Photo credit: Courtesy of Sports Vision
This is a game where the home team's
Chelsea
Lined up in 352 with Fofana, Koulibaly, Cucurella at fullback, James, Chilwell on both sides, Kovacic, Enzo Fernandez, Kante in midfield, and Havertz, Félix, in the forward line.
Liverpool (England)
Instead, it's 433, with Matip, Konate, Gomez, and Tsimikas in defense, Henderson, Fabinho, and Jones in midfield, and Firmino, Jota, and Darwin Núñez in the forward line.
(Both teams start)
The two teams started off right away playing high-speed offense against each other, with Kante returning to play against the
Chelsea
For that matter, it's a big plus, and his ability to defend in the middle of the field is crucial.
Liverpool (England)
Putting away the two starting wingbacks has more or less affected the defense.
Chelsea
Started off with some great chances thanks to the charging ability of Havertz and Félix, but Matip and Konate were in good shape as well, both clearing the ball at the last minute
Liverpool (England)
There's also some chance that relying on Darwin Núñez's speed does wreak havoc, however
Chelsea
Instead of applying a forward press, the heavy forces were concentrated in the middle of the field, so that the
Liverpool (England)
The midfield has been forced to play fewer forward passes, and the chances of the forward line getting the ball are skewed more towards the wings than the center of the field
Late in the first half it was clear that
Chelsea
Comparatively dominant in the midfield section where they not only intercepted a number of passes, but importantly were able to keep delivering them forward, with Kante also pressing forward to increase the number of passing points.
Liverpool (England)
The two wings of the team were obviously having a hard time, and the more the latter part of the game went on, the more the team was able to play.
Liverpool (England)
It becomes a direct hit long pass trying to get to the front line to the striker, but
Chelsea
The defense did a solid job of sorts, with both Jota and Firmino struggling to get into the box or get cleared when they got the ball on the perimeter, instead of
Chelsea
Direct edge-splitting can often produce large space
At the start of the second half.
Liverpool (England)
The back line was shaky as their midfield tried to press up and attack, resulting in a weak back line, and Kovacic and Havertz each scored after the first five minutes.
Liverpool (England)
Next up, specialize in the left side, which is
Chelsea
on the right side of the field, where Darwin Núñez had multiple chances with the ball, but
Chelsea
The defense was so tight that he couldn't pass into the middle, and there weren't enough men behind him to follow up, so Darwin Núñez was a one-man army there, and it didn't work out very well.
Liverpool (England)
Salah and Robertson were replaced in the 64th minute, and then
Chelsea
Also replacing Kante with Gallagher.
Liverpool (England)
Trying to force the issue up front, but
Chelsea
The defense is pretty solid and at this point
Liverpool (England)
The line has been stretched, resulting in
Chelsea
Has been able to get the ball upfield quickly on counterattacks, and has had two or three good chances since then.
Liverpool (England)
Continuing to make substitutions, Milner and Gakpo were brought on at the 79:00 mark to intensify the pressure on both the midfield and the frontcourt, and in the final period of the game the scrum was intense, but
Chelsea
Cucurella here is clinging to Salah very tightly, and
Liverpool (England)
of the midfield still felt scattered, with persistent passes that didn't have much effect.
Chelsea
Steady control of the situation until the end of the game, and the two teams ended up with a 0-0 draw
This game is actually
Chelsea
Played better and could see if Kante & Kovacic were in the lineup.
Chelsea
's midfield is pretty solid, EnzoFernandez can also have more space to pass the ball, and Félix has quite a few charging chances if he plays on the counterattack in this format.
Liverpool (England)
With two of the starting wingbacks not playing in this game, the attacking power of the wings was greatly reduced, and with Salah out of the lineup, by the time they were replaced in the second half, the momentum had already gone down to the
Chelsea
One side, now.
Chelsea
With Lampard back as acting manager again, the Blues may be able to do well in the final stage of the season.
