Christian Pulisic scored to help earn Chelsea a draw against high flying Liverpool in an otherwise light weekend for Yanks in England.
Chelsea 2 – 2 Liverpool
Christian Pulisic scored just before half-time to earn a point for Chelsea, who had been outplayed by Liverpool in the opening stages.
Liverpool showed their intensity just seven seconds in when Sadio Mane’s header ended with an elbow in the face of Cesar Azpilecueta, which only resulted in a yellow card. Pulisic had a glorious opportunity to open the scoring in the first ten minutes, but he was dispossessed by Caoimhin Kelleher as he tried to round the keeper instead of shooting.
In a spectacular response, Mane succeeded where Pulisic could not, rounding Eduoard Mendy and slotting home the opener in the ninth minute.
Matters went bad to worse for the Blues as Mo Salah got through a static back line and beat Mendy at his near post in the 26th minute for the 2-0 lead.
It looked to be all Liverpool until the 42nd minute after a Chelsea free kick was punched away by Mendy. Mateo Kovacic was waiting on the top of the box and his first-time volley out of the air clanged off the post and in to the netting for a lifeline to the hosts.
The tide shifted immediately and Pulisic rose to the occasion after N’Golo Kante slipped a ball in behind the Liverpool defense. Pulisic settled the ball into his path and opened his body to lob over Kelleher to tie the game at two apiece.
The American had another chance in the second half but it wasn’t enough to win all three points. Chelsea sit second in the Premier League, ten points behind leaders Manchester City.
They will look to get back to winning ways on Wednesday at home against Tottenham in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semifinal.
Watch the game highlights here:
Blackburn Rovers 0 – 0 Huddersfield Town
Duane Holmes had two glorious opportunities to score for Huddersfield Town, who were held to a goalless draw away at Blackburn Rovers.
Holmes’ first chance came from a diving header from point blank range, but it was straight at the Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper. His second chance came in the 63rd minute when his incredible first touch had him in on goal, but his shot let him down as he hit the side netting at the front post.
Huddersfield remain in sixth place and travel to Burnley on Saturday in more Championship action.
Watch the game highlights here:
Notes:
Zack Steffen was on the bench for Manchester City in their narrow 2-1 win over ten-man Arsenal, for whom Falorin Balgoun did not make the bench.
Josh Sargent and Jonathan Tomkinson were out of action as Norwich’s game against Leicester was postponed due to COVID.
Matthew Olosunde was not in uniform as Preston North End beat hosts Stoke by a 2-1 margin on Monday.
