Chelsea 1 Liverpool 1: Daniel Sturridge stunner cancels out Eden Hazard strike at Stamford Bridge

Joe Krishnan30 September 2018

Daniel Sturridge played the part of super sub after scoring a stunning equaliser to rescue a 1-1 draw for Liverpool against his former club Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Eden Hazard had put the sword to Liverpool for a second time in the space of four days with a strike in the first half.

But after Liverpool pressed for an equaliser, Sturridge, who had been on the pitch for only a few minutes, unleashed an unstoppable curler into the top corner to snatch a point.

It was a fiercely contested game and entertaining from the first moment to last as both sides went all out for the points.

But Hazard looked to steal the show again when he opened the scoring. The Belgian, who scored a marvellous winner in the EFL Cup clash on Wednesday, came back to haunt the Liverpool defence again with a sublime left-footed strike into the bottom corner.

Mohamed Salah had a number of opportunities to score against his former club but the Egyptian was lacking the killer touch in front of goal that helped him win the Golden Boot last season.

He was denied, however, by a superb piece of defending from Antonio Rudiger. The 26-year-old wriggled into between Marcos Alonso and when through on goal rounded Kepa Arrizabalaga. Off balance, he prodded his effort goalwards but Rudiger was on hand to clear the danger.

Kepa then repaid his hefty price tag, making a superb save down low to deny Sadio Mane's goalbound shot.

Hazard could and should have added a second in the second half when he was set through by Kante, but the 27-year-old hit his effort straight at Alisson Becker.

Liverpool pressed high in the second half and were unusually wasteful in front of goal, with Firmino denied by David Luiz on the line and Salah too missing good chances.

The Egyptian was then surprisingly withdrawn, but his replacement Xherdan Shaqiri should've equalised after being played in by Andy Robertson.

Chelsea looked to be comfortable in defence until Sturridge came on for Milner. And the striker made an immediate impact, shooting from 25 yards and his effort dipped over Kepa to send the away support into pandemonium.

A draw was perhaps the fair result and both sides remain unbeaten after this pulsating encounter, but for Chelsea it will feel like two points dropped.

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