Beyond the substitution drama, the footballing reality of the afternoon was uncomfortable for Liverpool supporters to process.

Chelsea had lost their previous six Premier League matches consecutively before arriving at Anfield on Saturday. They left Merseyside with a point and arguably could have won had VAR not ruled out Cole Palmer’s second-half effort for an offside in the build-up. The European Conservative

Liverpool started well and took the lead through Gravenberch’s excellent curled effort. But Chelsea grew into the game throughout the first period and equalised via Wesley Fofana’s scruffy finish from a set-piece. By the half-hour mark, disgruntled moans were already emanating from the Kop as Chelsea controlled the pace and Liverpool struggled to retain possession. Encyclopedia Britannica

After the interval, Cole Palmer and Marc Cucurella combined dangerously, while Joao Pedro’s movement caused persistent problems. Liverpool escaped when Chelsea had a goal ruled out for offside by VAR, but the warning signs were unmistakable. Slot’s side looked edgy for long periods. One observer from Anfield noted Liverpool looked like a complete bag of nerves, struggling to find any rhythm  a harsh assessment, but difficult to dispute during phases where possession became sloppy and confidence visibly drained. Time

The tactical vulnerability was particularly notable down Liverpool’s right side, where Chelsea repeatedly exploited the arrangement of Curtis Jones playing in an unfamiliar defensive role behind Jeremie Frimpong. The setup was described as comical from the first whistle  a wing-back by trade, Frimpong found himself constantly lost, not knowing what his remit was or what his teammates expected from him. NPR