Posted by Chelsea battled back from two goals down to tie with Liverpool in a classic match at Stamford Bridge, a result that further strengthened Manchester City’s grip on the Premier League title fight.
After a heated interview in which he voiced dissatisfaction with his current situation, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp missed the game due to a possible positive test for Covid-19, while Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel dismissed £97.5 million record acquisition Romelu Lukaku from his team.
Mateo Kovacic has scored two goals in his past 10 Premier League matches after netting just one in his first 93 games
When Sadio Mane, who was lucky to escape with with a yellow card after flattening Cesar Azpilicueta with a high elbow in the opening seconds, pounced on Trevoh Chalobah’s error to put Liverpool ahead after nine minutes, it appeared like Klopp would be the happier of the two managers.
Mohamed Salah’s individual brilliance, a feint to trick Marcos Alonso followed by a brilliant near-post finish, put Liverpool in front before Chelsea’s half-time comeback.
After 42 minutes, Mateo Kovacic’s magnificent strike sailed past Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, who had been brought in for Alisson, who had also tested positive for Covid, before Christian Pulisic raced free to equalize in first-half stoppage time.
Both teams had chances to win in the second half, with Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy save magnificently from Salah and Mane, while Kelleher denied Pulisic. There was no winner, leaving Chelsea in second place, 10 points behind City, and Liverpool in third place, 11 points behind the leaders with a game in hand.
Source: BBC Sport