Chelsea, Liverpool share spoils in thriller to give Man City 10-point lead

Chelsea and Liverpool played out an engaging 2-2 draw in the English Premier League, a result that gives table toppers Manchester City a massive 10-point lead with 17 games to go.

The second and third-placed sides locked horns in London and produced a first half of breathless end-to-end action as all four goals were scored in it.

Star duo Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah opened the scoring for Liverpool, but Chelsea hit back in equal measure as Mateo Kovacic and Christian Pulisic pulled their team back into the game with stunning goals.

The build-up to the game was 'noisy' as Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel put it. The side's record signing Romelu Lukaku was left out of the matchday squad for a controversial interview he did recently, but to Tuchel's relief, he had a few players returning from injury and Covid infections to field a strong side.

Liverpool, on the other hand, were without goalkeeper Allison and striker Roberto Firmino, who got the virus. But most importantly, they were without Jurgen Klopp on the bench, who also tested positive.

In the absence of Allison, Caoimhim Kelleher shone for his team as he made crucial interventions and saves—particularly a one-on-one with Pulisic in the opening minutes.

Though Chelsea pressed heavily and had a large share of the possession in the first half, Mane and Salah produced moments of brilliance to put their side in a commanding position by the 26th minute.

Liverpool are sure to miss the prolific attacking duo as they depart for national duty to participate in the African Cup of Nations that begins next week.

Chelsea, too, will sorely miss their Senegalese goalkeeper Eduoard Mendy, who made stunning saves to keep the scores level.

Strikes from Kovacic and Pulisic late into the first half dragged the London side back into the game, but the team continues their poor home record over the last two months.

The result puts Chelsea on 43 points in 21 games, and Liverpool on 42 points in 20 games as the gap by the end of the match week widened between them and a Manchester City side that are on an 11-match winning streak.