A stubborn and resilient Chelsea held Liverpool to a 1-1 draw at Anfield on Saturday evening, as arguably the two most in form teams in the Premier League went head to head, in what was an interesting and tactically intriguing top of the table clash.

Both sides had their own dominant spells during the first half but the game changed roughly on the 45 minute mark, as Reece James of Chelsea saw red after deliberately handling the ball on the goal line, in a rash attempt to prevent a Sadio Mané goal. It felt as if Liverpool were in the ascendancy after the equaliser and they had to capitalise. Chelsea however were very resilient and exceptionally good at keeping Liverpool at arm’s length for the duration of the 2^nd half. It’s a second half performance that Thomas Tuchel would be extremely happy with, considering the circumstances, the hostile environment and the calibre of opponent.

2 Points Dropped?

Liverpool will most likely have left Anfield pondering what could have been. Jurgen Klopp may likely feel its two points dropped. A win against the European Champions and arguably the side best equipped to dethrone Manchester City this season, would have sent a huge statement to the rest of the Premier League. Going into the second half, a win looked like a foregone conclusion for Liverpool but a combination of lacklustre finishing and a struggle to create enough clear cut chances (mainly due to the exceptional defensive work rate of Chelsea) meant that the Reds couldn’t manage to get over the line.

All in all, it was a frustrating evening on Merseyside as the Reds strived to break down a cohesive Chelsea side. Questions will inevitably be asked about the firepower of the Liverpool attack and whether the club should consider dipping into the transfer market again ahead of Tuesday’s deadline. Perhaps there isn’t full trust in the attacking options on the bench and with Roberto Firmino possibly facing a lengthy spell on the side lines, due to an injury picked up in the game, Liverpool may face the prospect of having to play Mohammed Salah, Sadio Mané and Diogo Jota upfront three times a week in the short term.

Chelsea to Be Taken Seriously

Based on this performance, Chelsea are well and truly in the mix for the title. They have a top manager in Thomas Tuchel and a deep squad full of quality, who have already tasted success and appear hungry for more. They all want to play for the manager and are keen to impress. The addition of Lukaku was a no brainer; they lacked firepower upfront last season and look set to sign Saúl Ñíguez as I write this. That acquisition makes the squad depth that much stronger, a clear signal that Tuchel will unquestionably be looking to compete on all fronts this season.

During the game, Chelsea faced many challenging moments where their backs were against the wall but they mostly overcame these with flying colours. There was a lot to like about the way this determined Chelsea side stood up to the challenges with their spirit of togetherness and sheer grit. It was almost as if everything that was thrown at them they were able to deal with. This is a sign of champions. Their previous wins against Crystal Palace and Arsenal weren’t stern tests and they got over the line without having to shift up a gear. The test at Anfield was, as expected, a harder prospect both physically and mentally and Chelsea will be more than happy with a point however taking into account the incident on half time, it will feel much more like a win. It’s safe to say that Chelsea will be there or thereabouts come May.

Youngster Harvey Elliot Continues to Impress

Clashes against Burnley and then Chelsea on Saturday are early indications that this will be a breakthrough season for Harvey Elliot at Liverpool. The teenager looked both composed and mature beyond his years against Chelsea and the fact that he got the nod ahead of the likes of Thiago and Naby Keita suggests that Jurgen Klopp thinks very highly of him. He combined well with Mohammed Salah and allowed Trent Alexander-Arnold to pick up positions infield in the half spaces where he could have more of an effect on the game. Elliot looks brave in possession and isn’t afraid to try something that perhaps others wouldn’t. He tracked back well and made up for his occasional skewed passes, injecting pace into Liverpool’s attacking play whenever he was on the ball.

There is always a worry that younger players coming up through the ranks lack an identity. They are often coached that intensively that they become just another player in the academy. Elliot is different, he has undoubtedly matured excellently during his loan spell at Blackburn Rovers and also has his own unique individuality which is clear to see on the pitch. He’s an exciting prospect and I’m sure Elliot will make significant progress this season as he looks set to stamp his mark on the Liverpool first team.