Georginio Wijnaldum prevented Liverpool from suffering a fourth successive home defeat as Chelsea were held to a draw at Anfield.

David Luiz’s dipped free kick broke the deadlock midway through the first half as it evaded Simon Mignolet and the Reds’ wall to fly in off the right-hand post.

But Wijnaldum pulled the hosts level shortly before the hour mark with a close-range header as Jurgen Klopp avoided breaking a 94-year losing record.

Here were the key talking points from Anfield:

Crisis finally averted

 

Jurgen Klopp has never known turbulence like this during his Liverpool tenure.

He set his sights on making history at Anfield but will be thankful that he has avoided one dubious accolade that threatened to plunge his tenure into crisis.

No Reds manager for over 94 years had presided over four successive defeats.

The first and only time was in December 1923. The manager? Matt McQueen, who had led the club to a First Division title mere months prior.

Becoming the latest in Liverpool’s long line of championship-winning bosses may remain firmly on Klopp’s agenda but this is one parallel he has happily avoided.

Champions-elect put on the back foot

 

Antonio Conte’s reaction spoke volumes of Chelsea’s mindset at full time.

The Italian wildly gesticulated to the travelling fans as Mark Clattenburg called time on this encounter, almost as if he was thankful his side had salvaged a point.

On an evening when closest challengers Tottenham and Arsenal had both faltered, the current Premier League leaders were lucky to escape with any spoils.

They may have seized the initiative with David Luiz’s bewitching free kick but Georginio Wijnaldum’s headed equaliser was no less than Liverpool deserved.

Klopp’s players had swarmed throughout the second half and held incredibly firm, especially when Diego Costa won a penalty with 15 minutes remaining.

Such resolve was previously lacking in the past three games at Anfield in as many competitions but Liverpool’s renaissance could not have been better timed.

Mane magic returns with a vengeance

 

It was the moment Liverpool fans had waited an entire month to savour again.

Sadio Mane’s appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations left Klopp’s side both toothless and listing away from the Premier League’s higher reaches.

But in the space of just 15 minutes, the Senegal winger restored a sense of order with a cameo which boasted all of his irreplaceable energy and guile.

There was almost a fairy tale finish as his pinpoint cross found Firmino but the Brazilian could only head point-blank at Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

The reappearance of Mane’s old magic cannot turn back the clock on the games which have unravelled Liverpool’s season but it may salvage something from it.

Matip pays penalty for lack of rhythm

 

Ever since FIFA gave Joel Matip the all-clear to return to Liverpool’s side, something has been sorely lacking in his defensive repertoire.

Whether it was injury or the eligibility furore brought by the Cameroon Football Federation, the centre-back has struggled to recapture his previous form.

An EFL Cup semi-final exit to Southampton offered an indication of what would certainly followed against Conte’s champions-elect this evening.

And the Londoners almost capitalised on that paucity when Diego Costa won a penalty 15 minutes from time after going to ground under his challenge.

Simon Mignolet spared his team mate’s blushes by guessing right as the Spain international stepped up but Matip is still struggling to recapture his past rhythm.