THE NOTEBOOK: Chelsea's interim head coach Bruno Saltor shows he's no Graham Potter clone, Raheem Sterling shrugs off Liverpool taunts... and Frank Lampard returns to Stamford Bridge
- There was no ‘glow-up’-inspired look for the tracksuited head coach Bruno
- Sterling was centre of attention for Chelsea fans and Liverpool supporters
- Elliott's absence ended his 41-game run as Liverpool’s only squad ever-present
Chelsea were held to yet another 0-0 draw by Liverpool on Tuesday in their first match since sacking coach Graham Potter with the Blues showing the same inability to turn chances into goals that led to the manager's downfall.
The fourth goalless stalemate in a row between the two teams - including last season's FA and League Cup finals which Liverpool won on penalties - summed up the problems that have hamstrung the two English heavyweights this season.
Chelsea dominated much of the Premier League encounter but spurned one opportunity after another.
Joao Felix and Mateo Kovacic went close in the opening minutes followed by chances that went untaken by Kai Havertz in another toothless display for the Blues who have scored only 29 times in 29 league games
Here, Sportsmail's ADRIAN KAJUMBA looks at some of the things you may have missed from the game.
There was no ‘glow-up’-inspired look for Chelsea's tracksuited interim coach Bruno Saltor
Saltor shows he's no Potter clone
Graham Potter might be Bruno Saltor’s coaching mentor but the interim Chelsea head coach is his own man.
There was no ‘glow-up’-inspired look for the tracksuited Bruno, who did away with Potter’s recent 3-4-3 in favour of a 3-5-2 and quickly ended the experiment of playing Reece James in a back three.
Under-21 coach Mark Robinson joined him on the bench but Bruno was equally-encouraging towards his players as Potter.
Birthday night off for Elliott
Was it punishment for their poor performance at Manchester City or one eye on Arsenal on Sunday?
Either way Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander- Arnold and Mo Salah were notable omissions from Liverpool’s team while Harvey Elliott’s absence ended his 41-game run as Liverpool’s only squad ever-present this season — on his 20th birthday.
Andy Robertson and Cody Gakpo were on the bench too.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mo Salah and Cody Gakpo were on the bench on Tuesday night
Frank Lampard was back at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night alongside Chris Jones
Lampard back at the Bridge
Frank Lampard was back at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night alongside Chris Jones, a coach who worked with him at his previous clubs.
He will be able to empathise with the man no longer in the Chelsea dugout, Graham Potter, having been sacked by the Blues himself mid-season in 2021.
Still waiting for a goal
These two teams have now shared four straight goalless draws.
You have to go back 405 minutes for the last goal between them, when Christian Pulisic made it 2-2 for Chelsea on January 2, 2022.
Sterling shrugs off taunts
There were connections between these two clubs and reminders of the past throughout last night.
Daniel Sturridge was on punditry duty and Glen Johnson was also in attendance, both of whom played for the two teams.
Another such player, Raheem Sterling, was also centre of attention — ‘one of our own’ according to Chelsea fans — but on the receiving end from Liverpool fans after leaving Anfield in 2015.
It was water off a duck’s back for Sterling who urged them to sing louder.
Steven Gerrard’s 2014 slip to let in Demba Ba was not forgotten either.
Fans remember Taylor
Anthony Taylor was back refereeing Chelsea for the first time since August’s controversial draw against Tottenham which was followed by Thomas Tuchel agreeing it might be best if he never oversaw another Chelsea game.
It did not take long for home fans to remember that game.
Transfer fees Mount up
The impact of Chelsea’s new owners has certainly been felt since their arrival in English football in numerous ways and Liverpool are one club said to have noted one particular difference they have made.
The fees Chelsea paid for the likes of Marc Cucurella and Mykhailo Mudryk are the sort that might be considered inflated and the effect that has had on the market has been a topic of discussion among some at Liverpool.
It will be interesting to see, in that context, what Liverpool might have to pay Mason Mount for example, should they firm up their interest.
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