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Football London
Football London
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Tom Coley

'Convince Julian Nagelsmann': National media react to toothless Chelsea draw with Liverpool

The same but different for Chelsea. For all the upheaval Stamford Bridge across the past 10 months, the one position the new owners have failed to address is the striker.

The Blues, with the unlikely character of Bruno Saltor conducting them from the sidelines against Liverpool on Tuesday, were the shell of a Graham Potter team. Perhaps they were even more Potter than Potter's Chelsea ever were.

It's now 47 shots since they last scored a goal, all coming at home. It's 5.71 expected goals since their last goal too. Kai Havertz was the biggest culprit here but by now there should be no surprise.

READ MORE: Every word Bruno Saltor said on Liverpool, N'Golo Kante impact, Chelsea future and Conor Gallagher sub

Chelsea's goalscoring woes cost them two points against a poor Liverpool side that were rotated but still shoddy. After a game that made up both domestic cup finals last season, this was closer to a playground kids fight between two out of sorts teams.

Here's how the national media reacted.

The Guardian

Jacob Steinburg writes: "It was hardly an occasion to rival some of the classic encounters between these bitter rivals, especially with Bruno Saltor doing his best to step into the void left by Graham Potter’s departure, although in the end it was difficult not to feel that it was not Chelsea’s interim head coach who was having trouble recognising his own team.

"Bruno – more bewildered than anyone that he was chosen to hold the fort until Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali can convince Julian Nagelsmann, Mauricio Pochettino or Luis Enrique to take over – could hold his head up high. Whether the Spaniard is still here by the time Chelsea visit Real Madrid next week remains to be seen, but at least his players listened to him. At least there was no mutiny, on or off the pitch.

"The applause at the end was respectful enough and, while another draw keeps Chelsea in the bottom half, victory would have been theirs if they had anyone capable of putting the ball in the back of the net by legal means."

Daily Mail

Ian Ladyman writes: "Change in the dug out for Chelsea and changes on the field for Liverpool. But still nothing changes. Chelsea still can’t score goals while Liverpool cannot rediscover the art of controlling football matches.

"So a 0-0 that saw Chelsea play the better football and create the better chances in the wake of Graham Potter’s sacking was a 0-0 nevertheless, the fourth in a row between these two clubs. Liverpool made six changes as they sought to avoid a fourth successive defeat in Premier League and Champions League and at least Jurgen Klopp’s team managed that.

"Liverpool, though, remain way off it. Since their 7-0 dismantling of Manchester United a month ago, Liverpool have scored a solitary goal and, apart from a flurry from nowhere at the end of the first half, they never looked like adding to that here. So these are dark times for Liverpool and it’s not about to get easier. On Sunday they have Arsenal at home."

The Express

Matthew Dunn writes: "Not even a ghost of a goal looked on the cards in 90 nervy minutes at Stamford Bridge as both these clubs seem locked in their respective ruts. Jose Mourinho and Chelsea fans still go on about Luis Garcia’s famous 2005 effort for Liverpool that may not have crossed the line after all. By contrast, this encounter will soon be forgotten.

"In so many ways it is sad just to watch these teams go up against each other wracked with such an air of uncertainty. From those famous Champions League semi-final bust-ups to more recent encounters when Premier League titles have been at stake, this has always been a match anticipated as eagerly by the players as it is the fans.

"But as the game got going, it all felt so low key. Two out-of-sorts teams feeling each other out while rival fans watched on through their fingers. Five successive draws coming into this clash is a testament to how tight these battles are, but always because attacking guile was met by a well-organised defence as two gladiatorial combatants cancelled each other out."

READ NEXT:

Bruno Saltor responds to big Chelsea question after Liverpool draw amid Julian Nagelsmann links

Chelsea player ratings vs Liverpool as N'Golo Kante and Fofana brilliant, Kai Havertz poor

Chelsea set next manager appointment date as Todd Boehly looks for Graham Potter replacement

Chelsea told to make Zinedine Zidane statement after Graham Potter exit

Chelsea's Graham Potter tipping point and who will take charge amid Julian Nagelsmann interest

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