Liverpool vs Chelsea LIVE: Premier League score, result and reaction from flat goalless draw at Anfield

The thousand club, it transpired, was not a reference to the number of players Chelsea have signed in the Todd Boehly era. But as Jurgen Klopp brought up 1,000 games in management, and Mykhailo Mudryk became Chelsea’s latest debutant, it was with an illustration of how two of the dominant forces of recent years are struggling.

Whether in decline or transition, Liverpool and Chelsea kicked off in ninth and 10^th, both ended up nine points off the top four and having played a game more. Recent winners of the Champions League are becoming ever less likely to qualify for next season’s competition.

Klopp had quipped that the number of coaches who had managed 1,000 good games was rather smaller. In the bitter cold of these clubs’ bleak midwinters, this was not a good game; certainly not by the standards they have set in the past or compared to some of their epic duels. They had shared stalemates in two cup finals last season, but they were higher-quality affairs. Some of the entertainment stemmed from errors, some of the drama from chance. Ibrahima Konate almost scored from 50 yards, but only because the wind caught a punt forward. Chelsea secured just a fourth point against current top-half teams this season – though that is another indictment – and lament a disallowed goal that might have set them on the path to victory.

James Milner says that Liverpool always want to win their home games but can take some positives out of the match today such as keeping a clean sheet against Chelsea.

“We always want to win our home games, we know the situation we are in at the moment, things are not easy.” said Milner, “We’ve got to stick together, keep working hard. We kept a clean sheet which was pleasing. We need to get that base. We had chances to win the game.

“It was tough. It was two teams that aren’t playing their best at the moment. That’s why you have to win that battle, the pitch didn’t make it as easy to play as we would like.

“At time we could have made it easier for ourselves by taking an extra touch but also moving for each other. We had really good spells in the game as well. There’s things to work on but a clean sheet is a step in the right direction.

“When you’re in a tough period and a tough moment in the team, I think it’s important that you stick together and fight for those clean sheets and that’s where it starts.

“It’s not the best football matches that we are playing but it’s small steps to get where we know we can be. We would have liked to win it, it’s pleasing that we had the chances.

“This is a small step in the right direction but we have got a long way to go to where we want to be.”

Chelsea midfielder, Mason Mount, spoke to BT Sport after the game and gave his reaction to the goalless draw.

“You know this is going to be a tough place to come. Overall, we controlled a lot of it.” he said, “We could have taken our chances.

“It has been tough lately, we want to win games. I feel like it is getting better and we are working hard today. We’ll definitely take this today.

“The final passes weren’t there, if it was maybe we score a few first half, but as I said, this is a tough place to come. They press you and force mistakes, like the second half and I think we came through that.”

Chelsea (W0-D3-L4) remain winless in seven successive competitive away games for the first time since November 2010 to January 2011 under Carlo Ancelotti (W0-D2-L5), a streak that included a 2-0 league loss at Anfield.

Both Liverpool and Chelsea could find themselves 12 points away from the Champions League spots by the end of the weekend if Newcastle and Manchester United win their respective games.

That’s a huge gap to close down but there’s still half a season to play.

Who will be the happier manager after that draw?

With eight wins, five draws and six defeats from their 19 Premier League matches this season Liverpool have 29 points.

It is their lowest points tally at the halfway stage of a Premier League campaign since 2014/15 under Brendan Rodgers (28).

A point each sees Liverpool move up to eighth as they draw level on points with Brentford but have a better goal difference. Chelsea remain 10th in the table just behind the Bees.

Graham Potter won’t be too displeased. Taking a point away from Anfield is always a good result and his team’s performance was better than recent games.

90+5 mins: Andy Robertson brings the ball down the left side then knocks it across to Jordan Henderson. Henderson lets fly but his effort is deflected over to Darwin Nunez.

Nunez blasts one at goal but Cesar Azpilicueta is on hand to block the effort out of play!

The final whistle goes and the points are shared at Anfield!

It ends goalless.

90+2 mins: Brilliant defending! Mudryk goes on a fine run down the inside left and slips the ball into the box for Carney Chukwuemeka.

He takes a touch before poking the ball at touch but that leaves Andy Robertson enough time to take across and get the block in!