1-0 Mohamed Salah
1-1 Willian

LIVERPOOL 1 CHELSEA 1: WILLIAN'S STROKE OF LUCK DENIES SALAH HIS MOMENT

Liverpool will look to rebound from their mixed fortunes in Europe when they host Chelsea at Anfield in a key Premier League encounter on Saturday. By contrast, the Blues will be aiming to keep pace in the title race after moving up to third last week.

Chelsea's season has been revived by a sequence of four consecutive wins, including victories over Manchester United and West Bromwich Albion. Manager Antonio Conte's team scored 10 times and kept three clean sheets during this run.

The Blues will feel confident about turning prolific striker Alvaro Morata and in-form forward Eden Hazard loose against a shaky Liverpool defence. Defensive issues saw the Reds blow a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 away to Sevilla in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.

Mohamed Salah looked set to lead Liverpool to victory over his former club Chelsea but substitute Willian grabbed a point for the champions.

Willian came off the bench to net a seemingly fortuitous equaliser as Chelsea snatched a 1-1 draw against Liverpool at Anfield.
Mohamed Salah appeared set to punish his former club when he broke the deadlock in an absorbing contest after 65 minutes.

But Brazil international Willian, who scored twice in the 4-0 Champions League win over Qarabag in midweek, picked out the far corner with a chipped attempt from the right-hand side of the penalty area five minutes from time – Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet caught out as he shaped to cross.

Roaming behind Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata, Eden Hazard was the game's outstanding player during the opening 45 minutes, while Salah relished providing Liverpool's sharpest attacking threat after Jurgen Klopp surprisingly opted to bench Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino following the midweek collapse at Sevilla.

Egypt star Salah scored twice in 13 Premier League games for Chelsea before being farmed out to Fiorentina and Roma in Serie A but now has 10 in as many top-fight appearances since swapping the Italian capital for Merseyside during the close season.

Yet, the final word came from Willian, with boss Antonio Conte tearing jubilantly around on the touchline. His champions are three points behind Manchester United in third, with Liverpool two places and three points further back.