Slot reacts to booing from Liverpool fans
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“That’s probably got something to do with us not winning. It completely makes sense, people are disappointed if Liverpool don’t win.”
Cucurella reacts
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“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.”
Fofana reacts
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“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.”
What’s next for Chelsea and Liverpool?
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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.
FT: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1
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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.
90+6 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1
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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.
90+4 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1
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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.
90+3 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1
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You can see why both of these clubs have struggled this season. The game has been extremely chaotic at points.
90 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1
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There will be seven minutes of added time. Can either side find a late winner?
89 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1
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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.
86 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1
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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.
83 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1
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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.
79 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1
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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.
76 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1
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Slot makes a double change with Chiesa and Gomez replacing Gakpo and Konate.
76 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1
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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.
75 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1
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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.
73 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1
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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.
71 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1
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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.
67 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1
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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.
65 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1
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Both sides thought they had taken the lead in the second half, only to have the goal ruled out for offside.
63 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1
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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.
60 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1
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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.
NO GOAL! Liverpool now have a goal disallowed for offside
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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.
57 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1
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This game is really starting to open up. It’s becoming a real end-to-end battle.
54 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1
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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.
52 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1
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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.
NO GOAL! Palmer’s strike is ruled out
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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!
46 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1
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We are back under way for the second half. Can Chelsea pick up where they left off or will Liverpool wrestle back the momentum?
Lacklustre Liverpool
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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.
Unhappy Liverpool fans
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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.
HT: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1
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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.
45 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1
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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.
43 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1
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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.
41 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1
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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.
39 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1
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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.
GOAL! Chelsea are level in bizarre circumstances
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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.
31 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 0
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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.
30 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 0
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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.
28 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 0
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Cucurella is released behind the Liverpool defence and, from a tight angle, he forces a save from Mamardashvili with a low, driven effort.
25 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 0
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23 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 0
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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.
20 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 0
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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.
18 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 0
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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.
14 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 0
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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.
11 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 0
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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.
8 min: Liverpool 1 Chelsea 0
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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.
GOAL! Gravenberch whips a beauty into the top corner
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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.
3 min: Liverpool 0 Chelsea 0
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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.
The players emerge from the tunnel
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Van Dijk and Fernandez lead their sides out onto the pitch at a sun-soaked Anfield, with kick-off just minutes away.
Virgil van Dijk reaches an impressive milestone
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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 9, 2026Virgil van Dijk is starting his 40th straight game for Liverpool across all competitions 👏
Aged 34 years and 305 days old, he is the fourth-oldest outfield player to achieve this for Liverpool
Chelsea also out for their warm-up
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Massive day for Levi Colwill
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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.
An explanation for Florian Wirtz’s absence
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Arne Slot confirmed Florian Wirtz was ruled out of Liverpool's meeting with Chelsea today due to illness.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 9, 2026
Chelsea’s winger crisis
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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.
Oliver Brown’s scathing view of BlueCo
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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.”
Florian Wirtz is absent
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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.
The teams in full
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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
Chelsea team news
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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.
Liverpool team news
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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.
The underachievers
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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.