Match reportLiverpool draw 1-1 with Chelsea in Premier League at Anfield

The Reds took a sixth-minute lead in their penultimate home fixture of the campaign, courtesy of a fine curling strike from Ryan Gravenberch.

But the points would end up being shared after Enzo Fernandez scored with a free-kick 10 minutes before half-time.

Team

Giorgi Mamardashvili was back in goal following an injury and one of three changes, with Milos Kerkez and Rio Ngumoha the others restored.

Alexander Isak also returned from an absence and began on the bench.

Liverpool: Mamardashvili, Van Dijk, Konate (Gomez, 77), Kerkez, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Jones, Gakpo (Chiesa, 77), Frimpong, Gravenberch, Ngumoha (Isak, 67).

Unused subs: Woodman, Robertson, Nyoni, Morrison, Ndiaye, W. Wright.

First half

Ngumoha picked up the pieces of a Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick that had been blocked and shifted the ball on to the opening goalscorer.

On the edge of the box, Gravenberch took a touch to get the ball out of his feet and then bent it into the far corner of Filip Jorgensen's net.

Virgil van Dijk snuffed out a quick Chelsea response with a brave header to stop Joao Pedro from connecting with a Malo Gusto cut-back.

The Liverpool captain nearly doubled his side's lead a few moments later off a corner routine, but was unable to connect cleanly with a finish at the back post and watched his side-foot bounce into the ground and go over.

Mamardashvili intercepted a threatening Cole Palmer through ball in search of Joao Pedro and then saved well from Marc Cucurella prior to being beaten.

Fernandez's low free-kick in from the right evaded everyone in the box – including Wesley Fofana, who looked to connect with it – and ended up squeezing in at the far post.

Mamardashvili ensured it was level at the break by getting in between a powerful hit from Fernandez.

Second half

The Reds had another reprieve soon after the restart, when Palmer had a goal disallowed by VAR. The review concluded Cucurella had been offside in the build-up.

Curtis Jones thought he had put the hosts 2-1 up with a close-range nod, only for the assistant referee to raise his flag immediately to rule Cody Gakpo, who headed back across goal, had strayed beyond the deepest defender.

A whip from Szoboszlai was pushed behind by Jorgensen and then a powerful drive from the No.8 struck the post.

Joao Pedro went close from inside the box before the woodwork denied Liverpool again – this time a Van Dijk header from a corner smacking the crossbar.

Despite an open conclusion to the affair and seven minutes of stoppage time, no further goals were found.

Attendance: 60,429