Leaders Liverpool held in title blow as Chelsea suffer stunning collapse

LONDON, Jan 31 (Agencies): If more proof were needed of how unpredictable the Premier League can be it was provided on Wednesday as Liverpool blew a chance take a vice-like grip on the title race and Chelsea suffered their worst league defeat in 23 years.

After champions Manchester City's shock loss at Newcastle United on Tuesday and Manchester United's home draw with Burnley, Liverpool caught the bug at home to Leicester City.

Victory would have sent Juergen Klopp's side seven points clear of City with 14 games remaining but they could only draw 1-1 despite Sadio Mane giving them a third-minute lead.

Chelsea collapsed to a 4-0 thrashing at Bournemouth as the Premier League's supposed lesser lights continued to cause mischief at the top end of the table.

Liverpool, seeking a first title since 1990, have still increased the gap over City from four points to five but it was night of jitters at a freezing Anfield.

To make matters worse Leicester's scorer Harry Maguire had been fortunate to still be on the pitch after a professional foul on Mane with the score 1-0 to the home side.

Liverpool also had a strong penalty claim waved away in the second half when Naby Keita was fouled by Ricardo Pereira. Of the penalty claim he said: "It was probably the clearest penalty situation we have had. The ref was in the best position on the pitch. You will have to ask him why he didn't give it."

Meanwhile, Fernando Llorente scored an 87th-minute winner as Tottenham came from a goal down to beat Watford 2-1 in the Premier League on Wednesday and move just two points off second place in the table.

Tottenham looked set for a frustrating evening at Wembley when Craig Cathcart headed home a corner in the 38th but Son Heung-min marked his return from the Asian Cup with an equalizer in the 80th.