What we learned from Chelsea and Liverpool’s 1-1 opening-weekend draw
With the opening weekend of the Premier League season having been and gone, football fans up and down the country are coming to terms with the early signals from their teams’ first matches. There was plenty of drama and intrigue to kick off the campaign, not least in Chelsea and Liverpool’s clash at Stamford Bridge, where neither side could come up with a winner after the Blues pegged the visitors back to level the scores at 1-1.
It’s an important season for both sides. Chelsea have just appointed Mauricio Pochettino as manager, and after the horrors of last season are looking to restore some semblance of stability. Meanwhile, Liverpool’s own struggles in the 2022-23 campaign mean they too are seeking a return to England’s elite.
With that in mind, here are a few things we learned from the clash between the two sides on the opening weekend, as both teams seek to establish themselves in the Premier League winner odds.
Chelsea are in a season of transition
The only constant at Stamford Bridge in recent times has been chaos. The Blues went through three different managers last season as a season that started off in disappointing fashion spiralled into an all-out catastrophe, with Chelsea ultimately finishing in 13th position.
Pochettino has come in to try and steady the ship and build towards a sustainable future, but with so many incomings and outgoings at the club over the past few transfer windows, it’s going to take time to see consistent results.
There were areas where Chelsea looked excellent against Liverpool, particularly in the attacking performances of their full-backs and in Raheem Sterling’s ability to pick up pockets of space. However, there were some real defensive frailties on show too, suggesting that this season could see mixed results from week to week.
Liverpool need defensive reinforcements
While Liverpool looked scintillating at times going forward, and Luis Diaz’s goal was the result of a glorious team move, there were worrying signs defensively. On too many occasions, Chelsea were able to slice through the Reds at will, and with better decision-making in the final third, the home side could well have picked up all three points.
Liverpool desperately need a specialist defensive midfielder, and if it is to be Southampton’s Romeo Lavia who comes in, one wonders if he has the experience and proven quality needed to take on the responsibility of such a crucial role within the team.
Jurgen Klopp’s side could use another centre-back too. While the partnership between Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate is a quality one, backup options Joel Matip and Joe Gomez do not represent outstanding replacements should Klopp look to rotate.
Nicolas Jackson will get goals for Chelsea
After losing Christopher Nkunku to injury in pre-season, Pochettino will have been encouraged by what he saw from another new striker Nicolas Jackson. The Senegal international was a menacing presence up front throughout the match, and on another day would have bagged a debut goal.
Jackson did squander a couple of presentable chances, but the important thing was getting in those positions in the first place. For a team desperate for goals, there were positive signs from the new signing from Villarreal.
