Chelsea finally showed some heart against Liverpool – but Man City won’t be as generous as the Reds

After a string of disappointing results, Chelsea managed to snap their losing streak with a hard-fought draw against Liverpool at Anfield. It wasn’t pretty, but it was a start. The Blues now head into a crucial week of preparation for Saturday’s FA Cup final, clutching onto that sliver of hope.

But let’s be honest: does this performance really give us any reason to believe they can topple Manchester City? Or were they simply lucky to face a Liverpool side that matched them in fragility and disorganization?

The early signs weren’t promising. Just five minutes in – a slight improvement from the two-minute concession against Nottingham Forest last week – Ryan Gravenberch was given far too much space on the edge of the box to fire Liverpool ahead. Despite coaches and players insisting after every recent game that this slow-start issue needs fixing, nothing has changed on the pitch.

What did improve, however, was Chelsea’s response. For the first time in months, they actually looked like a team that believed they could fight back. Gone were the usual defeatist shrugs and finger-pointing. There was grit, there was determination, and there was a refusal to roll over.

But let’s not get carried away. That belief was only able to grow because Liverpool were so hesitant themselves. Huge gaps in midfield allowed Moises Caicedo to pick up the ball and turn the tide. Manchester City won’t give up even a fraction of that space. Pep Guardiola’s side are masters of suffocating opponents, and they won’t be as generous as the Reds were.

So, what’s the blueprint for Chelsea at Wembley? If they can defend solidly for at least an hour, they might just have a chance. But if they continue their habit of conceding early – and City are ruthless at punishing such lapses – the game could be over before it truly begins. For a team that’s lucky to even be in this final given their recent form, every minute will count.