LUIS SUAREZ struck a dramatic 97th minute equaliser to ruin Rafa Benitez's return to Anfield as Liverpool secured a 2-2 draw with Chelsea.

The Uruguayan nodded home Daniel Sturridge's cross to salvage a point for Brendan Rodgers' side.

However, Suarez could be facing a lengthy suspension after appearing to bite Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic midway through the second half.

The incident was missed by referee Kevin Friend but captured by television cameras and retrospective action is likely to follow.

Even by Suarez's standards, this was an eventful afternoon for him as his handball conceded the penalty which allowed Eden Hazard to put the visitors 2-1 up.

Substitute Daniel Sturridge had fired Liverpool level early in the second half, cancelling out Oscar's first-half header.

Rodgers made one change to the side which drew at Reading a work earlier as Stewart Downing replaced Sturridge.

There was a warm reception for Benitez when he emerged from the tunnel and the Spaniard's image featured on a huge banner on the Kop alongside the faces of Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and Kenny Dalglish.

Before kick-off respects were paid to Hillsborough campaigner Anne Williams and the victims of the Boston bombings with a minute's applause.

Liverpool carved Chelsea apart inside five minutes but after latching on to Suarez's pass Glen Johnson scuffed his shot well wide.

With the visitors sitting deep and then looking to counter-attack, chances were in short supply.

Downing fired over from the edge of the box, while at the other end Pepe Reina punched away Ramires' 25-yard piledriver.

In the 26th minute Chelsea punished some woeful marking to break the deadlock. Oscar pulled away from Daniel Agger to head home a corner from Juan Mata.

Liverpool were fortunate not to fall further behind soon after. David Luiz's dipping 35-yard free-kick was fumbled by Reina and bobbled behind him but the relieved keeper recovered to prevent it from crossing the line.

The Reds struggled to summon a response as passes went astray and the home fans' frustration grew.

Four minutes before the break Suarez was put through by Downing but the angle was acute and Petr Cech parried his effort away.

Rodgers made a change at the break as Sturridge was introduced at the expense of the ineffective Philippe Coutinho.

The striker's impact against his former club was instant. Within seconds of the restart Sturridge turned away from John Obi Mikel and played in Steven Gerrard with a clever pass.

Gerrard poked it goalwards but Cech stuck out a boot to divert it past the post.

Liverpool were transformed and moments later Sturridge spun away from Eden Hazard before firing against the upright.

The pressure paid off with an equaliser in the 52nd minute. It was a brilliant team move as Jamie Carragher's lofted pass picked out Downing on the right. His flick found Suarez whose lofted cross was expertly turned home by Sturridge from close range.

However, the Reds' joy was shortlived as within five minutes Chelsea were back in front.

Suarez handled Mata's corner and Hazard sent Reina the wrong way from the penalty spot.

The Reds' top scorer pleaded his innocence but his arm was above his head and the official had no option but to point to the spot.

Suarez's anger boiled over soon after as after grappling with Ivanovic he appeared to bite the defender's arm.

Liverpool responded positively to going behind and after Carragher was barged into by David Luiz on the edge of the box, Suarez fired the free-kick just wide.

Jonjo Shelvey replaced Downing and with five minutes to go the substitute should have restored parity.

Sturridge and Henderson combined to tee him up but with just Cech to beat Shelvey blazed his shot into the side netting.

Liverpool looked beaten but deep into stoppage time Anfield erupted as Suarez had the final say.