Chelsea left Anfield with a 1-1 draw, but the more interesting part of the afternoon was how they got there. Ryan Gravenberch curled home from 20 yards after six minutes for Liverpool, yet Chelsea's response was driven by Marc Cucurella pushing high on the left, Moisés Caicedo taking control in midfield and Enzo Fernández delivering the set piece that levelled the match in the 35th minute.

That mattered beyond the scoreline. Chelsea came in on a five-game Premier League losing run, so a point at Anfield was useful. The performance from those three players was better than useful. It was the clearest sign of where Chelsea looked most threatening.

Why Cucurella stood out on the left

Cucurella will not have the top rating from this game, his verified mark was 6.7, but the role suited him and gave Chelsea a shape they could actually hurt Liverpool with. Dom Smith wrote in standard.co.uk: "Marc Cucurella 7

Constant threat down the left as he looked to join in with attacks, and that was Chelsea’s biggest weapon all afternoon."

That description fits the main pattern of the match. Chelsea were behind early after Gravenberch's strike, but one of their best routes back into the game was getting Cucurella forward quickly and forcing Liverpool to deal with a runner from deep rather than a safe full-back staying in line.

The same point came through in GOAL's assessment of Caicedo, which said some of his through-balls were outstanding in getting Cucurella in behind. That is a useful detail because it shifts this from a simple player-ratings talking point to a tactical one. Cucurella was not just busy. Chelsea were looking for him.

Caicedo controlled the middle and Fernández made the key moment count

Caicedo's rating, 7.5, was Chelsea's best among the core midfielders and that feels fair from the evidence in the brief. GOAL's verdict was: "Moises Caicedo (8/10): Took a while to get going, but began to dominate midway through the first half. Some of his through-balls were outstanding to get Cucurella in behind while read the game brilliantly to win the ball back."

That tracks with the shape of the match. Chelsea looked vulnerable at the start, then steadied once Caicedo started winning second balls and moving possession forward with more purpose. He did not score, and the brief is clear on that, but he was central to why Chelsea stopped the game becoming one-way traffic.

Fernández had a different kind of influence. His verified rating was 7.2, and the major contribution was the free-kick in the 35th minute that brought Chelsea level. GOAL's player notes were a bit cooler on his all-round display, saying: "Enzo Fernandez (6/10): Too often turned backwards when he picked up the ball in the final third. Clever free-kick paid dividends for the equaliser."

That is probably the fairest reading of his afternoon. Fernández was not flawless in open play, but he produced the decisive Chelsea moment.

There is some disagreement in the source material about exactly how that equaliser went in, and whether Wesley Fofana got the final touch. Most of the sources listed in the brief treat it as Fernández's goal from the free-kick delivery, while one source disputes the finish. The safer conclusion is also the most useful one: Fernández's set piece created the equaliser and changed the game.

The draw could have swung either way, but Chelsea had enough good signs

Chelsea nearly had a second after the break when Cole Palmer had a goal disallowed for offside in the build-up in the 49th minute. That moment matters because it showed the visitors were not just hanging on after getting back to 1-1.

Liverpool still had the stronger late pressure. The brief notes that Dominik Szoboszlai struck the post, and Virgil van Dijk also had two shots with one late chance headed against the crossbar. So this was not a performance where Chelsea controlled everything.

Still, if this is being judged through the lens of Chelsea player ratings vs Liverpool, the standout names are pretty clear. Cucurella gave them thrust from the left, Caicedo gave them order in midfield, and Fernández supplied the set-piece quality that rescued the result. In a season where Chelsea are ninth on 48 points, that is a better foundation than another limp defeat. The next step is turning a useful draw and a few strong individual displays into something repeatable.

FAQ

Why was Marc Cucurella one of Chelsea's best players against Liverpool?

Cucurella's advanced role down the left gave Chelsea a reliable attacking outlet at Anfield. Dom Smith described him as a constant threat and Chelsea's biggest weapon, while GOAL's analysis also highlighted Caicedo's through-balls into his runs. His 6.7 rating reflected a positive individual display even in a difficult away game.

How did Moisés Caicedo perform in Chelsea's draw with Liverpool?

Caicedo grew into the game and became one of Chelsea's key players in midfield. GOAL said he began to dominate midway through the first half, with strong through-balls for Cucurella and smart ball-winning. His 7.5 rating was Chelsea's best among the core midfielders and underlined how important he was to the draw.

Did Enzo Fernández score directly from a free-kick against Liverpool?

Most of the sources in the brief treat Fernández's 35th-minute set piece as the equaliser, but there is some disagreement over exactly how it went in and whether Wesley Fofana got the final touch. What is clear from the verified facts is that the free-kick brought Chelsea level in a 1-1 draw at Anfield.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →