Boos greeted the full-time whistle as Liverpool failed to beat a Chelsea team who had lost their previous six Premier League games.
## Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea
Premier League (36) | Anfield
May 9, 2026
Goals
Gravenberch 6′ (assist: Ngumoha)
Fernandez 35′
Stats
Possession: 48% – 52%
Shots: 8 – 6
Big Chances: 1 – 1
Expected Goals (xG): 0.51 – 0.47
Mamardashvili and Isak return but another absentee
Florian Wirtz became the latest absentee, with a stomach bug enough to keep him out of the squad, but there was, at least, good news elsewhere.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, May 9, 2026: Liverpool's goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Giorgi Mamardashvili was back in goal after returning from the injury sustained at Everton, while Alexander Isak was among the substitutes following a groin issue.
Rio Ngumoha was handed a start on the left wing, as Jeremie Frimpong continued on the right with Cody Gakpo down the middle.
Despite Isak’s return, it was, again, a weakened bench with four teenagers among the options.
Rare early goal but same lethargic concerns
There has been plenty of criticism for Liverpool’s slow starts this season and it looked set up for another, but Ryan Gravenberch surprised as he got on the scoresheet inside six minutes.
Ngumoha’s work on the left wing opened the space for the Dutchman on the edge of the penalty box, with just one touch needed before a beautifully curled shot.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, May 9, 2026: Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch scores the first goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
It marked Gravenberch’s sixth goal of the campaign, Liverpool’s third-earliest in the league, and Ngumoha’s first Liverpool assist – he timed it well against his former club!
Virgil van Dijk had a vital intervention in front of his goal, stooping low for a header, and then ought to have doubled the lead with a free shot from five-yards out, but it flew over the crossbar.
It was about as much ‘excitement’ as Liverpool could conjure in the first half, with Chelsea invited to probe as the Reds lacked any intensity to press or win the ball back.
Anfield grew frustrated and the goal you felt was coming from the visitors arrived in the 35th minute, with Enzo Fernandez’s low free-kick nestling in the net unchallenged.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, May 9, 2026: Chelsea's Wesley Fofana scores his side's first and equalising goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The defending was indicative of a performance that had quickly become lethargic and without any shape or intent, with 11 players looking like individuals rather than a team on the same page.
That the Reds were fortunate to head into the break level against a side with six successive league defeats and only one goal in that run heading into the match was damning.
Half-time: Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea
Penalty claims but no more goals in basketball half
Liverpool were saved by VAR immediately after the break, with Marc Cucurella declared offside before Cole Palmer’s goal, saving the defence the need to explain after being pulled apart.
Alexis Mac Allister attempted to inject some physicality with a couple of crunching tackles, but Liverpool were still largely second-best in the basketball affair.
The offside flag then denied Liverpool on a rare successful venture forward as Curtis Jones scored, but Cody Gakpo inexcusably drifted beyond Chelsea‘s defensive line.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, May 9, 2026: Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha is replaced by substitute Alexander Isak (L) during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Frustration continued to boil over as loud boos greeted Slot’s decision to sub off Ngumoha after the hour mark, as he injected Isak into the match.
The teen had completed the most dribbles (4/5) and had the joint-most touches of any Red in the opposition box (4) before his substitution, having been one of few to run at Chelsea‘s defence.
Route to goal, as it often has this season, appeared to need a moment of brilliance, and Dominik Szoboszlai made attempts at offering that, requiring a save and then the upright to deny him.
Van Dijk then wanted a penalty for being pulled back after he directed a header onto the crossbar, but VAR was not forthcoming, nor was it for claims of a handball soon after.
A draw devoid of quality means Liverpool still need a maximum of three points to qualify for the Champions League, as they dropped points at Anfield for the eighth time in the league.
TIA Man of the Match: Rio Ngumoha
Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea: Match Facts
Liverpool: Mamardashvili; Jones, Konate (Gomez 77′), Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Frimpong, Szoboszlai, Ngumoha (Isak 67′); Gakpo (Chiesa 77′)
Subs not used: Woodman, Ndiaye, Robertson, Nyoni, Morrison, Wright
Chelsea: Jorgensen; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Hato, Cucurella; Caicedo, Santos (James 63′), Enzo; Palmer, Pedro
Subs: Slonina, Acheampong, Adarabioyo, Chalobah, Lavia, Eboue, Kabila-McQueen, Delap
Referee: Craig Pawson
Next match: Aston Villa (A) – Premier League – Friday, May 15, 8pm