Liverpool missed a win in the first game of the new Premier League season. Coach Jürgen Klopp’s team only drew 1-1 (1-1) at Chelsea on Sunday. Luis Diaz (18th minute) gave the Reds, who started with former Leipzig player Dominik Szoboszlai, the lead. Frenchman Axel Disasi (37th) scored to equalize for the Londoners.
The spectators at Stamford Bridge saw a fast paced and entertaining game of football between two committed teams in the first half. Other goals from Mohamed Salah for Liverpool and Ben Chilwell for Chelsea were disallowed for offside following the intervention of the video assistant. After the halftime break there were chances for both sides. After an hour, however, the pace slowed. Liverpool’s Darwin Nuñez attempted a long-range shot in added time, but it went wide before Mykhailo Mudryk’s chance to give Chelsea the winner.
Klopp: “I’m the manager of the whole team”
There was excitement when Liverpool’s Salah was substituted, who showed absolutely no understanding for his coach’s decision, left the pitch visibly angry, ran past Klopp on the sidelines and sat down straight on the substitutes’ bench. Klopp reacted calmly after the game and defended his decision. He can’t remember Salah ever leaving the pitch happy and that’s perfectly fine, said the Liverpool manager. “It was clear that he wasn’t happy about that, I understand that and it’s not a problem.”
Klopp took the 31-year-old Egyptian off the field in the 77th minute. Annoying for the striker: As a result, Salah failed to score in the eighth opener in a row and set a Premier League record. He didn’t even think about that at the moment and didn’t even know that Salah would have set a record with a goal, Klopp admitted. “But I’m the manager of the whole team and at that moment we needed fresh legs. It really made sense for us and of course it had nothing to do with Mo or anything against him,” explained the 56-year-old.
In addition to Szoboszlai, the new Argentinian world champion Alexis Mac Allister was on the starting lineup for Europa League participants Liverpool. At Chelsea, new coach Mauricio Pochettino brought four newcomers from the start, including goalscorer Disasi. Christopher Nkunku, who came from RB Leipzig in the summer, had to undergo surgery after a knee injury and is expected to be out for several months.
The Londoners had reduced their squad after a disastrous season and missed qualification for a European competition and, among other things, handed over German international Kai Havertz to local rivals Arsenal. Spanish goalkeeper Kepa also joined Real Madrid on a one-season loan this Monday. He is succeeded in the Chelsea goal by his compatriot Robert Sanchez, who came from Brighton.
Havertz and Arsenal win
National player Havertz started the new season successfully with his new club. One day after champions Manchester City won the opening game, the 24-year-old scored a 2-1 (2-0) win over Nottingham Forest with Arsenal. Eddie Nketiah (26′) and Buyako Saka (32′) scored in a strong first half for the English Championship runners-up. In the eventful final phase, the former Unioner Taiwo Awoniyi (83rd) scored the goal.
Havertz switched from Chelsea to the Gunners for the equivalent of around 75 million euros before the season. Secured by Declan Rice, who was also courted by Bayern Munich and came from West Ham United for 116 million euros, this time he played like team captain Martin Odegaard in attacking midfield. In the Supercup (Community Shield), which Arsenal had won 4-1 on penalties against ManCity six days earlier, Havertz had played as a striker.
Elisabeth Schlederl, Munich Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 1 Published/Updated: Benjamin Fischer Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 1
Without the goalscorer Harry Kane, who switched to the German record champions Bayern Munich, Tottenham Hotspur could not get past a 2-2 (2-2) draw at FC Brentford. Former Wolfsburg player Micky van de Ven was in the starting lineup for the guests. Bryan Mbeumo (26′, penalty kick) and Yoane Wissa (36′) scored for Brentford with former Freiburg player Mark Flekken between the posts. Christian Romero (11th) and Emerson Royal (45th + 4) were successful for the Spurs.
