
<p>Chelsea hosted <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/liverpool-tv-schedule/">Liverpool</a> Tuesday night in a matchup of two mid-table <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/premier-league-tv-schedule/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Premier League</a> teams. The match would be the first fixture <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/chelsea-sack-graham-potter-after-poor-run-of-form-20230402-WST-426393.html">without Graham Potter</a> as head coach for the Blues. Interim boss Bruno Saltor has taken over at the club until a permanent manager can be named. Unfortunately for the neutral fan, there wouldn’t be any goals in the game.</p>



<p>The two clubs entered the night in surprising positions in the <a href="https://www.premierleague.com/tables" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Premier League table</a>. Liverpool, after finishing in the top three in each of the last four seasons, sat eighth. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/chelsea-tv-schedule/">Chelsea</a>, on the other hand, are having an even worse campaign in west London. The Blues were 11th at the start of the night and have fired two different managers since September.</p>



<p>Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp made some interesting changes to his starting XI for the matchup. The German opted to put Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson all on the bench. Star center back Virgil van Dijk also missed out on the action due to an illness. The hosts looked to take advantage of the key absences early on.</p>



<h5>Multiple scoring chances early</h5>



<p>Joao Felix, Mateo Kovacic and Kai Havertz all had good chances to put their team ahead inside the opening dozen minutes. Felix first had a shot blocked by Joel Matip inside the area. Ibrahima Konate then made a goal-saving clearance just a minute later from a Kovacic shot. Havertz saw his shot well blocked by Alisson from point-blank range at the 12-minute mark. </p>



<p>Reece James had the <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSportsSoccer/status/1643335030121324546" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ball in the back of the net</a> halfway through the first period, but an offside flag was raised a few seconds prior. Liverpool’s best chance in the first half came from a Fabinho shot just seconds from the halftime whistle. However, Wesley Fofana headed the ball away to safety just as it was approaching Chelsea’s goal.</p>



<h2>VAR review preserves draw between Chelsea and Liverpool</h2>



<p>The hosts once again had the ball in the back of the net in the 50th minute. However, just like the previous incident, the goal would ultimately not stand. Alisson first saved a shot by Havertz, then the ball came back off of the German’s elbow and rolled into the net. The goal was initially given, but VAR made quick work of the review to rule it out.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Chelsea have the ball in the back of the net again BUT this time it&apos;s disallowed due to a handball.<br><br>📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/peacock?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@peacock</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MyPLMorning?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MyPLMorning</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CHELIV?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CHELIV</a> <a href="https://t.co/0BVubSIhjU">pic.twitter.com/0BVubSIhjU</a></p>— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSportsSoccer/status/1643346246776528897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Despite the series of scoring chances, the match ultimately finished level at zero. The result doesn’t really benefit either team either. Both clubs remain in the same position as they were prior to the start of the match. Chelsea will look to get Saltor’s first win as a head coach at Wolves on Sunday. Liverpool’s fixture list doesn’t get any easier, as they next play league-leading <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/arsenal-tv-schedule/">Arsenal</a> at the weekend.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Propaganda Photo</em></p>


Chelsea and Liverpool both failed to score in a draw between mid-table Premier League teams on Tuesday night.

Chelsea, Liverpool remain mid-table after goalless draw

<figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-376187 size-full" src="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Arsenals-top-four-chances.jpg" alt="Arsenal&apos;s top-four chances" width="1200" height="725" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/03/Arsenals-top-four-chances.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/03/Arsenals-top-four-chances-600x363.jpg 600w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/03/Arsenals-top-four-chances-150x91.jpg 150w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/03/Arsenals-top-four-chances-768x464.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure>
<p>Liverpool dented Arsenal’s top-four chances with a 2-0 defeat of the Gunners on Wednesday. The loss snapped Arsenal’s five-game win streak in Premier League play.</p>
<p>Despite the defeat, Arsenal played fairly well against one of the top teams in Europe. The main difference between the two sides came from the clinical nature of Liverpool. In fact, the game played out about <a href="https://www.premierleague.com/match/66602">as even as possible</a>. Liverpool held a slight edge of possession at just under 52%. Plus, both sides mustered nine total shots, with Liverpool getting three on target to Arsenal’s two.</p>
<p>Unsurprisingly, the talented strikers of Arsenal made the difference in front of net. Diogo Jota netted in the 54th minute before being replaced by Roberto Firmino just two minutes later. The Brazilian added the insurance goal a mere four minutes after coming on.</p>
<p>Contrarily, the Gunners failed to capitalize on their big chances at the opposite end of the pitch.</p>
<p>Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta claimed that the contrast in ruthlessness between the two teams essentially decided the game.</p>
<blockquote><p><em>“It was the difference today. I don’t think there was any other difference apart from that. I think we have closed that gap a lot. It wasn’t enough because when we went through that door and they went through that door, they scored two goals. </em></p>
<p><em>“I’m not happy with the goals that we conceded, but it’s part of the game. When you have those chances, you have to take them to get something out of it.”</em></p></blockquote>
<h3>Arsenal’s top-four hopes still alive and well</h3>
<p>While the loss surely disappointed Arteta and the rest of the club, the standings did not change at all. The Gunners entered the night in fourth place, which would mean Champions League qualification. Moreover, the Emirates Stadium side in that position despite playing three fewer games than those also vying for that fourth spot, Manchester United and West Ham.</p>
<p>Now, the remaining two games in hand are essentially wild cards for Arsenal. Getting anything out of these two matches only strengthens their Arsenal’s top-four chances even more.</p>
<p>However, the Gunners need to get back to their winning ways promptly. Arsenal has four matches against clubs currently outside of the top eight in the standings. Then, the fixture list roughens up approaching the final weeks of the season. The Gunners’ next four games are against Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Southampton, and Brighton. After that, Arsenal faces Chelsea, Manchester United, West Ham, and Tottenham Hotspur.</p>
<p>These eight games will most likely decide whether or not the Gunners will head back to the Champions League for the first time since 2017. Quite the turnaround after Arsenal’s brutal stretch to start the season.</p>
<p>There are some positives looking forward for the Gunners though. Following a defeat at home to Manchester City in January (in fairly similar fashion to the Liverpool loss Wednesday), Arsenal went on a six-match unbeaten run in the Premier League. The Gunners even rattled off four consecutive victories after a loss away to Everton in December as well. Arsenal will have to keep showing that these losses do not necessarily affect future games. The north London club will play Aston Villa on Saturday before yet another international break.</p>
<p><em>(Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)</em></p>

Arsenal’s top-four bid still strong despite Liverpool loss

Arsenal's top-four chances this season took a small hit after a loss against Liverpool. However, the Gunners are still in the driver's seat.

Arsenal's top-four bid still strong despite Liverpool loss - World Soccer Talk

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Arsenal’s top-four bid still strong despite Liverpool loss