Wayne Rooney singles out Chelsea star for praise after Liverpool draw

Man Utd and England legend Wayne Rooney (Picture: BBC)

Wayne Rooney felt Chelsea were the ‘better team’ for the majority of their Premier League draw with Liverpool .

Chelsea had lost six successive Premier League games ahead of their trip to Anfield on Saturday but managed to stop the rot with a 1-1 draw .

The Blues’ miserable run looked set to continue when Ryan Gravenberch curled home a superb strike to give Liverpool an early lead.

But Enzo Fernandez ’s cross-come-shot evaded Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili and brought Chelsea level before half-time.

Both teams had chances to score a winner after the break but the game finished 1-1, meaning Chelsea could be in the bottom-half of the Premier League at the end of the weekend.

Liverpool, meanwhile, stay fourth and move a step closer to qualifying for next season’s Champions League .

Arne Slot ’s side were booed off after the stalemate and Rooney says the Anfield faithful were clearly ‘a bit edgy’ throughout a game they were perhaps fortunate not to lose.

Enzo Fernandez earned Chelsea a point at Anfield (Picture: Getty)

‘I thought Liverpool actually started quite well, got the goal, and then from there Chelsea were the better team,’ Rooney told BBC Sport .

‘They caused Liverpool big problems, especially Marc Cucurella running behind.

‘The crowd were obviously a bit edgy, which you very rarely get from Liverpool fans. You never like to see that, but it comes from not having the season they hoped for, and after spending a lot of money.’

Ryan Gravenberch gave Liverpool an early lead (Picture: Getty)

As well as booing at the full-time whistle, Liverpool fans also made their feelings felt when lively youngster Rio Ngumoha was subbed off with around half an hour remaining.

Explaining that substitution, Slot said: ‘I don’t think it was some of them – there were a lot that didn’t agree with the change which is completely understandable.

‘He was having problems with his muscles and when I asked him he said he was not sure he could continue. I knew this would be the reaction because he is such a good player.

Arne Slot’s Liverpool side were booed off (Picture: Getty)

‘So often in football, people don’t know everything. I am the manager and I need to make decisions. Knowing why makes it more sense for people.’

Reacting to the boos at full-time, Slot added: ‘That’s probably got something to do with us not winning. It completely makes sense people are disappointed if Liverpool don’t win.’

Discussing Liverpool’s performance as a whole, the under-pressure Dutchman said: ‘We started off really well and got a big chance from a set-piece which was close to making it 2-0.

‘Unfortunately, like last week, we conceded a set piece. It was such a sloppy goal.

‘The second half I saw a completely different intensity. We went close a few times. Like so many times this season, we hit the post and bar.

‘We were not able to control their players. They played with a lot of midfielders today.’

Liverpool face top-four rivals Aston Villa next weekend while Chelsea take on Manchester City in the FA Cup final.