Chelsea versus Liverpool is the most played English football fixture in the 21st century. These two sides have met 71 times in the last 23 years – a rivalry filled with European Cup battles, domestic cup finals and historic clashes.
But this in reality felt like a game between eighth and 11th, as it was.
It was a game filled with mistakes and thus, it was the class of N’Golo Kante, on his first start since August, that truly stood out on what was otherwise a forgettable game of football.
This was a night of change at Stamford Bridge. Six in total for Liverpool from their weekend mauling at the Etihad. A change in the dugout for Chelsea after Graham Potter’s sacking with Bruno Salter in charge. Yet it was the return of Kante, making just his fourth appearance of the season, that was perhaps the most eye-catching change of them all.
Kante, captain on the night, led from the outset, bringing a different dimension to Chelsea’s play. His energy, unparalleled. His presence, unmissable. His impact, undoubted. From tracking back and halting any sign of a Liverpool counter to driving forward and constantly being at the heart of Chelsea’s transitions.
For all of Liverpool’s woes, no side has had more ‘fast breaks’ than them this season but Kante was equal to the task. The Frenchman was a step ahead of Liverpool’s midfield trio, at one point nonchalantly nodding the ball past Curtis Jones with his head and running onto his own pass. It was borderline taking the mick. He was simply too hot to handle.
It was that phase of play which ended with Reece James volleying in, only for it to be ruled out as Enzo Fernandez was offside in the build up.
But Kante’s night of work was only just getting started, winning possession eight times in the first half – more than anyone else.
All in between a break where alongside Wesley Fofana and Kalidou Koulibaly, his Muslim teammates at Chelsea, the trio took advantage of the Premier League’s guidance to allow for a natural pause, for players to break their fasts in Ramadan.
With local sunset shortly before 8pm, they had already broken their fasts but this was a chance to get some much needed fuel down them. Not that Kante needed any. With a sip of water and a squeeze of a sachet of energy gel, he was off again. If it wasn’t for that break, you would hardly have known that the 32-year-old was fasting, with his work-rate.
Regardless of Liverpool’s declining midfield, this was a night where Kante demonstrated his class once again. And just how much important he will be next week at the Bernabeu against the likes of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Eduardo Camavinga in a Champions League quarter-final.
This has been nothing short of a weird season for Kante, marred by injury. His last three Chelsea home games have come under different managers. A quite bizarre stat that sums up the current shambolic state of affairs at this club.
But in Kante is a constant. A reliable presence and an infusion of energy. If his first half was impressive, he started the second determined to make his return a winning one.
From the restart, it was he put Mateo Kovacic through and the Croatian really should have finished but blazed over from 12 yards out.
Kante was persistent. His through ball then put through Kai Havertz who scored, but had his goal overturned by VAR for handball.
As the Chelsea support sang the classless ‘sign on’ chants to the travelling support, they would have been left with little doubt about who they hope will be signing something pretty soon.
With Kante’s contract expiring in June, the expectation is that the Frenchman will sign a new two-year deal. For a low-maintenance, world-class midfielder, that will be one of the easier decisions for the Chelsea hierarchy in a summer that will be filled with big calls.
With 20 minutes to go, Salter took Kante off. A decision no doubt made with future games in mind. And his presence was no doubt missed as the game meandered to a goalless conclusion. That is now seven hours and 45 minutes of football between these two sides, without a goal.
There aren’t many things going too well for Chelsea at the moment. It’s fair to say the same for Liverpool too. But for all the chaos and upheaval in West London, unlike at Anfield, there is still the possibility of silverware at Stamford Bridge this season.
In a weeks time, they will be tasked with the challenge of going to the home of the reigning European champions. And there is little doubt how integral Kante will be if they are to stand any chance of somehow pulling off a result.
SOURCE: dailymail.co.uk
