LIVERPOOL, England (AP) – Raheem Sterling found a way past formidable Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois with an exquisite solo goal to earn Liverpool a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their English League Cup football semi-final on Tuesday.
It needed something special to beat Courtois at Anfield and Sterling delivered in the 59th minute, picking up the ball 40 metres from goal, turning and speeding away from Chelsea’s defence before applying a low finish.
That cancelled out an 18th-minute penalty won and converted by Eden Hazard in the only shot on goal Chelsea produced in a defensive performance that saw the Premier League leaders outplayed at times, especially in the second half.
Chelsea will be relieved to come away on level terms and are the marginal favourites heading into the return match at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.
After a slow start to the season, though, Liverpool have rediscovered their identity and intensity that almost took the team to the Premier League title last season. The Reds are unbeaten in nine games.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho grumbled about his side’s poor distribution but that was due to the pressure being applied by Liverpool, who are seeking to extend their record of eight titles in the League Cup.
The visitors had only two shots in a game played in light snowfall, one of which ended in the net when Hazard picked himself up after being fouled by makeshift defender Emre Can to send goalkeeper Simon Mignolet the wrong way from the spot.
After that, it was all Liverpool and only Courtois’ brilliance denied them a lead to take to London. He tipped Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard’s long-range strike over the bar in the first half and produced a string of fine saves after the break – the best from a fierce strike by Adam Lallana that the Belgium international palmed away, right-handed.
