Liverpool and Chelsea draw to hit Champions League hopes
LIVERPOOL, England — A season of frustration continued for Liverpool and Chelsea after a 0-0 draw at Anfield on Saturday did little to help either team’s hopes of securing Champions League qualification next season.
A game that was short on chances and quality underlined why both teams are struggling in midtable in the Premier League and face a challenge to break into the top four.
Benoit Badiashile and substitute Carney Chukwuemeka had opportunities to score in each half for Chelsea, but neither was clinical enough to make Liverpool pay.
It is now three league games without a win for Liverpool in what was Jurgen Klopp’s 1,000th game in management and his 250th in charge of the Merseyside club.
The draw at least ended a two-game losing streak for his team.
Chelsea fans got a first look at new signing Mykhailo Mudryk, who showed some promising moments when coming on as a second-half substitute.
But, like Liverpool, Graham Potter’s team will need to improve quickly if it is to rise up the table and compete to get into the top four.
Klopp’s Liverpool reign has seen the storied club re-establish itself as one of the best teams in Europe.
However, the German went into this landmark game trying to get the season back on track, with any hopes of challenging for the title effectively over after an inconsistent campaign.
Klopp described last week’s 3-0 loss to Brighton as the worst of his time at the club.
It’s a similar story for Chelsea, which has now won just two of its last 10 games in all competitions.
The two teams were ninth and 10th in the standings going into the game, with Liverpool ahead on goal difference.
Chelsea had the better chances to take all three points but did not make them count.
Kai Havertz thought he had put the Londoners ahead within minutes of kickoff when firing in a rebound after Thiago Silva struck the post. The away team’s celebrations were cut short, however, when VAR adjudged the German to be offside.
Badiashile later forced a save from Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson when failing to get enough power on a header from around six yards out.
WEST HAM 2, EVERTON 0
LONDON — Jarrod Bowen scored twice for West Ham against over Everton that kept Frank Lampard’s team in the English Premier League relegation zone.
Everton’s winless run in all competitions extended to 10 games as Lampard approaches the one-year mark as manager.
The Chelsea great has received public backing from ownership but the task gets only tougher with Everton next facing league leader Arsenal followed by a visit to Anfield.
Bowen connected twice in a seven-minute span in the first half at London Stadium. He poked it home from close range after Kurt Zouma’s headed flick in the 34th minute. Bowen then onetimed Michail Antonio’s cross to double the lead.
Everton briefly threatened late in the first half when Alex Iwobi’s low shot toward the corner was deflected wide by Declan Rice.
Veteran striker Danny Ings made his West Ham debut as a second-half substitute a day after completing his transfer from Aston Villa.
BRIGHTON 2, LEICESTER 2
LEICESTER, England — Brighton scored two minutes from time to draw Leicester and maintain its assault on the English Premier League top five.
The Seagulls missed the chance to move into the top five but climbed to sixth.
Substitute Evan Ferguson headed in Pervis Estupinan’s cross in off the post for the clincher.
Harvey Barnes and Marc Albrighton scored for Leicester to cancel out Kaoru Mitoma’s sensational opener.
Neat play from Alexis Mac Allister and Adam Lallana allowed Estupinan to find Mitoma on the left. The Japan international was given plenty of time to tease Timothy Castagne, cut inside and brilliantly curl the ball into the top corner from 20 yards.
Leicester led for only nine minutes. Still, the Foxes earned a point for the first time after falling behind this season and moved up to 14th in a congested mid-table.