draw against Liverpool in a heated derby.
Chelsea finally ended their miserable run at Anfield after earning a hard-fought draw against Liverpool in a dramatic and emotionally charged Premier League derby.
The London side arrived on Merseyside after suffering six consecutive league defeats away to Liverpool, but this time they managed to leave with a valuable point and renewed hope in the race for European qualification.
The match exploded into life almost immediately.
Ryan Gravenberch produced a stunning moment of quality in the sixth minute to give Liverpool the lead.
The Dutch midfielder received the ball outside the penalty area and unleashed a superb strike into the corner of the net, leaving Chelsea goalkeeper helpless and sending Anfield into celebration.
It looked like Liverpool were ready to dominate once again, but Chelsea responded well after the difficult start.
The equalizer arrived through an unusual free-kick routine from Enzo Fernandez.
The Argentine midfielder shaped his body as if preparing to cross the ball into the penalty area, and Liverpool’s defensive line reacted exactly as expected.
Instead of delivering the cross, Enzo played a low effort directly toward the goal. The ball rolled through the crowded area and slipped past the goalkeeper for 1:1.
The tension continued to rise throughout the match.
Both teams had goals disallowed during a chaotic first half.
Cole Palmer thought he had restored Chelsea’s lead, but VAR ruled the goal out because Marc Cucurella was offside earlier in the move.
On the other side, Curtis Jones found the net with a powerful header, only for Liverpool’s celebrations to be cut short by another offside decision.
The atmosphere at Anfield became increasingly intense as both teams pushed for victory.
Liverpool came painfully close late in the match when Virgil van Dijk struck the crossbar after a dangerous attack inside the penalty area.
The home side also appealed strongly for a penalty shortly afterward, but the referee decided against awarding a spot-kick.
There was more controversy in the 89th minute when Chelsea demanded a penalty at the other end following a tense incident in the box.
After a lengthy VAR review, the referee once again decided not to change the original decision.
Seven minutes of stoppage time followed, but neither side managed to find a winning goal.
The final result leaves Chelsea still fighting for a European place heading into the final stretch of the season.
The Blues remain dependent not only on their own results, but also on mistakes from direct rivals in the race for continental qualification.