Woe for Terry as Chelsea held

Chelsea‘s English defender John Terry celebrates scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge in London. Terry made a goal-scoring return to action after a four-game ban on Sunday but had to be stretchered off before half-time in the Premier League fixture at home to Liverpool. The match ended 1-1.

LONDON - John Terry scored a goal on his comeback but went off injured as Chelsea drew 1-1 with Liverpool on Sunday, allowing Manchester City to go second in the Premier League by beating Tottenham Hotspur.

Terry was making his return after a four-game domestic ban for racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand last season, and he broke the deadlock against Liverpool with a 20th-minute header.

However, 19 minutes later he left the fray on a stretcher, his head in his hands, following a collision with Luis Suarez, who added insult to injury by scoring the visitors’ equaliser with 17 minutes to play.

The result left the European champions three points behind leaders Manchester United and one point below City, who came from behind to win 2-1 at home to Spurs thanks to an 88th-minute winner from substitute Edin Dzeko.

At Stamford Bridge, Terry glanced home Juan Mata’s corner to break the deadlock and claim his 50th goal in Chelsea’s colours, but the former England defender did not make it to half-time.

His right knee buckled after Suarez fell on top of him, prompting an anguished cry that was picked up by television microphones and necessitating five minutes of treatment before he was carried off by medics.

Chelsea came close to extending their lead on several occasions, most notably when Mata fired over late in the first half and when Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Jones produced a reflex save to block Fernando Torres’ second-half header.

Suarez had been having a quiet game but in the 73rd minute he popped up to claim the equaliser, nodding in from close range after Jamie Carragher flicked on Suso’s corner to record his eighth league goal of the campaign.

It was Liverpool’s third consecutive draw and left Brendan Rodgers’ side in 13th place.