Chelsea and Liverpool settled for draw on Sunday evening. According to ESPN account of the duel, Chelsea and Liverpool were both dealt a significant blow in the Premier League title race as they played out a thrilling and breathless 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge, a result that leaves leaders Manchester City 10 points clear.
In a meeting between second and third that was billed as crucial in the season, with both sides desperate to keep pace with City following their 11-match winning run, it was Liverpool who struck first as Sadio Mane punished Trevoh Chalobah’s error to put the Reds ahead in the ninth minute.
The build-up to the match was dominated by the omission of Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku after he was dropped by manager Thomas Tuchel and although the Blues had made the brighter start, they found themselves two down inside half an hour when Mohamed Salah beat Marcos Alonso and finished past Edouard Mendy from a tight angle.
Mateo Kovacic handed Chelsea a lifeline with a spectacular, dipping volley from the edge of the box that rattled off the post and beat Liverpool’s stand-in goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, and United States International Christian Pulisic fired the Blues level on the stroke of half-time with a composed left-footed finish to bring a frantic opening period to a close.
Liverpool, who were without manager Jurgen Klopp and some key players, such as Alisson, Roberto Firmino and Joel Matip for the visit to Stamford Bridge after suspected positive COVID-19 tests, had the better of the early second-half chances and Mendy produced a flying save to keep out Salah’s lob.
It was Chelsea who finished on top, however, with Kelleher denying Pulisic’s half-volley from close range while Antonio Rudiger also headed wide from a corner.
The result is a huge boost to City’s chances of defending their Premier League title and leaves Pep Guardiola’s side 10 points clear of second-placed Chelsea and 11 ahead of third-placed Liverpool, although the Reds have a game in hand.
