Liverpool had led from a first-half goal by Dirk Kuyt and looked to be heading to Stamford Bridge next week for the second leg of this Champions League semi-final in pole position.
But although Liverpool had created most of the scoring chances in a captivating match, Chelsea will know that their priceless away goal could be decisive as they aim for the May 21 final in Moscow.
"I think we deserved definitely to get the draw at the end," Blues midfielder Frank Lampard said on ITV1. "They had chances, we had chances.
Goalkeeper Petr Cech, who kept his side in the tie with a number of vital saves agreed, claiming the goal made up for bad luck he believes Chelsea have suffered in their two previous semi-finals at Anfield.
"We've been quite unlucky here the last two semi-finals," he said. "We had our chances and we didn't take them.
"We've had a lucky goal but to be fair we've played until the last seconds and we were rewarded for that."
Lampard hailed Cech's contribution, saying: "He was fantastic. Big Pete's, for us, the best goalkeeper in the world and he showed that."
Cech urged his team-mates to finish the tie at Stamford Bridge, saying: "This is not over.
"I hope at home we can make it."
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez hit out at the officials for the amount of second-half stoppage-time.
"At the end, you must be really disappointed," he said. "One minute in the first half, four minutes in the second half."
The Spaniard insisted Liverpool would have been deserved winners, adding: "We had the better chances."
Of the prospect facing his side at Stamford Bridge, he said: "We know we must play 90 minutes. The team today was working really hard, especially creating chances, and we must do the same away.
