Chelsea halted their alarming Premier League slide with a gritty 1-1 draw at Anfield, a result that provides more than just a point—it offers interim head coach Calum McFarlane a tactical blueprint for next weekend's FA Cup final against Manchester City. The Blues had lost six consecutive league matches, a club record, and were staring at a seventh when Ryan Gravenberch curled Liverpool ahead in the sixth minute. But Enzo Fernandez's free-kick, which floated past the wall and into the net, sparked a revival that saw Chelsea compete throughout, with both sides having chances to win.
Marc Cucurella, deployed as an attacking wing-back in a back-three system, praised the team's resilience. "I think the effort today was really good. We showed if we play together then we have a good level," he told TNT Sports. "We are happy that we showed we're a really good team if we put in the effort and fight together. Hopefully we can win a bit of confidence from this game because next week we have a massive game." His words echoed the determination Chelsea will need against Pep Guardiola's dominant City side.
The transformation was tactical. McFarlane switched to a back three for the first time in his interim tenure, a formation rarely used under predecessor Enzo Maresca. The return of Levi Colwill, making his first start in 10 months after a Club World Cup final injury, added composure and stability. "I thought Levi was the best player on the pitch. He gives you the ability to play out from the back, he's a leader and that was his first 90 minutes in a long time," McFarlane said. Colwill partnered Wesley Fofana, who had been previously overlooked, and the pair looked solid.
Jorrel Hato, a consistent performer during Chelsea's slump, was also recalled. The system allowed Cucurella to push high, exploiting Liverpool's makeshift right-back Curtis Jones. Cole Palmer, enduring a 10-game goal drought, looked brighter and had a goal ruled out for offside. The improvement came despite Chelsea being without four senior wingers, forcing academy teenagers Mathis Eboue and Ryan Kavuma-McQueen onto the bench.
Injury luck may be turning. Chelsea are hopeful Alejandro Garnacho and Pedro Neto will recover in time for the FA Cup final, while captain Reece James made his first appearance in almost a month as a substitute at Anfield. These returns could be crucial against City's relentless attack.
The context underscores the importance of this performance. Chelsea had lost seven of their last eight league games, including a humiliating 3-1 home defeat to relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest in McFarlane's first match. That defeat, coupled with the departure of manager Liam Rosenior amid player unrest, had left the club in disarray. McFarlane needed a response, and he got one.
"We got the reaction we wanted and hopefully we can build on that," he said. "It was a good point and a good performance. It was a game that could have gone either way. We had moments to win it... but it was a much-improved performance." The draw snapped a 14-game league streak without a clean sheet, the longest since 1979, but more importantly, it restored a semblance of belief.
For the FA Cup final, the blueprint is clear: defend resolutely, use the back three to nullify City's width, and hit on the counter. Chelsea have proven they can win one-off games, having beaten the champions of Spain, Italy, England, and France en route to Club World Cup glory last summer. But replicating that against Guardiola's machine, even with a renewed spirit, remains a tall order.
McFarlane's side will head to Wembley with a tactical plan and a fighting chance. If they show the same drive as they did at Anfield, they might just end a troubled season with silverware. Based on reporting from BBC Sport.