Chelsea retaliate in pulsating draw with Liverpool

Chelsea fought back after going two goals down to end up drawing 2-2 with Liverpool in a breathless encounter between the two title chasers at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. The result leaves Manchester City 10 points clear at the top of the Premier League, Chelsea remain second on 43 points from 21 games, one point ahead of Liverpool, who have a game in hand.

Mané and Salah put Reds in the driving seat

With both sides weakened by key absences - and Chelsea dropping striker Romelu Lukaku as punishment following the striker's recent crriticism of coach Thomas Tüchel - Liverpool quickly seemed to have the game in their grip after goals from Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah before they depart for the Africa Cup of Nations. Mané capitalised on an error by Trevoh Chalobah to open the scoring in the ninth minute and Salah doubled the lead 17 minutes later when he ghosted past Marcos Alonso to lift the ball over goalkeeper Edouard Mendy from the tightest of angles.

Chelsea storm back

But the Blues clawed their way back into the game in the 42nd minute when Mateo Kovacic majestically volleyed in off a post from the edge of the box after a punched clearance by Liverpool reserve keeper Caoimhin Kelleher.

Four minutes later, Chelsea were level when Christian Pulisic latched onto a pass by N'Golo Kante that beat Liverpool's offside trap and the American forward coolly lifted the ball over Kelleher into the net. Both sides went close in the second half with Mendy and Kelleher pulling off a series of excellent saves.