Daniel Sturridge’s late screamer salvaged a draw for Liverpool against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

A battle between Red and Blue. First against third. ‘Sarri Ball’ against Jurgen Klopp’s High Flyers. A thrilling game commenced at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea aimed to better their stunning 2-1 victory over Liverpool that knocked them out of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.

The visitors won only one of their last five Premier League meetings with Chelsea, including the 1-0 defeat in their last game at Stamford Bridge in May.

The first quarter of the match started as expected. Both teams showed off their distinctive styles of football, sending warning signs to their opponents.

It took 25 minutes for Chelsea to pierce the heart of Liverpool, courtesy of Eden Hazard. N’Golo Kante knocked a pass to David Luiz at centre back, who picked out Hazard in the middle of the park.

Hazard flicked the ball to Mateo Kovacic, who played a slick one-two with Jorginho before he slipped in Hazard lurking on the shoulder of Joe Gomez. The Belgian wizard ran in behind at Becker’s goal and slotted in a signature low left-footed drive across the Liverpool keeper and into the bottom-right corner – 1-0 to the Blues.

In the 32nd minute, Mohamed Salah found himself shoulder-to-shoulder in a tussle with Marcos Alonso after a through-ball from Roberto Firmino. The Egyptian shrugged off the defender and rounded the Chelsea keeper, but his shot at an empty net was swept away by a retreating Antonio Rudiger.

It remained 1-0 at half-time after Chelsea saw off a surge from Liverpool.

The second half was end-to-end with Liverpool controlling the majority of the possession and Chelsea dangerous on the counter-attack.

Liverpool created plenty of chances, but failed to capitalise, Firmino’s header in the 72nd minute cleared off the line by Luiz.

Sturridge was brought on in the 86th minute against his old team, and it took him four minutes to make a crucial impact. The Englishman struck a beautiful curling left-foot screamer into the top right-hand corner of the net, that beat an outstretched Kepa Arrizabalaga.

The incredible contest ended in a scintillating 1-1 draw.

Photo: Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images