Liverpool frustrated by Chelsea draw, Man Utd held at Sunderland
Liverpool were held to a 1-1 draw by Chelsea (PETER POWELL) Liverpool missed the chance to all but secure Champions League action next season after a 1-1 draw against Chelsea, while Manchester United were frustrated in a goalless stalemate at Sunderland on Saturday. Ryan Gravenberch's sweet strike gave Liverpool the perfect start in the sixth minute at Anfield. Chelsea hit back when Enzo Fernandez's 35th-minute free-kick evaded everyone to find the bottom corner.
Boos at full-time reflected the mood around Anfield after another lacklustre performance from the defending champions. The result inched fourth-placed Liverpool closer to Champions League qualification, with a four-point lead over sixth-placed Bournemouth. "I do," said Slot on whether he thinks he can regain the fans' backing.
"Not this season by the way. This season they will have their opinion and it will not change. "If we can have the summer that we are planning to have, then I'm 100 percent convinced that we will be a different team next season than we are now.
" Chelsea can no longer mathematically finish in the top five and remain in ninth. The Blues had lost six consecutive Premier League games to fall out of contention for a top-five place prior to the trip to Merseyside. But a more obdurate performance provided some encouragement for interim boss Calum McFarlane to take into next weekend's FA Cup final against Manchester City.
Manchester United are already assured of Champions League football following their win over Liverpool last weekend. Michael Carrick's third-placed side have little left to play for in and it showed in a dour affair at the Stadium of Light. It was the first time United had failed to score in a league game since November.