Match ends, Chelsea 2, Liverpool 2.
ChelseaChelsea2LiverpoolLiverpool2
Chelsea came from two goals down to earn a draw with Liverpool in a Stamford Bridge classic - a result that only strengthens Manchester City's stranglehold on the Premier League title race.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp missed the game after a suspected positive test for Covid-19 while Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel dropped £97.5m record signing Romelu Lukaku from his squad after a controversial interview in which he expressed discontent with his current situation.
It looked like Klopp would be the happier of the two bosses when Sadio Mane, fortunate to escape with only a yellow card after flattening Cesar Azpilicueta with a high elbow in the opening seconds, pounced on Trevoh Chalobah's mistake to put Liverpool in front after nine minutes.
Mohamed Salah's moment of individual genius, a feint to fool Marcos Alonso then a perfect near-post finish, put Liverpool in command before Chelsea staged their comeback on the stroke of half-time.
Mateo Kovacic's spectacular volley flew beyond Liverpool keeper Caoimhin Kelleher, in for Alisson who also had a suspected positive test for Covid, after 42 minutes before Christian Pulisic raced clear to equalise in first-half stoppage time.
In a hugely entertaining game, both sides had chances to win in the second half with Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy saving superbly from Salah and Mane while Kelleher thwarted Pulisic.
A winner could not be found, which leaves Chelsea, in second, 10 points behind City while Liverpool, in third, are 11 adrift of the leaders with a game in hand.
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Did Tuchel's gamble pay off?
Tuchel's decision to drop Lukaku from his squad for such a vital game was always going to be a high-risk strategy given the stakes.
Was Tuchel showing strong leadership and imposing discipline or was he using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, weakening Chelsea in his determination to lay down the law?
It looked for 42 minutes like Tuchel's ploy would backfire as Liverpool's lethal attack punished Chelsea and Stamford Bridge was in subdued mood with the home team struggling to make an impact.
Suddenly, spectacularly, the game turned around in those decisive moments before half-time and while Tuchel did not get the three points that would have answered all the questions about his decision, there was no doubting Chelsea's spirit and determination because many sides would have gone under with Liverpool in such an imposing position.
Chelsea dragged their way back into the game, although three points was really the required result with Manchester City seemingly on such an unstoppable roll.
Tuchel will now, presumably, reintegrate Lukaku into his squad and try to get the best out of a striker who was supposed to be Chelsea's missing link when he arrived back at the club from Inter Milan in the summer.
The title now looks a far-off prospect but there is still plenty to play for - and both Chelsea and Tuchel will hope Lukaku can play a major part in their pursuit of silverware.
Frustration for Liverpool as lead squandered
Liverpool, with Pep Lijnders in charge, were without three key players with Joel Matip and Roberto Firmino joining Alisson in returning suspected positive Covid tests.
Despite the absences, they looked on course for a vital victory when they raced into that 2-0 lead - and while a draw at Chelsea is hardly a huge setback, the bottom line is they will know they squandered a position of authority in this game.
Their measure of command was never total in such a frantic, high-quality match, but they will be furious at how they allowed Chelsea back into the game in those closing minutes of the first half.
Liverpool's second-choice goalkeeper Kelleher, 23, can be rightly satisfied with his performance as deputy for Alisson, making two fine saves from Pulisic and exuding an air of calm command that marks him out as someone of huge promise.
Klopp and Lijnders will wonder whether it was wise for Liverpool to leave the game so wide open with that vital advantage and Chelsea chasing the game with an air of desperation. They will question their own game management.
Liverpool still carried real danger until the final whistle but they were unable to beat the excellent Mendy and will now look back on two away games at Leicester City and Chelsea in which they picked up only one point - something which may prove very costly in a title race which would appear to have little or no margin for error.
