“Too slow”—John Barnes criticises Midfielder after Chelsea draw with Liverpool

Chelsea left Liverpool with a point from a 1-1 draw at Anfield, but the result still left questions over individual performances after a match that swung between control and missed chances. Enzo Fernández cancelled out an early strike from Ryan Gravenberch as both sides struggled for consistency in front of goal.

Liverpool took the lead through Gravenberch’s long-range effort, which curled beyond the goalkeeper after the hosts created space outside the box. Chelsea had set up in a compact shape, but the goal exposed a gap in the midfield line as Liverpool’s Dutch midfielder found time to shoot. The finish stood out as the defining moment of the first half.

Chelsea responded with more control in possession and began to build pressure in the second half. The visitors saw a Liverpool goal ruled out and also struck the woodwork twice as the game opened up. Joao Pedro also had appeals for a penalty turned away in a phase where Chelsea spent long periods in attacking positions without converting dominance into clear chances.

Despite that improvement, attention after the match focused on the defensive moment that led to Liverpool’s opener, with former England international John Barnes highlighting the positioning of Andrey Santos during analysis on Premier League Productions.

Barnes felt Santos could have reacted sooner as Gravenberch prepared to strike. He pointed out that Chelsea had numbers behind the ball but suggested the midfielder did not close down the space quickly enough. The analysis focused on Santos’ delay in stepping out from his position rather than Liverpool’s execution of the shot itself.

Barnes said Chelsea were in a structured defensive shape but believed Santos took too long to engage the ball. He noted that the midfielder appeared to check the situation multiple times before committing forward, which in his view allowed Gravenberch the space to shoot. The criticism centred on timing and awareness rather than effort.

The match marked Santos’ first start since Chelsea’s defeat to Manchester City earlier in the season, a game in which he also struggled to influence midfield battles. His selection came after injuries and absences forced changes in the starting XI, with several attacking players unavailable for selection.

The reshuffle led to a system that saw Fernández pushed into a more advanced role behind Joao Pedro, while Santos partnered in midfield duties with responsibilities focused on ball recovery and transition support. The structure required balance between defensive coverage and progression through midfield, particularly in a high-intensity away fixture.

Chelsea’s coaching staff, led by Calum McFarlane, opted for Santos over Romeo Lavia in that central role. The decision was influenced by fitness management and the need to rotate options in midfield during a busy schedule. It was Santos’ chance to re-establish himself in a side still searching for consistency.

Statistical ratings from the match reflected a mixed performance. According to post-match data from FotMob, Santos recorded a rating of 6.4, placing him among the lower-ranked Chelsea starters on the pitch. Several players finished below him, including substitutes introduced late in the second half by Liverpool manager Arne Slot, but the rating still indicated a difficult afternoon for the Brazilian.

Chelsea’s overall display was competitive, particularly after the break, but missed opportunities and defensive moments shaped the final outcome. The draw extended their recent inconsistency in the Premier League, though the point away at Anfield was still viewed as a steady result given the circumstances of the match.

McFarlane’s selection choices in midfield remain under review as Chelsea prepare for upcoming fixtures. Santos’ involvement in the starting lineup placed him back into a competitive role, but the performance has added pressure on squad rotation decisions moving forward.