Sporting Life
Daniel Sturridge (inset with Liverpool team-mates) and Eden Hazard (right) scored in this fixture for a second time this week
Daniel Sturridge (inset with Liverpool team-mates) and Eden Hazard (right) scored in this fixture for a second time this week

Chelsea 1-1 Liverpool: Daniel Sturridge salvages vital Premier League point for Reds

By Sporting Life
Football
Sat September 29, 2018 · 6y ago

Daniel Sturridge's stunning strike ensured Liverpool avoided a second defeat to Chelsea in four days in a 1-1 Premier League draw at Stamford Bridge.

Eden Hazard, the match-winner in Wednesday's Carabao Cup clash at Anfield, had looked like inflicting the Reds' first league loss in seven games.

Missed opportunities from Mohamed Salah, his replacement Xherdan Shaqiri and Roberto Firmino had looked like being costly.

But former Blues striker Sturridge had other ideas, curling a fine effort into the top corner two minutes after coming on as a substitute for James Milner.

Chelsea players celebrate Eden Hazard's goal against Liverpool

Although the Reds could not build on six wins in six games - their best start in 28 years - Jurgen Klopp will be content with extending their unbeaten run.

Liverpool's most recent title success came in 1989-90 and Chelsea supporters reminded the visitors of recent near misses, singing about Steven Gerrard's slip in April 2014 which effectively ended the Reds' title challenge.

Chelsea's start under Maurizio Sarri has reignited belief of a third title in six seasons. This was the biggest test of that 12/1 possibility so far.

Click here for Saturday's Premier League review for the early kick-offs

Opta match facts

Eden Hazard in action v Liverpool
  • Chelsea have won only two of their last nine home Premier League games against Liverpool (W2 D3 L4).
  • Liverpool remain unbeaten in their opening seven matches of a Premier League season for the first time since 2008-09.
  • Chelsea’s Eden Hazard is the Premier League’s top scorer this season with six goals – he has scored those six goals from just nine shots on target.
  • Liverpool have only conceded two first half goals in their last 13 Premier League matches – both at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea (Oliver Giroud in May, Eden Hazard today).
  • This was the 38th home Premier League game that Chelsea forward Eden Hazard has scored in – he has never ended on the losing side in any of those games (W34 D4 L0).
  • Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge has scored 17 Premier League goals as a sub – only Olivier Giroud (19) and Jermain Defoe (24) have scored more off the bench in the history of the competition.
  • Daniel Sturridge is the seventh player to score 50 Premier League goals for Liverpool, after Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen, Luis Suarez, Fernando Torres and Dirk Kuyt.

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Odds via Sky Bet and correct as of 1655 BST on 29/09/18

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