How Chelsea Players Performed in the Match between Chelsea and Liverpool

Petr Cech

Culpable for Liverpool’s opening goal, when his hesitancy and poor communication with Ivanovic allowed Gerrard’s cross to find Meireles at the back post. The keeper and Ivanovic had earlier demonstrated the crossed wires earlier.

José Bosingwa

A reasonably solid display by the Portugese but was the fall guy when the hosts needed more attacking dynamism in the last 20 minutes.

Branislav Ivanovic

Had a barney with Cech after they got in each other’s way in the first half, so one can only imagine his thoughts after another mix-up with the keeper allowed Meireles to hook in the winning goal. Nevertheless, he was probably Chelsea’s biggest threat on set-pieces.

John Terry

Dealt comfortably with the line-and-length solidity of Kuyt both in the air and on the deck. Led by example throughout.

Ashley Cole

Chelsea’s most impressive player. Always a threat with his left flank raids and excellent distribution and never found wanting in his own third. His ding-dong battle with Kelly was one of the most enthralling of the match.

Michael Essien

Without being poor, Chelsea’ midfield dynamo was less influential than their fans would have hoped. His distribution was hit-and-miss and struggled to deal with the numbers in the Liverpool midfield.

Frank Lampard

Anelka’s deployment behind the strikers took away the space that Lampard usually runs into with such effect. Made the odd telling pass but struggled to exert much influence in midfield.

John Obi Mikel

Booked early on for hacking down Gerrard and could never get a grip of a midfield that was dominated by the visitors. Substituted when Chelsea went behind.

Nicolas Anelka

By all accounts, he excelled behind a front two against Sunderland in midweek. Few would argue he was not abject in the first half, when he was a static presence in the hole, although he did awaken from his slumber after the break.

Fernando Torres

Not a day of destiny for the new boy in blue. His 65th minute substitution, to chants of ‘You should have stayed at a big club’, would have been an embarrassment for the Spaniard. He came to life when presented with two reasonable chances but he was handled well by his former team-mates and his arrival seems to already pose more questions than answers.

Didier Drogba

Looked like to he did not quite know where to be, which Chelsea fans will hope is not a precursor of a summer of agitating. Produced one fine pass to put Torres through on goal.

Salomon Kalou

Brought sharpness to Chelsea’s right flank when they searched for a late equaliser.

David Luiz

Made one brilliant interception and showed enough class on his debut to suggest he will fit in snugly in the back four.

Florent Malouda

Struggled to exert any influence late on. A shadow of the darling of the autumn.