Player of the match
KovacicMateo Kovacic
with an average of 7.52
Chelsea
Avg
- Squad number8Player nameKovacicAverage rating
7.52
- Squad number7Player nameKantéAverage rating
7.42
- Squad number16Player nameMendyAverage rating
6.82
- Squad number10Player namePulisicAverage rating
6.70
- Squad number2Player nameRüdigerAverage rating
6.48
- Squad number6Player nameThiago SilvaAverage rating
6.45
- Squad number28Player nameAzpilicuetaAverage rating
6.33
- Squad number19Player nameMountAverage rating
6.26
- Squad number3Player nameAlonsoAverage rating
5.88
- Squad number14Player nameChalobahAverage rating
5.83
- Squad number29Player nameHavertzAverage rating
5.83
- Squad number20Player nameHudson-OdoiAverage rating
5.59
- Squad number5Player nameJorginhoAverage rating
5.45
Liverpool
Avg
Squad number62Player nameKelleherAverage rating6.95
Squad number11Player nameMohamed SalahAverage rating6.74
Squad number10Player nameManéAverage rating6.28
Squad number4Player namevan DijkAverage rating5.88
- Squad number20Player nameDiogo JotaAverage rating
5.86
- Squad number5Player nameKonatéAverage rating
5.85
- Squad number21Player nameTsimikasAverage rating
5.81
Squad number7Player nameMilnerAverage rating5.72
- Squad number3Player nameFabinhoAverage rating
5.62
Squad number14Player nameHendersonAverage rating5.50
- Squad number8Player nameKeïtaAverage rating
5.36
Squad number15Player nameOxlade-ChamberlainAverage rating5.13
- Squad number17Player nameJonesAverage rating
5.11
Squad number66Player nameAlexander-ArnoldAverage rating4.66
Line-ups
Chelsea
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 16Mendy
- 14ChalobahSubstituted forJorginhoat 70'minutes
- 6Thiago Silva
- 2Rüdiger
- 28Azpilicueta
- 7Kanté
- 8Kovacic
- 3Alonso
- 19Mount
- 10PulisicBooked at 17mins
- 29HavertzSubstituted forHudson-Odoiat 79'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Arrizabalaga
- 5Jorginho
- 17Saúl
- 18Barkley
- 20Hudson-Odoi
- 22Ziyech
- 31Sarr
- 68Vale
- 75Hall
Liverpool
Formation 4-3-3
- 62Kelleher
- 66Alexander-Arnold
- 5KonatéBooked at 83mins
- 4van Dijk
- 21Tsimikas
- 14Henderson
- 3Fabinho
- 7MilnerSubstituted forKeïtaat 69'minutes
- 11Salah
- 20JotaSubstituted forOxlade-Chamberlainat 69'minutes
- 10ManéBooked at 1minsSubstituted forJonesat 90'minutes
Substitutes
- 8Keïta
- 12Gomez
- 13Adrián
- 15Oxlade-Chamberlain
- 17Jones
- 63Beck
- 76N Williams
- 80Morton
- 97Pitaluga
- Referee:
- Anthony Taylor
- Attendance:
- 40,072
Match Stats
Home TeamChelseaAway TeamLiverpool
- Possession
- Home55%
- Away45%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away6
- Corners
- Home6
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home5
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Chelsea 2, Liverpool 2.
Post update
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Christian Pulisic.
Substitution
Substitution, Liverpool. Curtis Jones replaces Sadio Mané.
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Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Konstantinos Tsimikas.
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Attempt missed. Antonio Rüdiger (Chelsea) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Mason Mount with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Callum Hudson-Odoi.
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Attempt saved. Marcos Alonso (Chelsea) left footed shot from long range on the right is saved in the top right corner.
Booking
Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool).
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Attempt saved. Mason Mount (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
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Attempt blocked. Mason Mount (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Naby Keïta (Liverpool).
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Christian Pulisic (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Fabinho (Liverpool).
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Antonio Rüdiger (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Mohamed Salah (Liverpool).
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Comments
Join the conversation
Showing Lukaku who’s boss - fair play TT.
In a game where Anthony Taylor was the referee.
Crazy game the first half.
Can't remember enjoying a game more than that first half as a neutral.
Typical pro-liverpool refereeing 🤬
“Reckless rather than violent…”
According to the VAR
Err… sorry, haven’t plenty of players been sent off this season for ‘reckless’ challenges or did I dream it?
Shocking that the first goal was scored by a man who should not have been on the pitch after 6 seconds.
Chelsea far superior to Liverpool, Kante immense.
Tactical fouls, Mane’s elbow and Tsimikas is a snide, dirty little …. Who always makes out he’s the victim.