AFRICAN stars Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah were both on target for Liverpool in their 2-2 Premier League draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Senegal’s Mane opened the scoring before Egypt’s Salah made it 2-0 for the visitors, but Chelsea rallied back with strikes from Matteo Kovacic and Christian Pulisic in a frenetic first half.
Salah, who will face Nigeria in an Africa Cup of Nations clash on 11 January in Cameroon, has now scored 16 Premier League goals this season, six more than any other player.
After an early exchange of very good scoring chances, Liverpool took the lead in the ninth minute when Mane rounded his Senegal teammate Edouard Mendy in the Chelsea goal and slotted home.
The Reds doubled their advantage in the 26th minute as Salah fired past Mendy’s near post after a defence-splitting pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The hosts were rattled but they regained their composure and cut the deficit with three minutes left in the first half with a brilliant volley.
Chelsea were back on level terms in first-half added time with Pulisic’s left-footed finish after N’Golo Kante’s pass broke through Liverpool’s high defensive line.
Premier League leaders Manchester City profited from the result as second-placed Chelsea are now 10 points adrift, a point ahead of Liverpool who have a game in hand.
