There may have been nothing on the line but pride, but any match with Liverpool and Chelsea is always enough to stir emotions by the supporters at the very least. The game opened up well. There was great offensive play in the box for Liverpool in the 5th minute, but it ended with a Coutinho shot blocked from about nine yards out. Liverpool came up with many opportunities going forward, but couldn't get much in the way of actual chances on net out of their possession in the first 20 minutes.
Chelsea had it's moments as well. Simon Mignolet was forced into a good save to his left in the 22nd minute, proving that even a wounded animal can still be dangerous. They seemed more than willing to absorb Liverpool's pressure and counter when given the chance.
Conversely, Liverpool's offense seemed poised to strike, but would flounder at the strangest of times. Adam Lallana flubbed a breakaway chance off his heel and instead of going wide to Sturridge, took a wasteful shot right into the defender about half an hour in.
It would prove to be rueful misses since Chelsea would be the first to score. Suddenly in form, Eden Hazard took on almost the entirety of the Liverpool defense and somehow won. He cut through about three or four defenders, slotted a shot to the right that pierced the defense and got past a diving Mignolet. 1-0 to the visitors, whose fans failed to live up to their claims of walking out in the 26th minute to honor John Terry.
The goal seemed to fluster the Reds. Both the fans and the players on the team seemed to grow anxious and unsure. That was exemplified in the 39th minute when Traore almost scored. Mignolet came out to claim a loose ball in the box and probably could have reached it if he kept going. Unsure of it though, he retreated and ended up in no-man's land and was fortunately not made to pay for it.
Frustrations seemed to linger and grow as the first half went on. Coutinho was upset when a foul was called on him against Hazard. The same could be said of Emre Can, who picked up a yellow card for a swipe at best and a trip at worst on the same player in the 44th minute. It seemed as though Liverpool needed the halftime whistle to go, hoping to only concede the one goal.
The Reds got a good chance right before the half from a free kick. James Milner put it toward the back post and while Begovic cleared it, Can took a drive that was blocked. It was much ado about nothing for Liverpool. In somewhat typical league fashion, they dominated possession (though stats said it was 52/48), pinged passes around as though they were playing against a Championship side and then got scored on.
Ten minutes in, Chelsea had another good shot that force Mignolet to ground. He spilled a rebound from the Hazard shot, but was quick to pounce on it.
Liverpool finally got on the front foot about 15 minutes into the half. Sturridge got a good right foot into a shot from close range, but put it right into Begovic. Moments later, Kolo Toure got a lame head onto a cross that was easily grabbed by the keeper.
The Reds seemed to need about 10 minutes for every flurry to come. They had another one in the 71st minute. This time Lallana stretched to get a foot on a Moreno cross, but Begovic was right there again. Nathaniel Clyne poked one back into the box, but too far for Sturridge to deflect.
Traore almost scored himself on Chelsea's counter. Mignolet came up strong down low for the third or fourth time in the game. It seemed as though the entire game would flow Liverpool's way with no success only to see Chelsea go the other way and create.
That almost came true in the 89th minute. Liverpool were again putting pressure on. Having just checked in, Sheyi Ojo almost scored immediately. Instead the ball would end up going the other way after a bit more Liverpool possession and another breakaway shot from Pedro stopped by Mignolet.
Nearly at the death, Liverpool finally got their just rewards. Ojo sent in a dangerous ball, that could have been a shot or cross. Regardless, Begovic was tested by it. He got a palm to it, but deflected it right to Benteke who just chested it into the net.
That goal would be the final score of the game. It was a proper end really since Liverpool had done the most throughout the game. Clearly fans of Chelsea won't see it that way as they wasted a few chances and were stopped by Mignolet each time. Given the flow of the game though, Liverpool deserved some sort of point and were lucky to get it.
Random Thoughts:
- Liverpool extended their 12 match unbeaten streak at home to 13. Perhaps deserve was too strong of a word, but Liverpool got the point which is good.
- It was just one of those contests that was a perfect example of Liverpool's league season. They have played well and not gotten rewarded at times and have gotten rewarded when it seemed they should not have.
- It was nice to see Benteke score the goal. He has been unfairly lumped in with Mario Balotelli in terms of being a failure at Anfield. While the results in terms of goals have been a bit similar, Benteke has had a much better attitude and if he can keep fit could still flourish under Jurgen Klopp.
- It would have been quite disappointing to drop a game to Chelsea even though the season is basically lost for both sides. Liverpool are trying to keep European hopes alive just in case they fail to win in Basel, but should have had a stronger performance in terms of finishing regardless.
- The announcers kept saying this game and the final one on Sunday mean very little in terms of Liverpool's hopes of winning the Europa title. I think that is true, but it still makes little sense for us supporters as to why the team can play so well and fight so hard in the tournament and come out a bit flat overall in the league.
Walk On
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