Christian Benteke's late header cancelled out Eden Hazard's brilliant solo goal as Liverpool kept alive their slim hopes of a top-six league finish.

Chelsea winger Hazard fired a low shot into the corner after a dazzling run to record his fourth goal in four games.

But substitute Benteke earned the Reds a point in added time when he pounced after an error from Asmir Begovic.

Liverpool remain eighth and are within three points of sixth-placed West Ham with a game left.

Jurgen Klopp's side, who play West Brom on the final day, have another chance to secure European football next season when they play Sevilla in the Europa League final on May 18, with a Champions League spot awarded to the winner.

Chelsea remain ninth.

In a game that was often short on quality in the final third, Hazard was the outstanding performer.

The Belgium international has endured a difficult season after being named Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year last season, suffering with injuries and loss of form as defending champions Chelsea slid down the table.

But after failing to score in the Premier League until April, the 25-year-old now has four in his last four games - and here he was back to his very best.

Showing mesmeric balance and close control on the ball, Hazard had 96 touches - more than anyone else on the pitch - and found a team-mate with 95.2 per cent of his passes.

His upturn in form has come too late to save Chelsea's season - or the job of former manager Jose Mourinho - but Hazard's performance suggests he could peak for the European Championship, where, in the absence of Vincent Kompany, he will captain Belgium.

Klopp's side are on a roll at Anfield, having gone 12 unbeaten at home and easily swatted aside Villarreal and Watford in their past two matches.

Having restored many first-team regulars to the team after fielding a largely second-string side against the Hornets, Liverpool faded after a bright start and could have been further behind had Bertrand Traore not curled wide after rounding Simon Mignolet.

But they improved after the break, increasing their share of possession from 52 per cent to 58 per cent, and Daniel Sturridge and Kolo Toure missed glorious chances before Benteke's late intervention.

Fellow substitute Sheyi Ojo swung over a searching cross from the left and Begovic could only palm it into the path of the Belgium striker.

Klopp downplayed the result's importance, but this was a point that will maintain the feelgood factor at Anfield under the charismatic German before their second final of the season.

Source: BBC

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