Interim Boss Bruno Saltor Reacts To Chelsea Frustrating Draw With Liverpool.

Chelsea were held to a 0-0 draw on Tuesday in their first Premier League match since Graham Potter’s sacking.

Following the sacking of former manager Graham Potter on Sunday after a devastating 2-0 defeat at home to Aston Villa last Saturday, the troubled Blues hosted Liverpool in another Premier League game on Tuesday night.

Caretaker boss Bruno Saltor, a member of Potter’s backroom staff, made his first managerial debut as Chelsea interim boss.

He has spent the entirety of his four-year coaching career under Potter.

On the other hand, In response to Liverpool’s dismal 4-1 defeat at Manchester City on Saturday, Klopp dropped Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold as the Reds boss made six changes.

The game at Stamford Bridge between the two biggest underachievers this season, was suitably mediocre encounter, as the result showed why they are mid-table on the league standings.

Chelsea though, will wonder how they didn't come away with the win after squandering a host of chances and seeing two goals disallowed.

The West London side, made the stronger start of the two troubled teams and Mateo Kovacic’s shot was blocked on the line by Ibrahima Konate.

Reece James and Kai Havertz were both denied goals after VAR checks, while Havertz and Mateo Kovacic wasted glorious opportunities to give caretaker boss Bruno Saltor a winning start to his reign.

Bruno managed to coax a lively performance from Chelsea, but as was so often the case under former boss Potter they paid the price for a lack of cutting edge, as the match ended in a disappointing goalless draw for both sides.

Liverpool hardly looked much better as a third successive league game without a win damaged their faint hopes finishing in the top four.

This is the FOURTH match in a row Chelsea and Liverpool have drew 0-0, that's 420 minutes of play without a single goal scored in open play (2021/22: Carabao Cup final: 0-0, FA Cup final: 0-0; 2022/23: Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea, Chelsea 0-0 Liverpool).

Both teams finished in the top four and met in the FA Cup and League Cup finals last season, yet less than a year later they are languishing in mid-table amid turbulent campaigns.

The result sees Chelsea remain 11th, leaving them with an uncertain future despite the massive investment in new signings made by new owner Todd Boehly since he took over last year.

They are now seeking their third permanent manager of the campaign, with Potter hired in September following Thomas Tuchel’s shock dismissal.

Eighth-placed Liverpool are seven points behind fourth-placed Tottenham in the race to qualify for the Champions League.

Speaking after the game, Chelsea interim boss Bruno acknowledged the team need to develop a cutting edge in front of goal but praised his players' application against Liverpool amid trying circumstances.

When asked why his side were unable to score, he said; "It’s the execution in front of the goal,"

"They are human beings and the confidence has to be there.

"We just need to keep helping the boys. They’ve been through a lot, as well - it’s been a tough season for them. I know they missed chances but what they could affect the most was the attitude and the effort, which was there.

"They score a lot of goals in training. But coming into a game is completely different. It’s something we have been working on but we need to keep going."

Bruno admitted he struggled to embrace his first professional game as a head coach amid the departure of Potter and his No 2, Billy Reid, saying: "It was difficult to enjoy.

"It’s been really difficult, sad, disappointing - but I’ve just been trying to focus on being the best version of myself and helping the boys."

Chelsea put no timeframe on the length of Bruno's expected time in charge and ahead of Saturday's trip to Wolves, the Spaniard said: "As it stands I expect to go home and rest.

"I focus day by day and the owners know the staff will be as professional as we can. We are going to represent this club the best we can. We know the standards here, we know the demands.

"It’s not an easy situation for anyone. We just need to be together and communicate well.”

Chelsea next play away to Wolves in the Premier League, before travelling to Spain to face defending champions Real Madrid in the first leg quarter-final game on Wednesday night.