LONDON — Chelsea got here from behind to earn a 1-1 draw towards Liverpool on Sunday in a Premier League opener that confirmed the Blues have already made progress below new supervisor Mauricio Pochettino.
In the marquee matchup of the Premier League’s opening spherical, Luis Diaz put Liverpool forward after a lightning counterattack within the 18th minute and defender Axel Disasi marked his Chelsea debut by scoring the equalizer from shut vary within the thirty seventh.
Both groups additionally had targets disallowed by VAR checks in an open and chance-filled first half that highlighted simply why the 2 rivals try to spend greater than 110 million kilos ($140 million) on bringing in defensive midfielder Moises Caicedo from Brighton.
Caicedo has reportedly chosen to hitch Chelsea over Liverpool, which may show a extra necessary consequence than the draw because it was evident that each side badly want a ball-winning midfielder of the Ecuadorian’s caliber.
Chelsea already seemed a special staff below Pochettino, although, taking part in with a stage of depth not often seen at Stamford Bridge final season, when the membership went by means of three managers.
The hosts dominated possession and pegged Liverpool again for giant elements of the sport, though new striker Nicolas Jackson struggled to get entangled.
PHOTOS: Chelsea attracts 1-1 with Liverpool in high-octane Premier League opener
His finest likelihood got here within the 71st when he burst by means of on purpose however had his shot saved by Alisson Becker.
Meanwhile, Liverpool’s new-look midfield with summer time signings Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai struggled to regulate the sport, displaying that Jurgen Klopp’s staff would possibly miss the expertise of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson.
Chelsea all the time seemed susceptible to counterattacks, although, and Mohamed Salah had already hit the crossbar by the point Liverpool took the lead.
Salah burst ahead and squared the ball for Diaz to slip in and sidefoot residence previous new Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
Salah thought he had doubled the lead with a medical end within the twenty ninth, however replays confirmed he was simply offside when making his run into the world.
Instead, Chelsea drew stage by means of an unlikely supply. After Liverpool had cleared the ball twice following a nook, it was headed straight again into the world by Ben Chilwell, the place Disasi was left alone to poke the ball previous Alisson.
Chelsea then thought it had taken the lead simply minutes later, however this time it was Chilwell who was narrowly offside when he was performed by means of on purpose.
Liverpool substitute Darwin Nunez got here the closest to a late winner, when his long-range strike in damage time was deflected narrowly large for a nook.
That nook solely led to a dangerous-looking counter for Chelsea, however substitute Mykhailo Mudryk couldn’t management the ball after rounding Alisson.
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