The Reds
defend top spot in the most evenly matched Big Six clash in recent times. Seven
draws have been played between the Merseyside side and Chelsea, including the
EFL Cup and FA Cup finals of the 2021-22 season, both won by Liverpool on
penalties.
17 points
separate Liverpool and
Chelsea in a Premier League in which the Blues have not been performing
really well. Mauricio Pochettino's side seem to be gradually getting to
grips with the Argentinian's methods and, in fact, go into this clash with
a better record over the last five games (12 points) than Jürgen Klopp's side
(11). However, as is always the case in these top rivalry clashes, the
forces are equalised to the maximum during the 90 minutes and it matters
little or nothing how each side is performing during the course of the season.
This is
evident from the most recent meetings between the two sides. Since March 2021,
neither club has been able to beat the other and they have played out 7
consecutive draws, including 2 finals. This run of draws began on 28th August
2021, on Matchday 3 two seasons ago. It was a 1-1 draw at Anfield, with
goals from Salah (p) and Havertz.
Still in
that 2021-22 campaign, the Reds and Blues would meet three more times. At
Stamford Bridge, on Matchday 21st, Tuchel's side drew 2-2 in a
frenetic first half after early goals from Sadio Mané and Salah. Before going
to the showers, the Londoners drew level with goals from Kovacic and
Pulisic.
Then came,
in a matter of less than two months, the aforementioned EFL Cup and FA Cup
finals. Both the League Cup, which will be repeated at the end of
February, and the oldest tournament in English football ended goalless and
Liverpool won both titles on penalties.
No goals
were scored at either Anfield (21st January 2023, matchday 21) or
Stamford Bridge (8th April 2023, but matchday 8) in the 2022-23 season,
meaning that, until the 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge on 13th August, Chelsea and
Liverpool had gone more than 360 minutes without scoring
a goal in succession. On Matchday 1st of the current campaign, Luis Diaz made it 1-0 and Axel Disasi equalised in the first
half.
To find
the last winner of this duel you have to go back to March 2021, when Chelsea
won at Anfield, where they play on Tuesday. A 1-0 goal from Mason
Mount was enough for Tuchel's men to emerge triumphant from the Reds'
stadium in a season in which they would later go on to win the Champions
League.
Things
have changed a lot since then and now it is Liverpool who have every
chance of winning this fixture. Klopp's side, who will leave at the end of
the season, are solidly in the lead and will be looking to keep Arsenal and
Manchester City, their closest challengers until matchday 22, at bay.
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