Chelsea held by Liverpool in first game since Graham Potter's sacking

Chelsea began life after Graham Potter with a goalless draw against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge that saw them fail to score at home for the fifth time in 2023.

Interim boss Bruno Saltor, thrust into the job after Potter was abruptly sacked on Sunday, proved no more able to get the hosts firing than the manager he replaced as the depths of the team’s goalscoring problem were laid bare against a Liverpool side that also offered little.

It was a familiar story for an exasperated home support. Once again they witnessed their team expend bountiful energy and dominate in terms of chances created but fail to emerge with three points or reason to be optimistic.

The club began the search for Potter’s successor in earnest this week, with Luis Enrique and former Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann the early front-runners. On this evidence, neither coach will relish the appointment.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp admitted both sides are struggling, telling BBC Sport: “It was two teams low on confidence but really fighting. We’re fine with a point, a lot of good stuff. We showed a lot of fight. We have to keep going.

“We had our opportunities up front. It was not spectacular. It was a step. That’s what we have to do – make steps. Sometimes smaller steps.

“I didn’t expect a team with six changes to play the best game of the season. The boys who came in used their opportunity and showed they were ready.

“We cannot talk about the goals we have if we don’t get points. We don’t give up, we will fight. We can talk a lot but we have to show. We saw a step in the right direction.

“We have to get through it. That’s how life is. You have to fight to change your fortunes.”

Chelsea had started with voracious intent, determined to punish the