Rob Page’s side fell behind in the opening two minutes of the Premier League 2 clash at Kingsmeadow, with Harrison McMahon giving the home club that immediate lead.
Chelsea pounced on a slip in possession and Chizaram Ezenwata fed McMahon to the right side of the area, who produced a clinical drive across Harvey Davies.
The Reds could have levelled when Wright took the ball off the last man and ran through one-on-one – but a heavy touch allowed the goalkeeper to smother.
Instead it was the hosts who netted next, just shy of the midway point of the first half.
Sol Gordon was the second Blues player on the scoresheet, powerfully side-footing in after being set up by Kendry Paez’s surge through the middle.
Liverpool recovered well and reduced their deficit back to one just six minutes later.
Wright was the provider as the striker brought up the milestone of his 10th goal of the campaign across all competitions.
Prince Cisse lofted a pass into the right channel and Oliver O’Connor lifted the ball over the oncoming goalkeeper, leaving his teammate with the simplest of tap-ins.
And the visitors got level soon after the half-time interval in excellent fashion.
Danns found the net from a little more than 20 yards out with a superb direct free-kick whipped into the bottom right corner, opening his account for 2026-27 and putting the game firmly in the balance.
Page’s charges pressed on in search of a winner and spurned several good opportunities to seal a full turnaround.
A slack back-pass by McMahon was reached by Chelsea ’keeper Freddy Bernal before Josh Sonni-Lambie and, when the rebound fell loose, O’Connor sent an attempt too high.
Cisse crashed a shot off the outside of the post on a supporting run to the edge of the area, while Reggie Watson fired wide from a similar position at the other end for Chelsea.
Amid foul weather conditions, Liverpool carved out the best opportunity to win it late on.
O’Connor found Wright central and he in turn served a reverse pass leftward to an unmarked Joe Bradshaw inside the Blues penalty box.
The substitute’s curler drifted over the target, though, and the Reds had to settle for a point in the capital.
U21s player-coach Jay Spearing told Liverpoolfc.com: “Our overall feeling is we should have won the game, because we created some great chances in the second half.
“We were off it in the first half and gifted two goals away but in the second half we were more like what we are about.
“The lads showed brilliant character, we had more belief and we played really well. We go away frustrated because we had some big chances to win it.
“We are delighted for Dannsy to get his first goal of the season. It was a brilliant free-kick and he deserved it. And he got 70 minutes in, which was great for him.”
Team
Liverpool: Davies, Cisse, Pitt, Lucky, Ndiaye, Trueman (Onanuga, 70), O’Connor, Laffey, Danns (Bradshaw, 70), Sonni-Lambie (Upton, 70), W. Wright.
Unused subs: Ayman, Hall, Cowley, P. Farkas.
Goals: W. Wright (26), Danns (48)
Next up
The U21s now have an extended period without a competitive match.
They will return on Tuesday November 10 for their third and final Jersey Mike’s Trophy group-stage game, away at Huddersfield Town (7pm GMT).
