Mignolet denies Costa but Chelsea go nine points clear
Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1
Simon Mignolet denied Chelsea victory by saving Diego Costa’s penalty – but the Blues moved nine points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Mignolet was embarrassed for the opening goal, scored by David Luiz midway through the first half, but atoned by keeping out Costa’s 76th-minute spot-kick after the striker had been tripped by Joel Matip.
Georginio Wijnaldum had equalised for Liverpool 20 minutes earlier, cancelling out Luiz’s extraordinary strike – the Brazilian’s first goal for Chelsea since his return from Paris St-Germain.
With Willian seemingly preparing to take a free-kick and keeper Mignolet lining up his wall, Luiz charged towards the ball and fired into the corner of the net.
Chelsea were punished for a defensive lapse when they failed to deal with a ball in from the right.
After James Milner headed back across goal, Wijnaldum nodded in from close range.
But Arsenal’s home defeat against Watford meant a point was enough for Chelsea to further extend their lead at the top.
They face Arsenal in a crucial derby at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Chelsea: Courtois; Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill; Moses, Kante, Matic, Alonso; Willian (Fabregas 83), Costa (Batshuayi 90), Hazard (Pedro 72)
Subs not used: Begovic, Terry, Zouma, Chalobah.
