An uninspiring 0-0 stalemate between Liverpool and Chelsea on Saturday did little to help either team’s hopes of finishing in the top four of the Premier League, while Everton was forced closer to relegation by a 2-0 loss at West Ham. Both teams were unable to break the tie at Anfield, staying firmly planted in the middle of the league in a rematch of last season’s League and FA Cup finals, which Liverpool won on penalties following goalless draws.
Both teams are nine points out of the top four, and should Newcastle defeat Crystal Palace later, they might fall much further behind. Early on, Chelsea did have the ball in the net, but a VAR review determined that Kai Havertz’s goal was offside. Mykhailo Mudryk, a new 100 million euro signing for the visitors, came off the bench to start the second half and his shot into the side-netting was as near to a game-winning goal as any. If there had been an excessive number of matches that were similar in the previous 999, Jurgen Klopp said he might not have managed to reach 1,000 games in his management career. However, he was happy to record his first clean sheet in the Premier League since October.
“I’m okay with 0-0 because you have to accept these steps,” said Klopp. The impact of Sadio Mane’s transfer to Bayern Munich has been enormous, and it has been made worse by a number of front-line injuries, including those to Roberto Firmino, Diogo Jota, and Luis Diaz. Darwin Nunez, Mane’s successor, has struggled in his debut season of English football, and Cody Gakpo, a January addition, will also require some adjustment time. Another notable injury absentee is Virgil van Dijk, and Klopp’s ageing midfield appears in need of an upgrade.
Jude Bellingham of England is largely seen as a dream addition. Given that Manchester United and Newcastle have surpassed Liverpool in the league, Liverpool’s best chances of winning a trophy this season are still the FA Cup and the Champions League. Those clubs appear to be capable of placing in the top four or perhaps higher. TDG NETWORK NEW DELHI C
