Chelsea vs Liverpool live updates: Disasi goal cancels Diaz opener ...
Chelsea are taking on Liverpool in their Premier League opener at Stamford Bridge. The score is currently level 1-1 at half-time.
Michael Dominski & The Athletic FC panel
August 13, 2023 at 12:28 PM EDT
(Photo: Getty Images)
Key events:
18': Luis Diaz opens the scoring for Liverpool, converting a great early cross from Salah. 29': Mohamed Salah appears to have doubled Liverpool's lead, but the goal is ruled out for offside. 37': Axel Disasi equalises for Chelsea from point-blank range.39': Ben Chilwell appears to have given Chelsea the lead just two minutes after they equalise, but he's offside.Starting line-ups:
Chelsea XI: Sanchez, Disasi, Silva, Colwill, James, Fernandez, Gallagher, Chukwuemeka, Chilwell, Sterling, Jackson Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Gakpo, Diaz, Salah, JotaPochettino's game plan has underlined the absence of a player like Moises Caicedo, the lack of a true No 6.
Gallagher hasn't done badly but he's been left isolated by Enzo moving ahead of him at times, and Liverpool are making a big effort to try to turn him over in Chelsea's defensive third.
Stats show that a high percentage of goals are scored within five minutes of a previous goal, so in my day we deliberately delayed the restart as long as possible.
This sometimes included getting the ball and whacking it into the River Wandle behind the goal at Plough Lane!
An excellent first half of Premier League football!
A goal and a disallowed goal for each team, all to play for in the second half!
45+6' Chelsea 1-1 Liverpool
Jota stayed down and needed treatment from the Liverpool trainers a few minutes ago after a rough collision with Colwill.
It was a robust challenge and follow-through. Those are not easy to walk off because the bone will be really sore and hard to calm down.
45+4' Chelsea 1-1 Liverpool
Liverpool need to get a two-man midfield block in front of their back four, who seem so vulnerable.
Although 4-4-2 is now derided as old school, within it you can solve all the problems Liverpool are now facing.
45+3' Chelsea 1-1 Liverpool
Chelsea will go into half-time the happier of the teams I would say now. They probably don’t want half-time to come, in fact.
Whereas for Liverpool, it's been such a change of momentum after the goal.
45+1' Chelsea 1-1 Liverpool
Six minutes of stoppage time are added on.
Jackson had a great opportunity to give Chelsea the lead for real a few minutes ago, but fired his snap-shot over the crossbar.
He’s got to at least test the keeper there. Lovely ball but he was leaning back. Get your body over the ball and wrap your foot around it!
45' Chelsea 1-1 Liverpool
This is in keeping with Liverpool throughout pre-season — really dangerous going forward, but so vulnerable at times defensively.
They just didn't react quickly enough to the danger for Disasi's equaliser and then a massive let-off with the disallowed goal after Chilwell exploited that space between Konate and Alexander-Arnold.
After a commanding start, Liverpool have had a torrid 10 minutes.
42' Chelsea 1-1 Liverpool
Liverpool switched off on Disasi's equaliser. It almost feels like Alisson rushed out too quickly and nearly went past the ball. He needs to stay up and stay big, make it hard for the Chelsea defender. But he went down too early.
VAR comes to the rescue for them though, ruling out Chilwell's go-ahead goal. Liverpool need to regroup.
40' Chelsea 1-1 Liverpool
Chilwell was indeed offside, and we remain on level terms.
39' Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool
Chelsea have turned it round just like that! What a two minutes for Chilwell, as after his assist he takes a through ball and coolly walks around Alisson to finish into an open net.
But VAR is having a look again, he may have been offside.
37' Chelsea 1-1 Liverpool
A great header from Chilwell lands in the perfect spot for Disasi to poke home from point-blank range! A goal on his debut!
35' Chelsea 0-1 Liverpool
Lucky Chelsea. They need to switch on, Liverpool are finding so many gaps in between Chelsea’s defence, recording 5 shots already in the opening 35 minutes.
They need to tighten up a little bit more defensively and their wing-backs need to help out when the team is out of possession a little bit more.
33' Chelsea 0-1 Liverpool
Liverpool’s midfield control has been wonderful to watch. They have used Mac Allister perfectly as the deepest midfielder — on this occasion he receives from right centre-back Konate — to then play into Alexander-Arnold, who can face forward. This is particularly effective given the full-back’s scanning/vision issues.
Salah's goal doesn't stand, but Liverpool are dissecting Chelsea’s midfield in numerous ways: round, through and over.
32' Chelsea 0-1 Liverpool
Jota and Fernandez get into it after a rough collision, and each talk themselves into a yellow card.
31' Chelsea 0-1 Liverpool
VAR has ruled out the goal! Colwill nearly kept Salah onside but is spared his blushes.
29' Chelsea 0-2 Liverpool
Salah breaks free on goal and makes it look so easy as he beats Sanchez to double Liverpool's lead!
VAR is taking a look...
(Photo: Getty Images)
27' Chelsea 0-1 Liverpool
Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly is at the ground. Just like for much of last season, the TV cameras have picked him out looking a tad disappointed at what he's seeing.
26' Chelsea 0-1 Liverpool
The problem with having defenders, such as Van Dijk and James, and keepers as captains is they tend to be at fault for goals.
During the course of a season this can undermine them if they are not extra-strong characters.
