Liverpool and Chelsea played out a thrilling 1-1 draw at Anfield, with Ryan Gravenberch's early strike canceled out by Enzo Fernández's clinical finish as both sides fought hard but neither could find a winner.
Liverpool entered the match sitting fourth in the Premier League with 58 points from 35 games. Chelsea occupied ninth place with 48 points, desperate to climb the table after a poor run of form. Both teams arrived at Anfield looking to secure three points and improve their league positions.
The hosts made an explosive start. Just six minutes into the match, Ryan Gravenberch fired Liverpool ahead with a composed finish. The midfielder's early goal set the tone for an attacking display from Jürgen Klopp's side.
Chelsea responded well to falling behind. The visitors controlled possession and created chances of their own. However, Liverpool's defense held firm during the opening exchanges.
In the 35th minute, Chelsea found their equalizer. Enzo Fernández struck with precision, firing past the Liverpool goalkeeper to level the score. The Chelsea midfielder's clinical finish rewarded his team's patient build-up play.
Both sides went into the half-time break level at 1-1. Liverpool had dominated large periods but failed to extend their lead. Chelsea's response showed character and quality going forward.
The second half saw both teams push for a winner. Liverpool created chances but found Chelsea's defense resolute. Chances remained limited as both goalkeepers made important saves when called upon.
Chelsea's discipline began to slip as the match progressed. Between the 67th and 89th minutes, the visitors received five yellow cards. Jhon Hato, Curtis McFarlane, Fernández, Moisés Caicedo, and Marcos Cucurella all received cautions.
Liverpool also picked up yellow cards late on. Joe Gomez saw yellow in the 88th minute, with Alexis Mac Allister following suit in the fourth minute of added time. The final stages grew increasingly heated.
The statistics reflected a closely contested encounter. Liverpool managed 8 total shots with 3 on target, while Chelsea recorded 6 shots with 3 on target. Possession was split nearly evenly, with Chelsea holding 51 percent to Liverpool's 49 percent. Expected goals favored neither side significantly, with Liverpool at 0.51 and Chelsea at 0.47.
Gravenberch earned a rating of 7.9 for his goal-scoring performance. Caicedo impressed for Chelsea with a 7.5 rating despite the draw, while Fernández's 7.2 rating reflected his important equalizer.
The draw leaves Liverpool fourth with 59 points from 36 games. Chelsea remains ninth with 49 points. Both teams will view this result differently, with Liverpool dropping points at home and Chelsea taking a positive away result.
