Chelsea manager Ian Porterfield made changes in a bid to halt his side's alarming slump but they still extended their run of games without a win to 11. Porterfield axed Graeme Le Saux and relegated Graham Stuart to the substitutes bench along with John Spencer in a bid to change the Londoners' fortunes.
But the introduction of debutant David Hopkin and Darren Bernard and the restoration of 2.1 million pound club record signing Robert Fleck failed to spark a victory.
And Liverpool, even well below their normal high standards, came closest to ending the deadlock in a dismal, drab affair.
Kevin Hitchcock tipped over from Ian Rush in the 12th minute and also kept out a Steve McManaman shot and a John Barnes header.
Defender Gareth Hall cleared another Barnes effort off the line after 73 minutes while the England winger also shot wide, as did McManaman on the hour. Chelsea, clearly low on confidence after six defeats in 11 games, had chances too but lacked the composure to make them count.
In the 22nd minute Fleck teed up Barnard for a left foot shot that the impressive David James kept out with an acrobatic one-handed save while just before half-time Fleck flicked in a header that James also had covered.
Stuart joined the action and almost made an immediate impact when he burst past Stig Bjornebye and Barnes and fired in a low centre for Mick Harford whose shot was blocked and then scrambled away.
But the outcome looked certain well before the end though Chelsea may take some comfort from their first clean sheet in eight matches.
Souness spoke out about Barnes: "In the first half he didn't do a lot and for someone with his talent, and he has a great deal of talent, it is a crime when you don't get involved in the game. But he improved in the second half a lot and produced a far more positive performance. He could have won us the game with that header at the end if he had been a bit more on his toes."
But despite Souness ' disappointment on the night he still reckons Barnes is the man for England adding: "For the game that they are going to play it would be impossible to leave John Barnes out."
Souness also claimed a moral victory, saying: "I felt we were the team most likely to get the three points and we have got to be happier than Chelsea having got a point away from home." Chelsea boss Ian Porterfield declared: "We have been having a disappointing run and although it wasn't a classic game we worked hard and were positive. That's the best result we have had for a while.”
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