Belgian forward scored a deserved first-half strike but the Reds hit back to share the spoils
JUST when we thought it was going to be the Eden Hazard show, Daniel Sturridge got involved.
The injury-jinxed striker scored an absolutely stunning goal in the final minute of normal time to land Liverpool a draw after Hazard's brilliant opener in the first half.
Liverpool had seemed to run out of ideas before Sturridge - who had only been on the pitch for three minutes- hammered the ball from 25 yards into the top corner.
It was certainly a sweet moment for Sturridge, not forgetting that he used to play for Chelsea.
Hazard had earlier proved just why he is 100 per cent the best player in the Premier League – and arguably the world – with a strike of pure brilliance to blow apart Liverpool’s fine start to the season.
That was also 100 per cent - but no longer - although Liverpool will take a draw.
It was always going to need something special to spike the guns of Jurgen Klopp’s side and so it was Hazard whose strike not only underlined his outstanding talent but proved that Chelsea must be considered as realistic title contenders.
At the start of the season, few Chelsea fans would have expected their team to manage 19 points from a possible 21 and Sarri needs some major praise for this.
Equally, while Klopp must now prepare for a titanic tussle at Napoli in the Champions League on Wednesday, Sarri has a Europa League home game with Hungarian side Vidi when he will make mass changes.
Liverpool then have the small matter of a home game with Manchester City next Sunday and it will be a major test of their character – and they can have no real complaints over the defeat in west London as they wasted so many chances.
Salah and Mane were unable to make the most of some early half chances while David Luiz had a few choice words with Roberto Firmino, believing he dropped to his knees a little too quickly in an attempt to earn a penalty.
The best chance came midway through the first half when Alisson rushed off his line to block Willian.
Chelsea were finally coming to life and they hit Liverpool with a goal of pure magic – and Hazard played a part in the build-up before delivering a brilliant finish.
He flicked the ball to Mateo Kovacic and he played a one-two with Jorginho before splitting the visiting defence with a perfect pass. Hazard had kept running and then sent an effort flashing across Alisson and into the bottom right-hand corner.
Marcos Alonso was guilty of some poor positioning and a weak challenge on Mo Salah and he had Antonio Rudiger to thanks for a goal-line clearance.
Chelsea keeper Kepa delivered a vital save to keep his team ahead. Mane made a chance out of nothing and he managed to get a shot in despite a tackle from David Luiz, but Kepa got down to his right and puts the ball out for a corner which Liverpool waste.
Hazard then looked absolutely certain to make it 2-0 but wasted his chance.
Referee Andre Mariner allowed N’Golo Kante to deliver a quickly-taken free-kick to the surprise of Liverpool’s defence. Hazard sprinted clear with the keeper to beat but his effort was well blocked by Alisson.
Salah did not look to impressed when he was replaced by Xherdan Shaqiri in the 66th minute and the Swiss star missed an excellent chance soon after – while Firmino also saw a header cleared off the line by Luiz.
In the 86th minute, Sturridge replaced James Milner - and he had the last laugh.
