Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp delivered on his promise of a big performance after a miserable week of results but Chelsea had the better night at Anfield.
The Premier League leaders left with a point, which could have been three had Diego Costa not missed a penalty, but results elsewhere improved their evening and the way Antonio Conte celebrated at the final whistle suggested he was delighted.
Arsenal’s defeat by Watford and Tottenham’s two dropped points at Sunderland meant even a 1-1 draw against Liverpool strengthened Chelsea’s position at the top.
Chelsea’s advantage is now nine points after David Luiz’s free-kick was cancelled out by Georginio Wijnaldum’s second-half header, while for Liverpool a fourth successive home defeat for only the second time in their history was avoided – and deservedly so.
The mood around Anfield has been in freefall, matching recent performances, but this fixture always gets the juices flowing and was the perfect antidote to some insipid displays.
Having taken an hour to produce a shot on target against Sky Bet Championship side Wolves at the weekend, there were only 12 minutes gone when Wijnaldum forced Thibaut Courtois to extend himself.
Liverpool enjoyed the vast majority of possession as they benefited from facing a team who, unlike most who come to Anfield, were not intent on shutting up shop.
But they did not do enough early on to test their visitors, who travelled without Branislav Ivanovic as he finalised a move to Zenit St Petersburg, and the sucker-punch duly came in the 24th minute.
Referee Mark Clattenburg awarded a debatable free-kick for Adam Lallana’s challenge on Eden Hazard, but while Liverpool were still debating it Luiz needed no further encouragement.
Mignolet, trying to organise his defence, was not even looking at the centre-back when the ball was struck. Although it is unlikely he would have been able to stop the dipping shot that went in off the post, he needed to at least give himself a chance.
Soon afterwards, Liverpool’s goalkeeper did manage to get a hand to Willian’s free-kick which almost picked out Luiz having flown through a crowd of players.
The sight of substitute Sadio Mane, back from the African Nations Cup just over 24 hours earlier, sitting on the bench with an ice pack on his left knee was not what Liverpool needed.
But the hosts’ start to the second half was more like what was required, with a good move involving Wijnaldum, Lallana and Clyne spoiled by Roberto Firmino rushing his first-time shot and scooping it over.
Victor Moses had a chance to put the result to bed moments later after James Milner’s half-tackle but this time the post was not of any assistance to Chelsea.
Then it was Conte’s side who were made to pay as Jordan Henderson’s ball to the far post caught Moses napping and Milner headed back across goal for Wijnaldum to head in from six yards.
Mane’s arrival off the bench ramped up expectation levels for home fans, but before he could get into the game they had a major escape. Joel Matip brought down Diego Costa, only for Mignolet to redeem himself with a good low penalty save to his right from the Spain international.
Firmino had the chance to snatch a win in added-time but planted his header straight at Courtois.
Liverpool’s season may be back up and running but Chelsea still appear to be running away with the title.
Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe says his side lacked confidence going forward and didn't test Crystal Palace enough
Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe admits his side are lacking in confidence after they slipped to 2-0 defeat at home to Crystal Palace.
Scott Dann and Christian Benteke scored at either end of the second half to hand Sam Allardyce his first Premier League win as Palace manager at the Vitality Stadium.
Bournemouth struggled to create chances after the break and Howe admits his side failed to do enough once Palace had taken the lead.
"I thought we played with a lack of confidence today, we didn't hurt them enough," said the Cherries boss.
Scott Dann opened the scoring for Crystal Palace against Bournemouth
"They got men behind the ball and compacted the game. It's up to his find a way to unlock the door and we didn't do that anywhere near enough and they hit us on the counter-attack a couple of times."
Bournemouth have now conceded two or more goals in their last five matches but Howe was more disappointed with the performance of his attacking players on Tuesday night.
"Today, we didn't play well, but we didn't look like we were going to concede at any time in the game," he said.
