Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea Player Ratings: Ryan Gravenberch 8.0/10 Stunning Strike Opens Scoring But Fernandez Freekick Earns Chelsea Dramatic Anfield Draw

Liverpool needed a win to seal Champions League qualification, and for six electric early minutes, Anfield dared to believe it would be straightforward. Ngumoha's jinking run down the left created the opening, and Gravenberch arrived on cue to bend a sublime right-footed effort into the top-right corner from the edge of the box, a goal of genuine quality from a player desperate to make amends after the Old Trafford defeat and one that had the ground rocking with renewed belief.

Chelsea, staring down a seventh consecutive Premier League defeat that would have been only the second time in their history, showed the kind of collective stubbornness that their recent form had rarely suggested they possessed. Fernandez's low free-kick from 35 yards somehow found its way through a crowd of bodies and clipped in off the inside of the left post in the 35th minute, a goal that was as fortunate as it was decisive, and left Mamardashvili standing frozen in a moment of pure disbelief.

The second half was a tense, frenetic affair full of near-misses, VAR disallowing a Chelsea goal for offside, Szoboszlai rattling the left post, and Van Dijk thundering a header off the crossbar, as Liverpool threw everything forward in pursuit of the three points that would guarantee Champions League football, but Chelsea's defensive resilience and the officials' interventions ultimately denied them. Here are Sportsdunia's Liverpool vs Chelsea player ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Gravenberch's stunning early opener was the finest individual moment of the entire match, a perfectly struck curling effort from the edge of the box that showcased exactly the kind of quality and confidence that had been missing from Liverpool's midfield display in their defeat to Manchester United just days earlier.
• Fernandez's freakish 35-yard free-kick was one of the most fortunate goals seen at Anfield this season, finding the corner through a crowd of bodies with a combination of accuracy and deflection that gave Mamardashvili absolutely no chance and denied Liverpool the first-half cushion their performance had deserved.
• Liverpool's failure to convert a series of second-half opportunities, Szoboszlai's post, Van Dijk's crossbar, and a VAR-disallowed Jones header meant Champions League qualification would have to wait for another day, extending a season of near-misses that has defined an inconsistent and ultimately underwhelming Liverpool campaign.

Liverpool Player Ratings vs Chelsea

Here are the Liverpool player ratings vs Chelsea.

Goalkeeper

Giorgi Mamardashvili - 6.5: Had a relatively steady game between the sticks. He made a couple of important saves inside the box and was proactive, coming off his line to claim the ball. Couldn't do much about the goal he conceded. His distribution was a bit hit-and-miss, but overall, a decent showing. We noticed his confidence grew as the game went on.

Defenders

Virgil van Dijk - 6.5: A solid but ultimately frustrating evening for the captain. He was his usual commanding self for the most part, with a 91% pass accuracy. Was so unlucky to see his late header crash off the post, which would have won the game. Defensively sound, but that missed big chance and hitting the woodwork will sting.

Ibrahima Konaté - 6.0: A mixed bag from the big Frenchman before being substituted. He was strong in the air, winning most of his aerial duels. However, he looked a little less assured on the ball than his partner, losing possession a few times. He made a crucial interception but wasn't at his dominant best.

Milos Kerkez - 6.0: A busy afternoon for the full-back. He was energetic and drew four fouls, showing his willingness to get forward and take players on. His final ball was lacking at times, though he did provide one accurate cross. Defensively, he held his own but was part of a backline that conceded.

Curtis Jones - 7.0: Deployed in a deeper role, he was excellent on the ball. He completed 92% of his passes and was constantly looking to progress the play. What stood out to us was his composure and press resistance. He won a good number of his duels and kept things ticking over nicely.

Midfielders

Dominik Szoboszlai - 7.5: Liverpool's main creative force throughout the game. He created three chances, including one big chance, and was a constant threat with his delivery. Was desperately unlucky to hit the woodwork with a powerful shot in the second half. His energy was infectious, though he did lose the ball a fair bit.

Alexis Mac Allister - 5.5: A difficult game for the World Cup winner. He picked up a yellow card and committed five fouls, struggling to get a foothold in the midfield battle against Caicedo. While his passing was mostly tidy, he lost his duels and couldn't impact the game in the final third.

Jeremie Frimpong - 6.0: Played with a lot of energy down the flank but lacked the final product. He was a willing runner and drew several fouls, but he also lost possession 14 times. He struggled to beat his man consistently, and his crossing wasn't up to scratch.

