Chelsea 1-1 Liverpool: Hits and Flops from the game

Liverpool salvaged a crucial point right at the end
Liverpool salvaged a crucial point right at the end

Justice was finally served at the end of full-time after what was an enthralling game of football as Chelsea and Liverpool locked horns at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. The two teams, who are yet to taste defeat in the Premier League this season, played out an entertaining 1-1 draw in west London courtesy of goals from Eden Hazard and Daniel Sturridge.

The Blues started brightly and dominated possession before breaking the deadlock through Hazard, who made a driving run into the penalty area when he was played through on goal by Mateo Kovacic, to make it two goals in the space of three days against the visitors for him.

Chelsea were slowly hitting top gear and were arguably the better of the two sides at half-time. However, Jurgen Klopp's men responded positively in the second half and were persistent in their efforts to try and restore parity between both sides. The Reds came close on a number of occasions with the biggest opportunity falling to second-half substitute Xherdan Shaqiri, who failed to score from close range after getting on the end of a delightful cross from Andrew Robertson.

Former Chelsea man Sturridge came off the bench later in the second half to dispatch an unstoppable curling effort from outside the area that preserved Liverpool's unbeaten start to the season, calling it curtains on what became a memorable game at Stamford Bridge.

The result meant that Manchester City, who won against Brighton and Hove Albion earlier in the day, are now leading the pack ahead of Liverpool on goal difference with 19 points while Chelsea are third after failing to win successive Premier League games. On that note, let's take a closer look at the best and worst performers from the game:


#5 Hit - Daniel Sturridge

Sturridge scored an outrageous goal for Liverpool
Sturridge scored an outrageous goal for Liverpool

Despite only being on the pitch for a few minutes at the end, Daniel Sturridge deserves to be on the list for producing an absolutely mind-blowing finish that helped Liverpool earn a crucial point away from home. The former Chelsea striker replaced James Milner in the 86th minute, when he was introduced by Jurgen Klopp as a last roll of the dice, and repaid the manager handsomely for the faith shown in him.

The Englishman picked the ball up outside the area and checked on Kepa Arrizabalaga, who was marginally outside of his line, before sending an unstoppable curling effort from 25-yards out that caught everyone by surprise to help the visitors preserve their unbeaten start to the season. The 29-year-old had scored during Liverpool's 2-1 loss at Anfield to Chelsea on Wednesday in the League Cup and backed up that goal with yet another one, this time quite outrageous, on the night.

Sturridge could well become a lethal option to have from the bench if he can remain fit and injury-free over the course of a long season for Liverpool.

#4 Flop - Xherdan Shaqiri

Shaqiri missed a golden opportunity in the second half
Shaqiri missed a golden opportunity in the second half

Liverpool summer signing Xherdan Shaqiri probably missed the biggest chance of the game in the second half when Andrew Robertson found him inside the area with a delightful low cross from the left flank. The full-back took advantage of Cesar Azpilicueta's slip and bombed forward before putting in a low cross into the path of the onrushing Shaqiri, who put it agonizingly wide from close range.

The chance came on his weaker side but surely the winger has enough quality in him to put chances like that away and it was disappointing to see him miss the mark especially considering the fact that Liverpool were still trailing then. Shaqiri was introduced in the 66th minute to replace Mohamed Salah, who equally disappointed, but failed to pick up from where he left off at Anfield when the two sides met during the third round of the League Cup on Wednesday.

The Switzerland international will not forget that glaring miss very easily but the sooner he does it, the better for him and Liverpool.

#3 Hit - Eden Hazard

Hazard continued his sublime start to the season with another goal
Hazard continued his sublime start to the season with another goal

Eden Hazard grabbed his sixth goal of the season when he dispatched a powerful low shot that beat Alisson on his left hand side in the 25th minute to break the deadlock against Liverpool. The Belgian has been in spell-binding form under Maurizio Sarri this season and it seems like he is almost unstoppable when he is in his stride.

The 27-year-old is undoubtedly hitting a purple patch in the new system on offer at Chelsea and could well go on to break a number of personal records considering the fact that he is absolutely crucial to how this team functions under the new manager. With the Blues adopting a free-flowing possession based style of play, it is quite obvious that Hazard will continue to find the back of the net as we move on with the season.

There isn't quite a lot to exemplify him anymore, he has well and truly arrived at the highest level and the early signs under Sarri are so promising that we might even see him give the other marksmen a real run for their money in the race for the Golden Boot.

#2 Flop - Mohamed Salah

Salah did not do himself any favours with that performance
Salah did not do himself any favours with that performance

It is safe to say that Mohamed Salah had a forgetful night against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The Egyptian is yet to hit the heights that made him a household name across Europe last season and the performance against his former club was the perfect testament to his start to the new campaign.

Salah struggled to make the most of the best chances that fell in his path during the first half and was largely a shadow of the player he was with Liverpool last season. The winger failed to capitalize on the openings that came through the inside left channel between David Luiz and Marcos Alonso and was uncharacteristically wasteful with his shots on the night.

The 26-year-old was also the first Liverpool player to be subbed off as Jurgen Klopp grew impatient with his lacklustre showing against his former employers at Stamford Bridge.

#1 Hit - Alisson Becker

Alisson kept Liverpool in the game with a number of decisive saves
Alisson kept Liverpool in the game with a number of decisive saves

Liverpool's multi-million goalkeeper Alisson was at the top of his game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The Brazilian was equal to the task whenever called upon and made a number of crucial saves that would keep Liverpool in the game for long enough to salvage a crucial point in the end.

The Reds shot-stopper made himself big to prevent Willian from scoring after David Luiz had played a stunning lob pass from deep inside his own half to send the winger through on goal. Alisson could do very little to try and prevent Eden Hazard from breaking the deadlock in the 25th minute but he pulled off an impressive save from the Belgian in the second half from a one-on-one situation that popped up after Chelsea took a quick free-kick that caught Liverpool napping and opened up acres of space.

The 25-year-old stood tall to prevent Chelsea from extending their lead while the hosts dominated proceedings and his contributions proved priceless as Liverpool earned a crucial point away from home in the dying embers of the game.

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Edited by Sripad
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