Chelsea “definitely” knew Liverpool’s right side was a position to exploit on their trip to Anfield, with 49 percent of their attacks going towards Curtis Jones.
Jones continued at right-back in the absence of Conor Bradley and Mo Salah, with Arne Slot keeping Jeremie Frimpong on the right wing for Chelsea‘s visit.
It ensured Liverpool’s right flank remained compromised despite Jones impressing in the position of late, and Chelsea came with a plan to expose them.
After the match, the visitors’ interim boss Calum McFarlane was asked whether he specifically identified and targeted Liverpool’s right side as a weakness, having focused 49 percent of his attacks down that flank.
“It was definitely something that we knew,” he said, via Sky Sports, as he explained the decision to use Marc Cucurella in an advanced role on Chelsea‘s left.
Image via Sky Sports
“Cucurella is not a winger. He has played there before, he told me,” McFarlane added.
“But even when he plays left-back or rolls into midfield, his movement off the ball is at a real high quality, and the timing and the understanding of when to do it.
“It is something that we knew with him in that position, we could maybe expose. I thought he was unlucky not to get an assist, and he created a lot of problems for them.”
No player had more touches in the opposition box than Cucurella (6) on Saturday, and he was close to setting up the winner for Chelsea if not for creeping slightly offside.
Chelsea’s plan a recurring theme for Liverpool
Chelsea targeting Liverpool’s right side because Salah doesn’t trackback and leaves the RB exposed …. Oh, wait Salah didn’t play vs Chelsea yesterday. Who cares, it’s still Salah’s fault and Slot won the league blah blah blah ??? pic.twitter.com/DMOFQCRUCU
— Parted Beard (@PartedBeard) May 10, 2026
It was certainly not rocket science for McFarlane to focus on Liverpool’s right side, with a midfielder at right-back and a wingback playing as a winger.
Mo Salah has often been the one to take the blame for Liverpool’s shortcomings on the right, as he was in the reverse fixture, but Chelsea still had success when he wasn’t on the pitch this time.
It is a systematic failure for Liverpool that the same issues appear irrespective of personnel, with solutions not forthcoming throughout the season.
The imbalance enabled Chelsea to grow in confidence throughout the match, with Cucurella and Cole Palmer readily finding space to exploit.