Liverpool Chelsea draw leaves Reds under pressure in Champions League race as Manchester United also stumble
Defending champions Liverpool FC missed the opportunity to move closer to securing UEFA Champions League football next season after a frustrating 1-1 draw against Chelsea FC at Anfield on Saturday.
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Ryan Gravenberch handed Liverpool an early advantage with a superb strike in the sixth minute, lifting the mood around Anfield after a nervy opening spell.
Chelsea responded before the break when midfielder Enzo Fernandez curled in a free-kick in the 35th minute that evaded everyone before nestling in the bottom corner.
Despite dominating large periods of the second half, Liverpool failed to find a winner, with boos from sections of the home crowd at full-time underlining growing frustration over the team’s recent performances.
The Liverpool Chelsea draw leaves Arne Slot’s side in fourth place, four points clear of sixth-placed AFC Bournemouth in the race for Champions League qualification.
Asked whether he believed he could win back supporters, Slot admitted the mood around the club remained tense.
“Not this season by the way. This season they will have their opinion and it will not change,” the Liverpool manager said.
“If we can have the summer that we are planning to have, then I’m 100 per cent convinced that we will be a different team next season than we are now.”
Chelsea, meanwhile, remain ninth and can no longer mathematically finish inside the Premier League’s top five.
However, the result offered encouragement for interim manager Calum McFarlane ahead of next weekend’s FA Cup final against Manchester City FC.
At the Stadium of Light, Manchester United FC were held to a dull goalless draw by Sunderland AFC.
Michael Carrick’s third-placed side, already assured of Champions League football following last weekend’s victory over Liverpool, struggled to create meaningful chances in a lifeless encounter.
It marked the first time Manchester United had failed to score in a league match since November.
Bournemouth strengthened their remarkable push for European qualification with a hard-fought 1-0 victory away to Fulham FC.
The match was overshadowed by dramatic VAR interventions, with Bournemouth midfielder Ryan Christie sent off after his yellow card for a foul on Timothy Castagne was upgraded to red review.
Fulham defender Joachim Andersen was also dismissed before half-time after another VAR check overturned an initial booking for a challenge on Adrien Truffert.
Brazilian teenager Rayan produced the decisive moment in the 53rd minute, firing home from outside the penalty area to secure Bournemouth’s victory.
The Cherries are now unbeaten in 16 league matches as they continue a powerful bid to qualify for European competition for the first time in the club’s history.
Elsewhere, Brighton & Hove Albion FC boosted their European hopes with a commanding 3-0 victory over already-relegated Wolverhampton Wanderers FC.
Jack Hinshelwood opened the scoring after just 37 seconds before captain Lewis Dunk doubled Brighton’s lead in the fifth minute.
Yankuba Minteh sealed the emphatic win late on with a thunderous finish.
With two games remaining, Brighton sit seventh, two points behind Bournemouth in the race for European qualification.
Attention now turns to the title race, with Manchester City hosting Brentford FC later on Saturday as Pep Guardiola’s side attempt to close the gap on leaders Arsenal FC.
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Arsenal, who have also reached the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain FC, will secure their first English league title in 22 years if they win their remaining three matches.
