As the 7th Sept marked the beginning of the Champions League of 2022/2023 season, two English Premier League clubs faced a huge blow, as both lost in their opening fixtures. Not only have they lost 3 valuable points but have allowed a huge dent in their confidence allowing criticism from fans and experts after their slow start in the season. In the Premier League, while Chelsea sits in the 6th position after winning 3 out of 6 games, Liverpool sits a place below Chelsea after they have won only 2 out of 6 games.
Chelsea:
Chelsea under their new owner Todd Boehly has parted ways with Thomas Tuchel after they lost to Dinamo Zagreb in the first UCL match this season which turned out to be the 1st upset of the season. This news came as a big shock to the whole football world even to the Chelsea dressing room. There have been reports that Chelsea has already verbally agreed on terms with Brighton boss Graham Potter. Reports also suggest 3 other backroom staff of Brighton might join Graham at Chelsea.
Coming back to the match for a brief analysis, Chelsea started on a positive note by creating a few dangerous opportunities. Aubameyang and Raheem Sterlin combines beautifully. The former set up the latter, who’s shot was blocked in front of the goal. On the second opportunity, Kai Havertz’s cross kept begging for touch as Aubameyang couldn’t reach it. But suddenly then against the run of play Dynamo scored from a break, which was a very composed run from their striker M.Orsic and needed a clinical finishing. Chelsea’s new signing Wesley Fofana couldn’t match the forward’s run and his recovery speed as a center-back would surely be under a question mark. After that Chelsea did all the attacking, and had the possession but lacked creativity and quick passing to break the low block of their opponent. Their Chelsea forward line wasn’t dropping to pull Dynamo’s defense line a little up the pitch to create the space in between the defense line and the opponent’s goal. In the 2nd half, Aubameyang got a change and put the ball at the back of the net just to see the goal being flagged offside by the line’s man. Dynamo was not always sitting back they did get a couple of opportunities and hit those on the target, but Chelsea keeper Kepa pulled out two wonderful saves.
Chelsea’s lack of creativity in their final third with their attacking line not dropping a bit to pull Dynamo’s defense line upward to create the required space for through balls and run behind the defense.
Liverpool:
On the 2nd UCL night, another big shock came, it was again another Premier League giant, nonother than Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, under whom Liverpool has played 3 UCL finals winning 1 of them. This season though Liverpool has looked shaky, with their crisis in midfield. The decision to put a 36-year-old James Milner in the midfield in the Champions League after the loss to Manchester United is surely questionable as Liverpool lacked the intensity to press and play the game they usually do. Milner also conceded a penalty by coming a handball and Napoli’s 1st goal came from that. On top of that, the Napoli forward was getting past the Liverpool defense line which was playing high up the pitch. Joe Gomez had an awful night who seemed to lack the energy to run to take on Napoli forwards, especially Oshimens, the 2nd & 3rd goals that Liverpool conceded had Gomez at fault. The 4th Napoli goal came from a counterattack again when Napoli players were running unmarked at and behind the defensive line. Napoli planned to hit Liverpool on breaks, but everybody knew that from the beginning, right? Hence Klopp’s decisions are questionable. Liverpool’s loss wasn’t followed by the drama like Chelsea but surely fingers would be raised on Klopp’s decision to not sign a midfielder who fits Liverpool’s profile. The only positive was Luiz Diaz who scored a prolific goal for Liverpool from outside the 18-yard box.
Now only one question has been circulating, how will these 2 clubs respond to their early dismayed performance?
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