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Story by EPL and Photos by Getty Images.
Blues come from behind against Liverpool to ensure the spoils are shared in pulsating contest
A spectacular strike from Mateo Kovacic helped Chelsea to a thrilling 2-2 draw against Liverpool with all four goals arriving in a pulsating first half.
Liverpool led through Sadio Mane’s first goal in eight matches when he rounded Edouard Mendy following a mistake by Trevoh Chalobah on nine minutes.
Mohamed Salah doubled the visitors’ lead 17 minutes later with a brilliant finish past Mendy after Trent Alexander-Arnold’s ball behind the Chelsea defence.
Kovacic pulled a goal back on 42 minutes, superbly volleying in after Marcos Alonso’s free-kick had been punched clear by Caoimhin Kelleher.
Christian Pulisic dramatically levelled on the stroke of half-time with a powerful finish from N’Golo Kante’s pass.
The goalkeepers preserved a point apiece in the second half. Mendy clawed away Salah’s long-distance strike before Kelleher used his feet to keep out Pulisic and then held Mason Mount’s late effort.
Chelsea stay second with 43 points, one more than third-placed Liverpool but 10 adrift of leaders Manchester City.
See: Chelsea report | Liverpool report
Next fixtures
Chelsea: 15 Jan v Man City (A)
Liverpool: 16 Jan v Brentford (H)
Match officials
Referee: Anthony Taylor. Assistants: Gary Beswick, Adam Nunn. Fourth official: Martin Atkinson. VAR: Paul Tierney. Assistant VAR: Constantine Hatzidakis.