THIS WEEK’S Chelsea manager got a quick introduction into the problems that have dogged all the previous ones.
Bruno Saltor is the third man to be Stamford Bridge head coach this season – a job title being passed around like a spliff at a student house party.
And like predecessors Graham Potter and Thomas Tuchel he quickly realised that the issues in his team are deep set and will be around long after he has gone from the dugout.
So many missed opportunities from a team lacking a clinical touch in front of goal.
Spaniard Saltor’s promotion from first-team coach is only temporary but there was hope that sacking the unpopular Graham Potter would provide a lift on the pitch.
The silence surrounding Potter’s sacking was deafening, which says it all about the most recent manager’s impact upon demanding Chelsea fans who want trophies, expensive signings and kids coming through from the academy in return for their ticket money.
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What they got tonight was a team swinging in the wind and just looking to get this miserable campaign over and done with.
A slightly bewildered Saltor received a huge bear hug from Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp as he emerged from the tunnel, on to the pitch and into a new chapter of his career in the world of management.
Only one of Chelsea’s American Blues Brothers, co-controlling owner Behdad Ebghbali, was at the ground to watch the excitement of a new albeit temporary era unfold.
Eghbali’s partner Todd Boehly was back in the US covering events remotely.
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Saltor’s boldest move before a ball was even kicked was to start midfielder N’Golo Kante for the first time since August following lengthy hamstring problems.
Any manager should feel blessed to have the dynamic Frenchman in their team. It was a surprise to see him honoured as captain though when fellow starters Mateo Kovacic and Reece James have previously worn the armband this season.
In all Chelsea’s latest manager made only two changes from the XI which succumbed to Aston Villa last Saturday in what turned out to be Potter’s last stand as head coach.
Winger Mykhailo Mudryk dropped to the bench and rightly so after his weak display at the weekend.
Klopp made half a dozen changes for ‘fresh minds and legs’ in the brutal aftermath of a 4-1 pummeling at Man City in the last match.
No coincidence that only one defender from the entire back four from the trip to the Etihad survived to start at Stamford Bridge.
Mo Salah was rested, one would assume with his religious fasting in mind.
But it brought to an end a 12-game run for the Egyptian striker. And in his absence, Liverpool’s struggling front line was even more toothless.
They waited until well into first-half injury time before mounting any sustained threat on Chelsea’s goal with two decent chances.
Kepa Arrizabalaga did well to push away a powerful, swerving effort from right back Joe Gomez. From the corner Fabinho’s rising shot cannoned off the head of Wesley Fofana.
Apart from that, in the 18th minute Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson’s speculative pop at goal from 35 yards out spotting Kepa off his line was well covered by Kalidou Koulibaly long before it reached the goal line.
And notably, not one of the three best chances came from one of the visiting forwards.
Like most weeks, Chelsea had zip and energy but are struggling to find any way around scoring goals without a recognised centre forward. Despite the new man coming in, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang failed to make the matchday squad.
Kai Havertz yet again had to play like a square peg in a round hole up front with Joao Felix supporting him in a 3-5-2 formation adopted by Saltor to accommodate Kante at the heart of his formation.
A bright start mainly inspired by Liverpool defensive mistakes led to Felix, Kovacic and Havertz all going close but falling down pursuing the final, decisive act of putting the ball over the line.
It’s a problem that has dogged Chelsea pretty much all season apart from a brief spell of potency in October, early in Potter’s reign.
They did get the ball in the net twice before an hour was played. Once in the first half, Fernandez was ruled offside in the build-up to Reece James drilling a shot into the bottom corner.
And on 50 minutes, Havertz was put through by Kante, shot straight at keeper Alisson only for the ball to rebound, strike his elbow and bobble over the line.
Both disallowed goals needed merely cursory VAR checks to see them scrubbed off.
Saltor and Chelsea will claim it at least shows they are creating chances but that has never been the problem this season. It is tucking them away that’s proving the problem.
Particularly against a Liverpool side suffering as many uncharacteristic failings as them.
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It felt weird to watch two teams that have locked horns at the highest level in recent years play out an eight versus 11th mid-table match in April when normally they would be battling for title-chasing points or even at the business end of the Champions League.
Chelsea remain in the bottom half of the table and Liverpool show no signs of digging themselves out of their recent rut.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
