Ten-man Chelsea holds Liverpool to a point
Chelsea saw out the entire second half with 10 men to earn a 1-1 draw with Liverpool in Sunday's (AEST) contest between two Premier League title hopefuls.
The sides entered the game with identical records of six points, five goals scored and none conceded from their first two games, and there was nothing between them at Anfield.
Kai Havertz opened the scoring for Chelsea with a sublime header, but the flow of the game changed after a huge call by referee Anthony Taylor in first-half stoppage-time.
Reece James was sent off for a handball on the line, with Mohamed Salah converting the subsequent penalty, but Liverpool could not make its possession dominance count.
Jurgen Klopp's men had gone four games without conceding in the league stretching back into last season, but their defence was breached by Chelsea with 24 minutes on the clock.
Havertz made a late run to the near post and brilliantly sent James's delivery looping over Alisson for his first competitive Chelsea goal since netting the winner in May's UEFA Champions League final.
A big chance went begging for Mason Mount when flashing a shot across the face of goal and that proved a big moment as Liverpool was level late in the first half.
Joel Matip headed the ball against the crossbar and Sadio Mane's follow-up bounced off James's leg and on to his arm, which the referee deemed worthy of a penalty and red card.
Salah made no mistake in tucking away from 12 yards and momentum was with Liverpool for the vast majority of the second period.
Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy was required to keep out attempts from Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho and the returning Andy Robertson, while Jordan Henderson fired just wide.
Thomas Tuchel's men gave their opponents a couple of scares when getting forward, with substitute Mateo Kovacic denied by Alisson late on, though there was to be no winning goal at either end as both teams' perfect starts came to an end.
