In the 50,000th top-flight match in English football, Liverpool and Chelsea played out a fast-paced 0-0 draw in a battle of slumping sides, seeing this fixture end in a stalemate on three consecutive occasions for the first time.It was a rip-roaring start for the Blues, who looked to put themselves in front before the three-minute mark when Kai Havertz stabbed home from a corner. However, the German was adjudged to be marginally offside and the goal was chalked off. Chelsea continued to control the tempo throughout the first half, as Liverpool struggled mightily to get into the game. Were the Blues more clinical in front of goal, they would have taken a hefty lead into the break. That was not the case however, and the stalemate at halftime will have left Graham Potter’s men supremely frustrated.FT: Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea 🫥 pic.twitter.com/Tn89CNTMbf— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 21, 2023 While the second period was fast-paced, with both sets of players keen on finding the opening goal, the quality in front of goal was sorely missing. Liverpool enjoyed short spells of second-half dominance, but their frontline looked short of fluidity and it was Chelsea new-boy Mykhailo Mudryk’s introduction just past the hour mark that kick-started the contest, though the scoreline remained untouched.A Trent Alexander-Arnold effort was mis-hit and sliced wide in the final ten minutes, epitomizing the frustration in the final third for both sides on the day. The hosts had a late surge in an effort to snatch the points, but the cool heads of Thiago Silva and César Azpilicueta ushered the Chelsea rearguard over the line with aplomb to secure a hard-fought road point.Madueke at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea spent twice as much as Spanish, German, Italian and French clubs combined in JanuaryDespite failing to impress and pick up all three points, the result ensured Liverpool avoided losing their first three league games in a calendar year for the first time since 1953. However, the Reds could end the round as many as 12 points outside of the top-four.PREMIER LEAGUESaturday Liverpool – Chelsea 0-018.00: (2.80) Bournemouth (3.00) Nott.Forest (2.81)18.00: (3.60) Leicester (3.50) Brighton (2.19)18.00: (2.95) Southampton (3.25) Aston Villa (2.65)18.00: (1.89) West Ham (3.50) Everton (5.00)20.30: (4.50) Crystal Palace (3.50) Newcastle (1.96)Sunday17.00: (2.55) Leeds (3.40) Brentford (3.00)17.00: (1.22) Man.City (6.75) Wolverhampton (14.0)19.30: (1.95) Arsenal (3.60) Man.Utd. (4.20)Monday23.00: (3.35) Fulham (3.50) Tottenham (2.30)***odds are subject to change
