Simon Mignolet went from zero to hero as Liverpool prevented Chelsea from significantly extending their lead at the Premier League summit in a 1-1 draw at Anfield on Tuesday.
The Belgian goalkeeper was caught daydreaming as David Luiz put Chelsea ahead with a first-half free-kick, but after Georginio Wijnaldum equalized, his penalty save denied Diego Costa a late winner.
With Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur dropping points, victory would have sent Chelsea 11 points clear, but instead Antonio Conte’s side had to content themselves with eking their advantage up to nine points.
“It’s a pity Diego Costa missed the penalty because he played very well,” said Chelsea manager Conte.
“We had different chances to score goals, but we must be happy with the result and the performance because it is not easy to play away at Liverpool.”
Liverpool remain 10 points off the pace in fourth place, but although they have won just one of their nine matches in 2017, they avoided losing four successive home games for the first time since 1923.
While the point did little to enhance their title hopes, it was a much improved display by Jurgen Klopp’s men after successive exits from the League Cup and FA Cup against Southampton and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
“I’m not sure happy is the right word to say how I’m feeling, but I’m proud of the boys because they did outstanding things against a really good side,” Klopp told BT Sport.
“I’m happy we could give this sign and create this atmosphere. It was a good performance.”
Costa’s squandered 77th-minute penalty, awarded for a foul on him by Joel Matip, meant Chelsea failed to win for only the second time in 17 league games, but the title remains theirs to lose.
Klopp had trumpeted his team’s ability to beat “anyone else in this league” in the match programme and with England pair Nathaniel Clyne and Adam Lallana back from injury, his men began sharply.