Chelsea Stuns Liverpool 2-1: Five Key Insights from the Reds' Devastating Third Straight Loss
Estêvão delivered a dramatic 95th-minute winner for Chelsea in their 2–1 triumph over Liverpool in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge, inflicting a third consecutive defeat on the Reds for the first time during Arne Slot's tenure.
Chelsea dominated proceedings throughout the opening period and Caicedo netted a spectacular goal to give his side a deserved half-time advantage. The midfielder advanced toward Liverpool's box and fired a shot into the top corner to compound the struggling Reds' woes.
Cody Gakpo appeared to have leveled the score for Liverpool shortly after the hour mark, but Chelsea rightfully claimed all three points during added time as their opponents endured late disappointment for the second consecutive weekend.
Here are five key observations from an exciting encounter in London.
Chelsea's Outstanding Resilience Secures Victory
Chelsea faced Liverpool without numerous players due to injuries and suspensions, with many predicting the Reds would return to form given their hosts' concerning fitness problems. Nevertheless, the Blues earned their victory against the defending champions, displaying the resilience and resolve their opponents sorely lacked.
Chelsea established their approach from kickoff. They pressed Liverpool aggressively in their defensive third and suffocated them whenever they crossed the midfield line. They forced the Reds into countless mistakes through pure effort and determination, consistently winning possession in crucial zones.
Even when their injury problems worsened after halftime and they allowed an equalizer, their morale remained high. They demonstrated remarkable courage to overcome their disadvantages and rather than defending deep for a draw, they battled relentlessly for victory. Ultimately, they earned exactly what their performance merited.
Following a challenging period that saw them lose three of their previous five games, this represented the ideal response from Maresca's squad.
Depleted Defense Rises to the Occasion
Chelsea hosted Liverpool at Stamford Bridge with a makeshift defensive line. The Blues were missing Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo and Levi Colwill due to injuries, while Trevoh Chalobah's dismissal the previous weekend resulted in suspension. Enzo Maresca had to select the rarely-used combination of Benoît Badiashile and Josh Acheampong at center-back.
Badiashile delivered an outstanding display in Chelsea's midweek victory over Benfica on his first appearance since returning from injury, and the French defender proved equally valuable in the first half at Stamford Bridge, preventing a certain goal by blocking Dominik Szoboszlai's close-range attempt. Acheampong also stepped up against the formidable Alexander Isak, demonstrating remarkable composure and strength to handle the record Premier League acquisition.
However, Chelsea's fitness problems intensified dramatically after the interval. Both Badiashile and Acheampong suffered injuries within 22 minutes of the second half, leaving Maresca lamenting his misfortune. Facing Isak, Florian Wirtz, Mohamed Salah and Gakpo, the home crowd braced for the worst.
Yet the Stamford Bridge supporters were pleasantly surprised by the closing stages, as the new partnership of Reece James and Jorrel Hato answered the call. They restricted Liverpool to limited opportunities, rarely threatened by the collection of world-class talents opposing them.
Chelsea's defensive injuries make their success even more impressive—though Maresca will be anxious about their fitness during the international break.
Liverpool Suffer Another Disappointing Loss
For the first time during Slot's reign at Liverpool, they have suffered three consecutive defeats. The Reds cannot argue with any of their losses, delivering poor performances that deserved nothing in visits to Crystal Palace, Galatasaray and now Chelsea.
They were outmatched and outclassed at Stamford Bridge by their injury-ravaged hosts. Even without star player Cole Palmer, Chelsea managed to cut through the Reds effortlessly, with Liverpool again looking disorganized defensively and tired in midfield. It was another catastrophic day for Slot's backline, except for Premier League newcomer Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Liverpool's forwards must also shoulder responsibility. Salah delivered another underwhelming display against his former club, while Isak failed to make a significant impact and squandered an excellent equalizing opportunity in the first half. Gakpo found the net but was frequently contained on the right wing, while Wirtz couldn't provide a game-changing contribution from the substitutes' bench.
Fortunately, Slot has the international break to address Liverpool's problems. Is this simply a temporary setback, or something more concerning? Regardless, it's another loss that sees them fall behind Arsenal in the table. The Reds now find themselves chasing in the title race.
Another Setback for Ibrahima Konaté
Ibrahima Konaté's reputation continues to deteriorate weekly. The French defender seems increasingly likely to follow Trent Alexander-Arnold's example and move to Real Madrid on a free transfer next summer, but the Spanish club might reconsider by season's end.
Konaté has clearly been affected by speculation linking him with the Santiago Bernabéu, showing a worrying drop in form since the campaign began. He's been careless and lethargic with and without the ball, playing a major role in Liverpool's poor defensive showings early this season.
After another mediocre performance against Chelsea, Slot reached his limit. The center-back was substituted in the 56th minute as his manager chose to deploy Ryan Gravenberch as an emergency defender, providing a harsh assessment of Konaté's current form.
Liverpool only have Joe Gomez as a senior center-back option following Giovanni Leoni's ACL injury, but Slot may be increasingly inclined to favor the Englishman over Konaté going forward.
Florian Wirtz Starts on the Substitutes' Bench
Analysis of Florian Wirtz's initial Liverpool displays has been intense but justified considering the German's £116 million ($156.2 million) transfer fee, with news made before kickoff as the attacking midfielder was relegated to the bench.
Wirtz had little reason to protest based on recent showings—though some criticism directed at him has been somewhat excessive—and Slot preferred the more hardworking Dominik Szoboszlai as his most advanced midfielder.
While selecting a more defensively-minded midfield away at Chelsea is logical, it represents a concerning decision from Wirtz's viewpoint. Liverpool have found it difficult to determine how to utilize the 22-year-old since his arrival and Slot remains apparently uncertain.
The fact that Slot introduced Wirtz at halftime following a terrible first-half showing highlights that he's not Liverpool's only problem, and he made a largely positive impression immediately upon entering the match. Once again, he could have registered an assist if Salah had been more clinical just a minute after the restart.
However, Wirtz's influence waned as the second half progressed and his poor touches became more frequent as he disappeared from the game. It was another disappointing outing for the German, who continues to wait for his first goal or assist for the Reds.