Jason Puncheon fouls Jack Wilshere at the Vitality Stadium
"The goal at the start of the half makes it difficult and the one at the end makes it look like a bigger defeat. I don't think our problem today was defensively, I think it was with the ball and creating chances."
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After starting the season in impressive form, Bournemouth have now slipped to 14th and Howe admits he may have to change things if the club are to avoid being dragged into a relegation battle this season.
Wilfried Zaha impressed for the visitors on Tuesday evening
"This league is ever changing and the demands are ever changing. You need to find new ways of doing things," he said.
"If that means changing system we'll certainly look at it, if that means changing personal we'll certainly look at that too."
Who are the leading scorers across the four professional English football leagues? We take a look at the players heading the charge this season
Who are the leading scorers across the four professional English football leagues? We take a look at the players heading the charge this season.
There have been a mind-boggling 3,135 goals scored across the Premier League, Sky Bet Championship, League One and League Two so far in the 2016-17 campaigns with plenty more still to come.
With teams from three leagues in action this week, we countdown the most prolific goalscorers you could see getting on the scoresheet once again...
1. Dwight Gayle (Newcastle) - 20 goals
Newcastle United's Dwight Gayle (R) has scored the most league goals so far this season
Dwight Gayle has been in storming form for Newcastle since his summer move, with the Magpies locked in a battle with Brighton at the summit of the Championship table for top spot.
He has netted 20 goals in 22 league appearances - giving him a goal on average every 88 minutes - with two hat-tricks under his belt against Norwich and Birmingham.
2. Omar Bogle (Grimsby) - 19 goals
Omar Bogle has caught the eye for Grimsby Town this season
It is safe to say that Omar Bogle has taken to his first season in the professional leagues like a duck to water after Grimsby's promotion to League Two at the end of last season.
He has helped the Mariners to a spot in the play-off chasing pack - just six points currently separate Grimsby from fourth spot - and scoring his 19 goals in 26 appearances which has certainly attracted plenty of transfer attention.
3= Billy Sharp (Sheff Utd) - 18 goals
Billy Sharp has led Sheffield United to the top of the League One table
Billy Sharp is certainly leading from the front at Sheffield United this year as the Blades target a return to the Championship after six years in the third tier of English football and a number of near misses.
The captain has netted 18 times in League One this term, including seven goals in five games in October and November to power Sheffield United into pole position.
3= John Akinde (Barnet) - 18 goals
John Akinde has been in fine form for Barnet so far this season
Another play-off chasing side in League Two, John Akinde has been a consistent performer for Barnet over the last two-and-a-half seasons and is on his way to another stellar haul this term.
He has scored 18 goals in 27 league appearances and striking another similarity to Sharp, he also netted seven goals in five games over the same months - although he did pick up four yellow cards in the process.
4= Chris Wood (Leeds) - 17 goals
Chris Wood has netted 17 Championship goals for Leeds
Could we see Leeds back in the Premier League next season? It is a real possibility as they currently sit third in the Championship table and have a reliable front man in Chris Wood.
He has netted 17 times in 27 league appearances, including six goals in his last four games, with a strike coming every 124 minutes on average.
4= Josh Morris (Scunthorpe) - 17 goals
Josh Morris joined Scunthorpe on a free transfer in the summer
A fantastic bit of business from Scunthorpe after signing Josh Morris on a free transfer in the summer with the midfielder emerging as their top scorer this season as they sit in the League One automatic promotion places.
He has also assisted his team-mates nine times, the joint-second highest in the league and on par with Man City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne. Not bad for a player who made just 13 League One appearances for Bradford last term.
5= James Vaughan (Bury) - 16 goals
James Vaughan has netted 16 goals for Bury in the 2016/17 season
A decent goalscorer does not always mean a spot in the play-off chase and despite an impressive 16 goals for Bury this season from James Vaughan, they currently occupy the final relegation place.
He has scored his goals in 21 league appearances for the Shakers this term - including four of the five goals against Peterborough a few weeks ago - and averages a strike every 108 minutes which could be vital as the club look to pull themselves out of the drop zone.
