The midfielder may not have been going for goal with his set-piece from the right flank, but that was where the ball ended up as neither Wesley Fofana nor anyone in red could get a touch on it.

It cancelled out Ryan Gravenberch’s sixth-minute strike that spectacularly broke the deadlock, with Chelsea responding impressively to that early setback. Marc Cucurella, deployed in an advanced position, twice threatened before Enzo’s equaliser.

The Argentine wasn’t far off completing the turnaround straight after his goal. Early in the second half, Cole Palmer fired a loose ball into the net but once the lines were drawn, Cucurella was shown to be a fraction offside in the build-up.

Liverpool hit the woodwork twice and we had claims for a late penalty waved away, so honours even at Anfield in the 200th meeting between the sides.

Team news

There were five changes to the Blues team that started Monday’s defeat to Nottingham Forest, with the return of Levi Colwill to the side the headline news. He partnered Fofana in the heart of defence.

Jorrel Hato and Andrey Santos also came into the starting XI, while Filip Jorgensen replaced the injured Robert Sanchez between the posts.

With Alejandro Garnacho, Pedro Neto, Jamie Gittens, Estevao Willian and Jesse Derry unavailable, Cucurella lined up on the left flank ahead of Hato.

Early blow

With the Blues low on confidence the last thing we needed was an early Liverpool goal, but that’s exactly what happened with five minutes played. After our wall blocked Dominic Szoboszlai’s free-kick, Rio Ngumoha worked the loose ball to Gravenberch, who unerringly curled the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box.

We escaped going 2-0 down when an unmarked Virgil van Dijk bounced an effort into the ground and over Jorgensen’s crossbar from a deep cross. In response, Joao Pedro wasn’t far away from getting on the end of passes from Malo Gusto and Cole Palmer respectively.

Hitting back

Our first clear opening arrived with the clock approaching the half-hour mark. Cucurella got in behind the Reds’ defence and forced Giorgi Mamardashvili into a fingertip save. Our Spaniard then chested Moises Caicedo’s probing pass down but couldn’t turn it in before the big Georgian collected the ball.

However, the tide was turning. Sustained spells of Chelsea possession in the Liverpool half were frustrating the home crowd. And when Fernandez teased a low free-kick from the right-hand channel towards goal, it was the travelling Blues support celebrating. Nobody got a touch – although Fofana wasn’t far off doing so - and the ball skidded off the turf and into the net via the post.

The Argentine almost immediately netted again. Another sublime, defence-splitting pass from Caicedo freed Fernandez, and his left-footed strike thudded into the body of Mamardashvili.

Small margins

We started the second half as we had finished the first: well on top. Palmer thought he had put us in front but, frustratingly, a VAR check showed Cucurella was an inch or two ahead of the last man when Caicedo slipped another pass in the inside channel. The Spaniard’s pass across goal ricocheted into the path of Palmer, who fired into the unguarded net but was denied a tenth league goal of the campaign.

The let-off for Liverpool sprung them back to life. Curtis Jones nodded in Cody Gakpo’s centre but the flag was raised against the Dutch attacker. Jorgensen then made his first meaningful save of the game, reacting well to parry Szoboszlai’s shot around the post. An hour had gone, and this game remained firmly in the balance.

Reece James replaced Andrey Santos and went into midfield, alongside Caicedo who looked back to his very best.

With 20 minutes left, Szoboszlai took aim from the edge of the box and his dipping strike crashed into the base of the post. At the other end, Joao Pedro wriggled into the box and whipped an effort not far wide.

Liverpool were finishing the stronger and the woodwork saved us again when Van Dijk’s header hit the crossbar and not the net.

As we ticked toward 90, Joao Pedro danced into the box and was brought down under pressure from Jeremie Frimpong. VAR had a long look but decided not to recommend the referee check the decision on screen. Seven minutes of added time included moments of promise for the Blues but no winning goal. Still, our six-game losing streak is over.

What it means…

The result keeps us in ninth position in the Premier League table ahead of the rest of the weekend slate.

What’s next…

The FA Cup final! We play Manchester City next Saturday at Wembley for the chance to lift silverware.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Hato; Andrey Santos (James 63), Caicedo; Palmer, Fernandez (c), Cucurella; Joao Pedro
Unused subs Slonina, Acheampong, Tosin, Chalobah, Lavia, Eboue, Kavuma-McQueen, Delap
Scorer Fernandez 35
Booked Hato 68, McFarlane 71, Fernandez 73, Cucurella 83, Joao Pedro 90+4

Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Jones, Konate (Gomez 77), Van Dijk (c), Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Frimpong, Szoboszlai, Ngumoha (Isak 67); Gakpo (Chiesa 77)
Unused subs: Woodman, Robertson, Nyoni, Morrison, Ndiaye, Wright.
Scorer Gravenberch 6
Booked Gomez 88

Referee Craig Pawson