Despite Chelsea’s dismal run of form in the Premier League, Calum McFarlane will feel his side could have beaten Liverpool on Saturday, and John Barnes thinks Andrey Santos is to blame.
Two sides out of form and with an expectant fanbase piling the pressure on met at Anfield on Saturday. The scoreline read 1-1 at full-time, with Enzo Fernandez cancelling out Ryan Gravenberch’s opener.
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Liverpool v Chelsea - Premier League
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Liverpool had a goal disallowed and hit the woodwork twice in the second half, though Chelsea were the better side for much of the game. Joao Pedro might feel he deserved a penalty with the scores tied.
Ultimately, a solid point for Chelsea given the run of recent form, the lack of Premier League goals, and that it was an away trip to Anfield. However, it could have been more, and Barnes criticised Santos.
John Barnes thinks Andrey Santos could have done more
It didn’t take long, but Liverpool were ahead with their first shot on goal, as Gravenberch curled a superb shot into the top corner. Filip Jorgensen might be slightly disappointed, but it was a stunning strike.
However, on Premier League Productions, Liverpool legend Barnes criticised Brazil midfielder Santos for failing to close Gravenberch down sooner. Indeed, Barnes believes Santos was five yards off the pace.
Liverpool v Chelsea - Premier League
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“Chelsea are in a good defensive position, but he [Santos] takes too long to come out. They have lots of men behind the ball, it’s a really good line,” Barnes said, while re-watching Liverpool’s opener yesterday.
“But from that position, Andrey Santos has to come five yards further forward, and he could have got closer to the shot. He looks four, five times at the space, but he’s too slow to come out,” Barnes added.
Andrey Santos disappoints in first start since Man City defeat
With Pedro Neto, Jesse Derry, Estevao and Alejandro Garnacho all missing, McFarlane was forced to have a reshuffle. He decided on 3-4-2-1, in which Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez sat behind Joao Pedro.
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He was Chelsea's worst player against Liverpool, according to the stats.
Given Fernandez was pushed forward, McFarlane chose Santos over Romeo Lavia. It was the midfielder’s first start since Chelsea were hammered 3-0 by Man City, Liam Rosenior’s second-last game in charge.
But the Brazilian struggled. According to FotMob, Santos was Chelsea’s worst player on the day, earning a rating of just 6.4. Only four players were worse, two of which were substitutes brought on by Arne Slot.
With the FA Cup final next up for Chelsea, McFarlane has a decision to make. Does he put Santos’ display down to rustiness and a lack of game time, and keep him in the side, or does he change it up again?
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