Football LIVE: Slot’s decision booed as Liverpool and Chelsea share spoils, Middlesbrough held to 0-0 draw by Southampton

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Live BlogUpdated: 14:36, 9 May 2026Follow all of the latest as another weekend of Premier League football starts and the EFL play-offs continue.Last night, Hull City and Millwall played out a dull 0-0 draw in the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final, and today, Middlesbrough and Southampton produced the same.This game was overshadowed by a new Spygate saga, and the Saints have been charged by the EFL.In the Premier League, Liverpool and Chelsea played out an entertaining 1-1 draw at Anfield.And later on, Manchester City can cut the gap to Arsenal to two points with their game in hand before the Gunners play West Ham United tomorrow.Middlesbrough 0-0 Southampton - FULL TIME How that has ended 0-0, I'll never know, but it has!Middlesbrough battered Southampton in the first 45 minutes, but they couldn't find the back of the net.And in the second half, the Saints came on very strongly.They hit the crossbar and saw a couple of big chances go begging, but amid all the spygate stuff, it is advantage to the Saints.They host the second leg early next week.Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea - FULL TIME Well, there goes the final whistle, and the spoils are shared.It ends Chelsea's dreadful run of defeats, and the performance was much better.The Reds opened the scoring through Ryan Gravenberch's strike from the edge of the area following great work by Rio Ngumoha.It appeared the home side would build on that, but they didn't.Instead, Chelsea responded and scored through an Enzo Fernandez free-kick that went through everyone and ended up in the back of the net.Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea - NO PENALTYChelsea are denied a late spot kick!Joao Pedro and Jeremie Frimpong get into a tangle of legs in the Liverpool penalty area.Both players hit the deck, and the referee says no penalty.VAR has a long look as well, but they decide it isn't a spot kick either.Middlesbrough 0-0 Southampton - Chances Saints so close to a late winner!Ryan Manning delivers an excellent ball in from the left that Taylor Harwood-Bellis smashes towards goal.His header hits the bar.Samuel Edozie has also just fired wide as well from a tight angle.Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea - Chance Virgil van Dijk rocks the crossbar!Dominik Szoboszlai delivers a brilliant outswinging ball from a corner.It's an excellent delivery and Van Dijk throws himself at it.The header hits the woodwork and flies over the bar.Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea Ibrahima Konate indicates he can't carry on, and Joe Gomez comes on.Federico Chiesa is also on for Cody Gakpo.Meanwhile, Alexander Isak has done nothing so far.Stuart Pearce on talkSPORT said: "I don't think he's had a touch yet."Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea Boos at Anfield as Arne Slot makes an unpopular change.He takes Rio Ngumoha off, which goes down badly with the home crowd.Alexander Isak is on for a rare appearance as the Reds look to win the game.Sunderland vs Man United: Team newsRight, teams are in for the 3pm contest at the Stadium of Light between Sunderland and Manchester United.Lutsharel Geertruida replaces the suspended Dan Ballard.Meanwhile, Man United have a few injury concerns.Casemiro is out, so Mason Mount comes into the team for him.Benjamin Sesko is missing, meaning a rare start for Joshua Zirkzee.Noussair Mazraoui also comes into the XI.Sunderland: Roefs, Mukiele, Geertruida, Alderete, Reinldo, Xhaka, Sadiki, Hume, Le Fee, Talbi, BrobbeyMan United: Lammens, Mazraoui, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw, Fernandes, Mainoo, Amad, Mount, Cunha, ZirkzeeNO GOAL! Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea Now, Liverpool have a goal ruled out!Great play from Jeremie Frimpong on the right to lay a ball back to Dominik Szoboszlai.He clips a cross to the far post that Cody Gakpo heads it across goal for Curtis Jones, and he heads home.But the Dutchman is offside!NO GOAL!

