Enzo Fernandez’s free kick secured Chelsea a 1-1 draw against Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday, ‌ending the visitors’ six-game losing run in the Premier League and earning caretaker manager Calum MacFarlane a first charge point.

Liverpool remained fourth in the table with 59 points from 36 games, a step closer to Champions League qualification, while Chelsea are in ninth with 49 points ​from the same number of matches.

Liverpool took the lead with a wonderful strike from the edge of the box ​by Ryan Gravenberch, but Chelsea improved on their recent limp performances and equalised when Fernandez’s ⁠set-piece eluded everyone and nestled in the bottom corner.

Both sides had efforts correctly ruled out for offside, while Dominik Szoboszlai ​and Virgil van Dijk struck the woodwork for Liverpool as they pressed for a late winner.

“I think the effort today was ​really good,” Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella told TNT Sports. “I don’t think it was probably our best moments, but we showed if we play together and if we play together then we have a good level.

“Hopefully, we can win a bit of confidence from this game because next week ​we have a massive game (against Manchester City in the FA Cup final).

“We aren’t happy because we wanted the three points, ​but we are happy that we showed we’re a really good team if we put in the effort and fight together. Hopefully, we ‌can learn ⁠from this game and play well in these last few games.”

BOOS FOR SLOT

There were boos in the air at full-time from the Anfield faithful, as well as midway through the second half when manager Arne Slot took off lively 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha, replacing him with Alexander Isak.

Liverpool took the lead in six minutes thanks to a fantastic strike from Gravenberch, who ​cut inside from the left ​and curled his shot ⁠into the net.

Chelsea took control and equalised in 35 minutes. Fernandez swung in a low free kick from the right, and the ball ended up in the far corner of ​the net. Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili was seemingly put off by a fresh air shot from ​Chelsea defender Wesley ⁠Fofana as the latter went for the ball.

The home side looked vulnerable at the back, and Chelsea thought they were ahead early in the second period when Cole Palmer’s strike was ruled out with Marc Cucurella offside in the build-up.

It was Liverpool’s turn to be disappointed by the offside flag after Cody Gakpo erred as he set up Curtis Jones for a headed goal that was disallowed.

Szoboszlai struck the base of the post with a low shot and Van Dijk the crossbar with a header from a corner, as neither side could find a winner.

-Reuters

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Manchester United endured a frustrating afternoon in the Premier League on Saturday as an under-strength side were held to a 0-0 draw by Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

Fresh from sealing qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League following last weekend’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Liverpool, United appeared to lack their usual sharpness and were fortunate not to leave Wearside empty-handed after Sunderland created the better opportunities throughout the contest.

The hosts began brightly and nearly broke the deadlock in the seventh minute when Noah Sadiki burst through on goal, only for United goalkeeper Senne Lammens to produce a smart low save.

Lammens was called into action again four minutes later, rushing off his line to deny Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey after the forward dribbled dangerously into the penalty area.

United struggled to create clear openings in difficult wet conditions, and after five changes to the side that defeated Liverpool. Their best chance of the opening half arrived in the 29th minute when Matheus Cunha floated a cross into the box for Joshua Zirkzee, whose header drifted narrowly over the bar.

Sunderland, however, remained the more threatening side. Brobbey dragged a shot just wide in the 32nd minute before Sadiki forced another defensive intervention moments later with a powerful strike that was blocked for a corner.

Sadiki then missed a close-range header in first-half stoppage time as the home side continued to dominate proceedings without finding the breakthrough.

United showed greater urgency after the interval, although clear-cut opportunities remained scarce. Cunha attempted an ambitious long-range effort in the 50th minute, but his shot sailed high over the crossbar.

Three minutes later, Amad Diallo engineered United’s best attacking move of the game when he advanced into the Sunderland area, but his attempted pass to a teammate was intercepted by the home defence.

Despite United enjoying more possession as the second half progressed, Sunderland continued to threaten on the counterattack. Lammens produced another important save in the 62nd minute to deny Brobbey, who came close to finally rewarding the hosts for their attacking intent.

Sunderland were inches away from snatching victory in the 71st minute when Lutsharel Geertruida unleashed a fierce strike from the edge of the area that crashed against the left post, allowing United to escape once more.

Neither side could find a late winner, leaving interim United manager Michael Carrick visibly frustrated at the final whistle despite securing a point away from home.

While United’s Champions League place is already secured, the performance exposed areas that may require improvement ahead of next season.

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Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes was named the Football Writers’ Association men’s player of the year on ​Friday after a standout season in which his ‌assists helped his side back into the Champions League, while Manchester City forward Khadija “Bunny” Shaw claimed the women’s award for ​the second time.

Women’s Super League – Manchester City v Aston Villa – Manchester City Academy Stadium, Manchester, Britain – December 14, 2025 Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw celebrates scoring their fifth goal and completes her hat-trick Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Fernandes has scored eight league goals ​and provided 19 assists, leaving him one short ⁠of the Premier League record jointly held by Thierry ​Henry and Kevin De Bruyne, with three matches remaining.

The ​31-year-old Portuguese midfielder beat runner-up Declan Rice of Arsenal by 28 votes, with Manchester City striker Erling Haaland third, and Fernandes is ​the first United player to win the award ​since Wayne Rooney in 2010.

United, inspired by a rejuvenated Fernandes, and ‌interim ⁠manager Michael Carrick, have flown up the Premier League standings to third spot and are already assured of a return to the Champions League next season after a ​two-year absence.

Jamaican ​striker Shaw, who ⁠previously took the award in 2024, has led City to their first Women’s ​Super League (WSL) title in 10 years.

Shaw has netted ​19 ⁠goals in 21 games, on track to win the Golden Boot for a third successive season, and was a ⁠landslide ​winner of the vote ahead ​of last year’s victor, Arsenal’s Alessia Russo. Chelsea’s Lauren James finished third ​in the vote.

-Reuters

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