When Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah netted in the early minutes at Stamford Bridge, Thomas Tuchel's side were in danger of being blown away.
Chelsea hold Liverpool on a draw while Benitez’s Everton crashes
Chelsea staged a thrilling fightback from two goals down to rescue a 2-2 draw against Liverpool despite the absence of the exiled Romelu Lukaku, while Everton crashed to a 3-2 defeat against Brighton as pressure mounted on Rafael Benitez on Sunday.
Chelsea's Rudger and Liverpool's Mo Salah
Senegal forward Mane rounded Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy to fire home after Trevoh Chalobah stumbled in a curious attempt to head away a low pass in the ninth minute.
Salah doubled the lead with a solo strike when he drifted past Marcos Alonso with some skilled footwork before beating Mendy at his near post in the 26th minute.
Mateo Kovacic's brilliant volley from the edge of the area gave Chelsea a lifeline in the 42nd minute and Christian Pulisic's fine finish completed Chelsea's revival in first half stoppage-time as he sprinted onto N'Golo Kante's pass and fired into the roof of the net.
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Chelsea's escape kept them in second place, one point ahead of third placed Liverpool.
But they trail 10 points behind runaway leaders Manchester City after drawing four of their last five league games.
Without Alisson Becker, Joel Matip and Roberto Firmino, as well as boss Jurgen Klopp it was a frustrating setback for Liverpool.
Liverpool have failed to win any of their last three league matches to leave them languishing 11 points behind champions Manchester City with a game in hand.
At Goodison Park, Everton were booed off after their dismal run extended to just one win in their last 12 league games.
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Everton sit eight points above the relegation zone and Benitez will know results must improve quickly if he is to avoid increased talk of the sack.
Brentford came from behind to beat Aston Villa 2-1 thanks to Mads Roerslev's close-range finish in the 83rd minute.
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