There was frustration at Anfield as Liverpool drew 1-1 with a visiting Chelsea side who ended their six-game losing streak.
Liverpool had the perfect start when Ryan Gravenberch curled the ball high into the net from distance but the mood soon soured as Arne Slot's side surrendered the initiative. Chelsea's leveller looked likely long before it came via Enzo Fernandez's free-kick.
Wesley Fofana got the slightest of touches and Chelsea, led by interim head coach Calum McFarlane, grew in confidence thereafter. Giorgi Mamardashvili saved from Fernandez. Chelsea finished the first half with 16 touches in the box to Liverpool's four.
The right side of Liverpool's defence was an obvious weakness, Curtis Jones struggling to cope with the movement of Marc Cucurella, and the Reds were fortunate that the full-back strayed offside in the build-up to fashioning a disallowed goal for Cole Palmer.
Jones had a header ruled out at the other end and the mood was summed up when the Kop booed the call to take off Rio Ngumoha. Liverpool did then hit the frame of the goal twice through Dominik Szoboszlai and Virgil van Dijk but couldn't find a winner.
The draw sees Liverpool stay fourth as they edge closer to Champions League qualification - but with Slot still under pressure. Chelsea remain ninth with lots of work still to do to qualify for any European competition through their Premier League position.
