Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea

Eden Hazard scores for Chelsea against Liverpool — Eden Hazard (right) scored his fourth goal in four games

Christian Benteke's late header cancelled out Eden Hazard's brilliant solo goal as Liverpool kept alive their slim hopes of a top-six league finish.

Chelsea winger Hazard fired a low shot into the corner after a dazzling run to record his fourth goal in four games.

But substitute Benteke earned the Reds a point in added time when he pounced after an error from Asmir Begovic.

Liverpool remain eighth and are within three points of sixth-placed West Ham with a game left.

Relive the action from Anfield

Reaction from Wednesday's Premier League matches, as Newcastle & Norwich are relegated

Jurgen Klopp's side, who play West Brom on the final day, have another chance to secure European football next season when they play Sevilla in the Europa League final on 18 May, with a Champions League spot awarded to the winner.

Chelsea remain ninth.

Hazard back to his brilliant best

Eden Hazard passmap — Eden Hazard found the target with 60 of his 63 passes, despite playing 45 of them in the opposition half

In a game that was often short on quality in the final third, Hazard was the outstanding performer.

The Belgium international has endured a difficult season after being named Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year last season, suffering with injuries and loss of form as defending champions Chelsea slid down the table.

But after failing to score in the Premier League until April, the 25-year-old now has four in his last four games - and here he was back to his very best.

Showing mesmeric balance and close control on the ball, Hazard had 96 touches - more than anyone else on the pitch - and found a team-mate with 95.2% of his passes.

His upturn in form has come too late to save Chelsea's season - or the job of former manager Jose Mourinho - but Hazard's performance suggests he could peak for the European Championship, where, in the absence of Vincent Kompany, he will captain Belgium.

Benteke preserves Liverpool momentum

Christian Benteke celebrates — Christian Benteke has now found the net twice this month, having scored only twice in the rest of 2016

Klopp's side are on a roll at Anfield, having gone 12 unbeaten at home and easily swatted aside Villarreal and Watford in their past two matches.

Having restored many first-team regulars to the team after fielding a largely second-string side against the Hornets, Liverpool faded after a bright start and could have been further behind had Bertrand Traore not curled wide after rounding Simon Mignolet.

But they improved after the break, increasing their share of possession from 52% to 58%, and Daniel Sturridge and Kolo Toure missed glorious chances before Benteke's late intervention.

Fellow substitute Sheyi Ojo swung over a searching cross from the left and Begovic could only palm it into the path of the Belgium striker.

Klopp downplayed the result's importance, but this was a point that will maintain the feelgood factor at Anfield under the charismatic German before their second final of the season.

Man of the match - Eden Hazard

Eden Hazard celebrates — Majestic in possession, the Belgian reminded everyone why he was Player of the Year 12 months ago

What they said

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp: "The result tonight was not important, what's important is that we take the right information out of the game.

"We started very well, and when we play like that with our compact defending we can be good. In a game like this, the crowd force you to attack. We have to develop a lot.

"I like it here. It's a nice place and a world-class club."

Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea: Good decision to join Liverpool - Jurgen Klopp

Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink: "The team reacted very well. We played all game for the win and got an unlucky present in the last minute. We should have killed it off and I'm disappointed not to have the three points.

"Hazard was terrific and has been growing in fitness for some weeks. It's good to see. He had to suffer a lot with injuries this year but I'm very happy he's back.

"The players showed they love to play football."

Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea: I'm not definitely going away - Hiddink

The stats you need to know

Six of Christian Benteke's nine Premier League goals for Liverpool have been as a substitute - more than any other player has managed this season in the league.
Liverpool have scored in their past 13 Premier League fixtures.
Chelsea have kept just one clean sheet in their past 12 Premier League meetings with Liverpool.
Benteke's late goal means Chelsea are winless in three Premier League games for the first time in either of Guus Hiddink's spells at the club.

What's next?

The final day on Sunday sees Liverpool travel to the Hawthorns to face West Brom and Chelsea host champions Leicester.

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Liverpool

Formation 4-4-1-1

22Mignolet
2Clyne
6Lovren
4K TouréBooked at 48minsSubstituted forOjoat 88'minutes
18Moreno
20LallanaSubstituted forBentekeat 75'minutes
7MilnerBooked at 73minsSubstituted forAllenat 75'minutes
23CanBooked at 44mins
10Coutinho
11Firmino
15Sturridge

Substitutes

9Benteke
21Leiva
24Allen
34Bogdan
37Skrtel
44B Smith
54Ojo

Chelsea

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Begovic
28AzpilicuetaBooked at 87mins
24Cahill
12Mikel
6Baba
4Fàbregas
21Matic
22WillianSubstituted forKenedyat 57'minutes
10E Hazard
17PedroSubstituted forLoftus-Cheekat 90+3'minutes
14TraoreSubstituted forAbrahamat 74'minutes

Substitutes

11Da Silva
16Kenedy
32Amelia
36Loftus-Cheek
38Palmer
42Abraham
43Tomori

Referee:: Michael Oliver
Attendance:: 43,210

Match Stats

Home TeamLiverpoolAway TeamChelsea

Possession: Home55%; Away45%

Shots: Home28; Away13

Shots on Target: Home9; Away7

Corners: Home7; Away3

Fouls: Home11; Away12

Live Text

Post update
Match ends, Liverpool 1, Chelsea 1.
90'+5'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Liverpool 1, Chelsea 1.

90'+4'
Post update
Joe Allen (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+4'
Post update
Foul by Kenedy (Chelsea).
90'+3'
Substitution
Substitution, Chelsea. Ruben Loftus-Cheek replaces Pedro.
90'+2'
Goal!
Goal! Liverpool 1, Chelsea 1. Christian Benteke (Liverpool) header from the right side of the six yard box to the bottom right corner.
90'+1'
Post update
Offside, Chelsea. Eden Hazard tries a through ball, but Baba Rahman is caught offside.
90'+1'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Alberto Moreno.
90'
Post update
Emre Can (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'
Post update
Foul by Tammy Abraham (Chelsea).
89'
Post update
Attempt saved. Pedro (Chelsea) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Eden Hazard with a through ball.
89'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Philippe Coutinho.
88'
Substitution
Substitution, Liverpool. Sheyi Ojo replaces Kolo Touré.
87'
Booking
César Azpilicueta (Chelsea) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
87'
Post update
Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
87'
Post update
Foul by César Azpilicueta (Chelsea).
83'
Post update
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Baba Rahman.
82'
Post update
Hand ball by Tammy Abraham (Chelsea).
79'
Post update
Attempt saved. Emre Can (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
76'
Post update
Foul by Roberto Firmino (Liverpool).

Accessibility links