5= Matty Taylor (Bristol Rovers) - 16 goals
Matty Taylor has scored 16 times for Bristol Rovers so far this season
Matty Taylor was a key play as Bristol Rovers achieved back-to-back promotions from the then-Conference to League One, and was the Football League's overall top scorer last season with 27 goals.
He is already well on his way to matching that tally with 16 strikes in 26 appearances so far this term as Bristol Rovers eye another crack at promotion to the Championship in May.
6= Diego Costa (Chelsea) - 15 goals
Diego Costa is the joint-top scorer in the Premier League so far
Our first Premier League player comes in the form of Chelsea's star striker Diego Costa, who has netted 15 times this season as the Blues have powered to the top of the table.
He is well on the way to exceeding his best Premier League tally of 20 from his debut 2014-15 season - and already surpassing his 12 goals from last term - with a goal from Costa coming every 118 minutes on average.
6= Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal) - 15 goals
Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez is level on 15 goals with Diego Costa
After waiting a while for a Premier League player, two come along in quick succession with Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez also tied with Costa with 15 goals so far this season.
The Chile international is also well on his way to his best ever tally for the Gunners - already surpassing his 13 from last season and one goal from the 16 he scored in the 2014-15 campaign - and has scored in the last three league games.
6= Glenn Murray (Brighton) - 15 goals
Glenn Murray is on loan at Brighton from Bournemouth
Glenn Murray has made a triumphant return to Brighton where he shone during a four year spell between 2007 and 2011 and is on his way to equalising his 22 goal record haul for the Seagulls during his final season.
He has made 26 Championship appearances since returning to the club with 25 goals so far as Brighton aim to go one better than last season and win promotion to the Premier League for the first time.
6= Tammy Abraham (Bristol City) - 15 goals
Chelsea loanee Tammy Abraham has been in fine form for Bristol City
Chelsea loanee Tammy Abraham has burst onto the scene after coming through the youth ranks, and he has proved to be a shrewd acquisition for Lee Johnson.
Bristol City are currently hovering above the relegation zone but the 15 goals from Abraham are encouraging signs that they can beat a return to League One, with a goal coming every 152 minutes on average from the young forward.
6= John Marquis (Doncaster) - 15 goals
John Marquis joined Doncaster on a permanent deal in the summer
John Marquis is a proven EFL goalscorer, having helped Northampton to League One promotion last season and he is up to the same tricks once again with Doncaster, where he signed on a permanent deal in the summer.
The former Millwall striker has netted 15 league goals this term as Darren Ferguson's Rovers sit top of the League Two table, and has netted four goals in his last three games.
Other notable mentions
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has netted 14 times since in the Premier League his summer move to Man Utd
It has been a stellar start to life in the Premier League for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has scored 14 times for Manchester United with six goals in his last eight league appearances as Jose Mourinho's men have gone 13 games unbeaten.
Tottenham striker Harry Kane is one goal behind his United counter-part even with an eight week injury lay-off earlier in the season, with team-mate Dele Alli having a storming season in front of goal, already notching up his best ever tally with 11 strikes.
Sunderland and Everton forwards Jermain Defoe and Romelu Lukaku have both scored 12 times in the Premier League so far this season, with Sergio Aguero netting 11 times for Manchester City after a stop-start season by his standards so far.
Lee Gregory has scored 11 times for Millwall in League One so far this season
Elsewhere in the Sky Bet EFL, rumoured West Ham target Scott Hogan has netted 14 times for Brentford in the Championship - level with Ibrahimovic - while former Swansea and Sunderland striker Danny Graham has been on target 11 times for Blackburn this season.
Lee Gregory has continued his fine scoring form for Millwall with 11 goals in League One under his belt, while Sam Winnall also takes the same number of strikes to Sheffield Wednesday after moving from Barnsley, although he has yet to score for his new club.
