EPL: Chelsea held by Liverpool to 1-1 draw but rivals fail to profit

David Luiz C celebrates scoring his teams first goal Pic AFPDiego Costas missed secondhalf penalty cost Premier League leaders Chelsea a victory at Liverpool on Tuesday but a 11 draw did little damage to their title prospects as closest rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur dropped pointsSpain striker Costa was denied by Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet who made amends for being caught off guard by a superb David Luiz free kick midway through the first halfGeorginio Wijnaldums closerange header levelled the scores in the 57th minute as Liverpool avoided a fourth consecutive home defeat in all competitions although Juergen Klopps side remain 10 points adrift in fourth placeIts important to draw against a really good team and now we must focus on playing Arsenal next week Chelsea manager Antonio Conte said ahead of Saturdays game at Stamford BridgeArsenal who began the day second must recover quickly from a shock 21 home loss to Watford who managed a first league win in eight games and celebrated their first topflight victory over the Gunners since 1988Watford scored twice inside the first 13 minutes through Younes Kaboul and Troy Deeney and hung on for the victory after Alex Iwobi pulled one back near the hour markIt was obvious we lost duels and were not sharp enough It looked more mentally that we were not ready for the challenges said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger who was serving a touchline ban and had to watch gloomily from the standsArsenal are nine points behind Chelsea who have 56 along with Tottenham Hotspur who moved above their north London rivals on goal difference after a lacklustre 00 draw at basement club Sunderland Spurs also lost defender Danny Rose to injuryChampions Leicester Citys relegation worries are becoming acute after Claudio Ranieris side went down 10 at Burnley for whom Sam Vokes grabbed a late winnerLeicesters third consecutive league defeat left them two points off the relegation zone in 16th place with the battle for survival hotting up after wins for Swansea City and Crystal Palace and Sunderlands battling point at home to SpursALLARDYCE WINThirdbottom Palace won in the league for the first time under new manager Sam Allardyce as Scott Dann and Christian Benteke scored the goals in a 20 victory at BournemouthGylfi Sigurdssons 70th minute effort earned Swansea a second consecutive win to keep them just above the trapdoorSliding Middlesbrough eeked out a point in a 11 draw at home to West Bromwich Albion but remain in troubleOn Wednesday fifthplaced Manchester City 13 points off the pace visit West Ham United while Manchester United a further two points back host Hull City who are now bottomChelsea have not lost a league game at Anfield since 2012 although they will probably feel a little shortchanged after failing to capitalise on Liverpools lack of formKlopps side will be glad to see the back of January having won just once in nine games an FA Cup replay against Plymouth Argyle and suffering three consecutive home defeatsAfter Liverpool made a bright start at Anfield it looked like another night of woe when the crafty Luiz noticed Mignolet arranging his wall and seized his chance to plant a superb free kick into the corner left vacated by the distracted keeperThere was plenty of spirit from Liverpool though and Wijnaldum levelled in the 57th minute after James Milner did well to head Jordan Hendersons cross back towards goalWhen Costa went down after a challenge by Joel Matip 14 minutes from time it looked as though Chelsea would avenge their defeat at Stamford Bridge earlier this season but Mignolet spared the hosts with a fine stop