10-men Chelsea held Liverpool at Anfield

Thomas Tuchel believes Chelsea showed the resilience that can make them Premier League champions in frustrating Liverpool for 45 minutes with a man down in a 1-1 draw at Anfield on Saturday.

Kai Havertz’s looping header put the visitors in front before Reece James was sent-off in first-half stoppage time for handball on his own goal line and Mohamed Salah converted the resulting penalty.

But Jurgen Klopp’s men failed to make their man advantage count in the second-half as the European champions showed resilience to dig out a precious point that strengthened their title credentials. 

“We showed great resilience and deserved the point,” said Tuchel.

“I cannot praise the team enough I do not know if there is a harder stadium than at (Manchester) City or Anfield to go one man down.

“Suddenly the world was upside down, I can’t praise the team’s resilience enough. It felt like it would never end. I was hoping we would survive and take a well-deserved point.”

The two sides and Manchester United, with Cristiano Ronaldo back at Old Trafford, are expected to pose Manchester City a much tougher challenge to retain the Premier League this season.

And the first heavyweight clash of the campaign did not disappoint with a raucous Anfield atmosphere the accompaniment to 90 minutes of high drama that left both sides level at the top of the table with seven points from three games.

Liverpool’s title defence was knocked off course by a series of long-term injuries to key players last season.

However, with Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip restored in central defence, allowing Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to play their more familiar midfield roles, the Reds’ blend of intense pressing and counter-attacking was back to its best early on.

And Klopp insisted he was not too despondent with the draw.

“Everybody thinks playing against 10 men it is easy, it is an advantage in possession but their defensive structure only changes in that they defend a little deeper,” said Klopp.

“It’s really early in the season. We drew against obviously the best team in Europe last year. That’s ok, it’s a good start. Three games, seven points, let’s go.”

At half-time, Tuchel sent on Thiago Silva for his first appearance of the season in place of Havertz to shore up his defence ahead of the expected Liverpool siege.

But the home side were largely restricted to efforts from long range as Van Dijk, Fabinho and Andy Robertson tested Edouard Mendy, while Henderson curled a shot inches wide.