Ryan Gravenberch - 8.0: The best player on the pitch. Took his goal brilliantly, showing great composure for the early opener. He was a powerful presence in midfield, making driving runs and getting into the box. He made a couple of key tackles and interceptions, too.

Rio Ngumoha - 7.0: A bright and exciting performance. He provided the assist for the goal and was a livewire with the ball at his feet, completing four successful dribbles. His recovery pace was also impressive, winning the ball back five times. He's still raw and lost the ball a couple of times, but what a talent. We were very impressed by his fearlessness.

Forwards

Cody Gakpo - 5.0: A really poor and anonymous display from the forward. He only managed 12 touches before being hooked in the 77th minute. He was caught offside twice and just couldn't get involved in the play at all. From our perspective, he looked isolated and frustrated.

Manager

A. Slot - 6.5: Set his team up to start fast, and it paid off with the early goal. His side created chances and were unlucky not to score a second, hitting the post twice. However, they couldn't find a way to break down a resilient Chelsea defence for a winner. The substitutions didn't quite have the desired impact to change the game.

Chelsea Player Ratings vs Liverpool

Check out the Chelsea player ratings vs Liverpool.

Goalkeeper

Filip Jørgensen - 6.5: Made two key saves inside the box to keep his team in the game. He couldn't do anything about the goal. His distribution was a major issue, with only 50% pass accuracy, often putting his team under unnecessary pressure. A mixed performance but his shot-stopping was crucial.

Defenders

Levi Colwill - 7.0: A very composed and solid display at the back. He read the game beautifully, making three interceptions and six clearances. His passing from the back was impressive, and he was strong in his duels. He looked like a seasoned veteran against a top-quality attack. A really promising performance.

Jorrel Hato - 6.5: A strong defensive outing from the young defender. He was tenacious in the tackle, winning five of his seven duels. He made four tackles and two interceptions, showing great defensive awareness. The yellow card was a slight blot, but he was very reliable for most of the game.

Malo Gusto - 5.5: A tough day at the office for Gusto. He was caught out of position a few times and was dribbled past twice. He also lost possession 13 times, which is far too many for a defender at this level. While he did make a couple of important ball recoveries, it was a nervy and inconsistent performance.

Wesley Fofana - 6.5: A quiet but effective game from Fofana. He was very tidy in possession, with a 94% pass accuracy, and helped build play from the back. He made a couple of important interceptions and generally looked comfortable. Didn't have to make too many last-ditch tackles, which is a sign of good positioning.

Midfielders

Marc Cucurella - 6.5: An industrious performance. He got forward to support the attack, even having a shot on target himself. His crossing was decent, finding a teammate with two of his three attempts. However, he committed four fouls and picked up a booking, showing a bit of ill-discipline. He worked hard for the team.

Enzo Fernández - 7.0: The captain stepped up with a crucial goal to draw his side level. He was neat on the ball with 93% passing accuracy but seemed to struggle in the physical battles, winning just three of his thirteen duels. He also missed a big chance that could have changed the game. A mixed performance but his goal earns him a good rating.

Cole Palmer - 6.5: A tidy game from Palmer without setting the world alight. He kept the ball well and drew four fouls, relieving pressure on his team. He won most of his duels and put in a good defensive shift with three tackles. We just felt he could have been more incisive in the final third.

Andrey Santos - 6.0: Played for just over an hour and had a steady if unspectacular game. He was very secure in possession, completing 93% of his passes. He put in a couple of tackles but didn't offer a huge amount going forward. A functional performance before he was substituted.

Moisés Caicedo - 8.0: What stood out to us was his incredible engine and dominance in the midfield. He won 10 duels, made 4 tackles, and created 3 chances, including a big one. He was simply everywhere, breaking up Liverpool's attacks and starting Chelsea's. A truly commanding, man-of-the-match display.

Forwards

João Pedro - 7.0: A real handful for the Liverpool defence all game. He completed five dribbles and won an incredible 11 duels, showing his strength and skill. His finishing was just off, as he failed to find the target with his shots. If he had brought his shooting boots, he could have been the hero. A frustrating but very lively performance.

Manager

C. McFarlane - 7.0: His side responded well to going down early and showed great character to get back into the game. He set his team up to be defensively solid and hard to beat, and it worked. His midfield, led by Caicedo, was excellent. Maybe it could have been a bit more adventurous to chase the win, but a point at Anfield is a very good result.

Man of the Match

Ryan Gravenberch was the man of the match.

Worst Performer

Cody Gakpo was the worst performer.