Chelsea clinched a dramatic late victory over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, winning 2–1 thanks to a composed finish by teenager Estevão in the 95th minute. The match was full of tension, twists, and a turning point that broke Liverpool’s run of form.
The home side drew first blood when Moisés Caicedo unleashed a thunderous strike from just outside the box in the 14th minute, planting the ball into the top corner beyond Liverpool’s keeper. Chelsea looked confident and dangerous in the early stages, taking advantage of space in midfield and pushing forward with energy.
Liverpool responded in the second half. In the 63rd minute, Cody Gakpo levelled the score. A clever move saw Alexander Isak touch on Dominik Szoboszlai’s cross, handing Gakpo the chance to stab the ball home. The Reds looked to build momentum from there, and briefly pressed Chelsea back into their half.
But Chelsea were rocking. They lost centre-backs Benoît Badiashile and Josh Acheampong to injury, leaving the back line stretched. Despite that, they remained dangerous going forward. The Royal Blues brought on substitutes including Jamie Gittens and Estevão, who both forced saves from Liverpool’s stand-in keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, filling in after Alisson’s absence.
As full-time approached, Chelsea looked determined to find a winner. Their persistence paid off when, in the final moments, Estevão tapped in from a Marc Cucurella cross. The young forward showed calmness under pressure to convert, sending the crowd wild and handing Liverpool a third consecutive defeat. Chelsea’s coach, Enzo Maresca, was sent off for running down the touchline in celebration while already on a yellow card.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot was left frustrated. He admitted the game was balanced but conceded that conceding in injury time has become a pattern for his team. The Reds’ defensive issues, especially at full-back, were underlined, with slots difficult to fill in Alexander-Arnold’s absence. Meanwhile, Chelsea celebrated a hard-fought victory and will look to build from this high as the season continues.
