In a thrill-a-minute clash at the Bridge, Chelsea and Liverpool played out a glorious 2-2 draw, leaving Manchester City the only winner.

You simply couldn’t take your eyes off the spectacle from the moment Sadio Mane was booked after 10 seconds for a nice-to-meet-you tackle on Blues captain Cesar Azpilicueta to the final toot of ref Anthony Taylor’s whistle signalled the end of four frantic minutes of stoppage time.

All the goals came in a memorable first half as Liverpool (without the Covid-isolating Jurgen Klopp on the touchline) raced to a 2-0 lead after 25 minutes with Mane and Mo Salah both on target. Mane ended his long goal drought in the seventh minute when Trevoh Chalobah misdirected a clearance, allowing the Reds’ striker to score.

At 2-0, following the customary exhibition of quick feet and narrow angle skill from Salah, it looked bleak for Chelsea, but remarkably they steadied the ship, even without Romelu Lukaku in the squad, dropped after his ill-advised comments to Italian TV suggesting that the club’s record signing wanted away.

With four minutes to go to halftime, a Marcos Alonso shot was saved, but the ball reached Mateo Kovacic, outside the area, who fired home an unstoppable volley. Then, incredibly, it was 2-2 in stoppage time as Christian Pulisic booted another superb goal over the helpless Caoimhin Kelleher, the Scousers’ stand-in keeper.

Despite more huffing and puffing through the second half, no further goals were added, though several shots went close. Edou Mendy was the busier of the keepers, making a series of flying saves to deny Liverpool victory.

Chelsea now face cup action in both League and FA trophies, with Spurs and Chesterfield the visitors.