Liverpool and Chelsea’s poor seasons were concluded with a pointless 0-0 draw at Anfield on Saturday to help their chances of climbing into the Premier League’s top four.
A point leaves both clubs nine points off the Champions League places and nobody can suggest they can quickly build on their previous glory to climb the table.
Chelsea had Kai Havertz’s goal ruled out for offside early on and there were flashes of promise from new 100 million euro ($108 million) signing Mykhailo Mudryk off the bench.
But the Blues remain in 10th place without an away league win since October.
Liverpool move up to eighth, above Brentford on goal difference.
Jurgen Klopp described Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat to Brighton last weekend as his worst performance in eight years at Anfield and, in the 1000th game of his managerial career, made big changes with Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Trent Alexander-Arnold. on the bench.
The personnel change could not lead to a much improved performance as the Reds were rewritten in the first 45 minutes by Chelsea.
Graham Potter’s men had the ball in the net after just three minutes when Havertz headed in after Thiago Silva hit the post from a corner.
However, the German was ruled offside after a VAR review.
Cody Gakpo twice blazed through with two of Liverpool’s best sight of goal before the break, but the visitors came closest to breaking the deadlock when Benoit Badiashile’s header was also saved by Alisson Becker from another dangerous set-piece.
Klopp’s half-time team talk had the desired effect as the home side went out on the front foot early in the second period.
But they failed to create a clear-cut chance as Gakpo and Naby Keita saw their shots blocked in the area.
Mudryk was made to wait for his debut, but the Ukrainian’s introduction 10 minutes into the second half sparked Chelsea into life when he fired into the side-netting after some quick runs.
The arrival of Darwin Nunez from the bench had the same impact on Liverpool’s attack, but the Uruguayan was also unable to find a way through.
After a run, Nunez’s shot lacked the power to beat Kepa Arrizabalaga before giving Alexander-Arnold the opportunity to carve out Liverpool’s best chance of the game.
After stalemates in last season’s League and FA Cup finals, which Liverpool won on penalties, the third consecutive meeting between the teams was goalless.