Liverpool 1-1 ChelseaCole Palmer denied!Moises Caicedo slides a pass behind for Marc Cucurella.He squares for Joao Pedro, and Virgil van Dijk gets there first.The ball hits Giorgi Mamardashvili and sits up for Palmer, who fires in.However, Cucurella timed his run wrong!Middlesbrough 0-0 Southampton - HALF TIME That's the end of a 45-minute battering for Southampton, but they are still in the game and the tie.The home side have had 75 per cent possession and 17 shots.In response, the Saints haven't had a single effort at goal and are fortunate to still be level at 0-0.Tommy Conway has seen an effort blocked off the line, hit the post and Daniel Peretz has denied him.Peretz also stopped a Matt Targett effort and Luke Ayling has fired just wide.Are Boro going to regret those missed opportunities?Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea - HALF TIME That's the end of the first 45 minutes, and it was very different for both sides.Liverpool started well and grabbed an early goal through Ryan Gravenberch.But they allowed Chelsea back into the game, and they got level through an Enzo Fernandez free-kick that missed everyone and went in.Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea - Chance Should do better!Is this the same Chelsea team that played on Monday?Chelsea started poorly, but they should be in the lead as Enzo Fernandez brings down a pass with a great first touch.He drives towards goal and fires in a strike that Giorgi Mamardashvili stops.Middlesbrough 0-0 Southampton - Chances It won't go in!This is one of the most dominant first-half performances without a goal from Middlesbrough, but they can't score.Tommy Conway hit the post earlier on, and Daniel Peretz has just made a double save to deny the home side.The first stop in particular to deny Conway from close range before tipping away Matt Targett's effort.Boro have had 15 shots so far...GOAL! Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea - Enzo FernandezDESERVED!Chelsea are level, and they've earned it with a strong response to going a goal down.It's a very odd goal, but they won't care.Enzo Fernandez has a free-kick wide on the right that he whips in low.It is begging to be touched in, and Wesley Fofana comes close.But the ball beats everyone, hits the inside of the post and goes in.Stuart Pearce is baffled.

On talkSPORT, he said: "One of the most unusual goals I've ever seen."Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea - ChanceFinally, Chelsea wake up.Cole Palmer finds a bit of space in front of the Liverpool defence and dinks a ball down the left for Marc Cucurella.The Spaniard is in on goal and drives an effort across goal.It's a decent strike that Giorgi Mamardashvili tips wide.Middlesbrough 0-0 Southampton - ChanceThat is close!Middlesbrough have made an unbelievable start at home to Southampton.They are camped in the Saints half and are firing in shot after shot.But they've only created one real clear-cut chance as Callum Brittain gets in down the right and rifles in a cross.Riley McGree connects and pokes it towards goal and wide.Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea - Chance Chelsea are all over the place!Liverpool take a corner short and the ball is played back and delivered to the far post.The man marking Virgil van Dijk steps up to try and catch him offside.He gets it all wrong and leaves Van Dijk free in the box.But from six yards out, he fires over the bar.GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea - Ryan GravenberchTHAT IS A BEAUTY!Liverpool are in the lead inside six minutes, and it's Ryan Gravenberch!Rio Ngumoha picks up the ball on the left and slips a pass into the Dutchman on the edge of the box.He opens up his body and curls an effort at goal that nestles in the far corner.However, the replays suggest that Flip Jorgensen should do better.Stuart Pearce on talkSPORT said: "I think the goalkeeper is hoping for cover, and he couldn't move hid feet quick enough."It wasn't in the corner."Kick-offsRight, we are underway in both the Premier League at Anfield and at the Riverside.Liverpool taking on Chelsea is usually a special game, but both teams aren't at their best.Meanwhile, Middlesbrough and Southampton have enjoyed top seasons.And a spot at Wembley and potentially the Premier League is up for grabs.Wirtz absence revealed There was no mention of Florian Wirtz not being available for this game ahead of the match.But The Athletic's James Pearce claims the German international has been suffering with illness.And he hasn't recovered in time, so he misses out with a stomach infection.It gives Rio Ngumoha a chance on the left.Middlesbrough vs Southampton: Team newsAnd in the Championship play-off semi-final first leg between Middlesbrough and Southampton, we also have the team news.From the 2-2 draw with Wrexham on the final day that cost the Welsh side a play-off spot of their own, Kim Hellberg makes one change.Riley McGree is fit and comes into the XI for Alan Browne.But despite a late fitness test, Hayden Hackney isn't available.The Saints beat Preston North End on the final day, and there are five changes.James Bree, Ryan Manning, Flynn Downes, Finn Azaz and Cyle Larin all start.Middlesbrough: Brynn, Ayling, Fry, Malanda, Brittain, Targett, McGree, Morris, Whittaker, Conway, StrelecSouthampton: Peretz, Bree, Harwood-Bellis, Wood, Manning, Downes, Jander, Fellows, Azaz, Scienza, LarinLiverpool vs Chelsea: Team newsAmid all the juicy play-off stuff, there is actually a big Premier League game taking place.Liverpool host Chelsea, knowing that they can all but secure Champions League football with a win.Meanwhile, Chelsea are in danger of getting no European football at all, and are ten points off the Reds.From the 3-2 defeat to Manchester United, Arne Slot makes three changes.Giorgi Mamardashvili is fit so returns in goal for Freddie Woodman.