.png)
5 hours ago
2
Call it the sweetest red card of Enzo Maresca’s managerial career. Chelsea were 2-1 up deep into stoppage time and Stamford Bridge was in a state of disbelief when Maresca was ordered down the tunnel by Anthony Taylor. Estêvão Willian, the Brazilian sensation, had just scored his first goal for the club and his head coach had received a second booking after running down the touchline to celebrate with his players.
Has a yellow card ever been more worth it? Liverpool are looking up rather than down for the first time under Arne Slot. They have relinquished top spot to Arsenal and have a host of problems to fix. The defence looks suspect, the midfield is open and there were few signs of an understanding between Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak even with the champions up against a Chelsea back four staffed by kids and makeshift options because of a long list of absentees.
There was an assist of sorts from Isak, who decorated an otherwise ineffective performance by creating Cody Gakpo’s goal, but Liverpool were never convincing. Poor during the first half, they did not even offer much after cancelling Moisés Caicedo’s early goal. Instead they tired during the final 15 minutes and conceded a late goal for the second consecutive league game when Estêvão popped up to give Chelsea a deserved win.
It was impossible to know what to expect from both sides. The pressure on Liverpool after defeats to Palace and Galatasaray was heightened by Arsenal beating West Ham earlier in the day, and there was a sense of Slot seeking stability with his lineup, the omission of Florian Wirtz and the selection of the midfield trio of Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister the flex of a team trying to find comfort in old patterns and partnerships.
Yet the cracks in the system remained apparent. If there was encouragement for Chelsea during the early stages, it mostly came from signs that one pass over the top proved enough to send Alejandro Garnacho running behind Conor Bradley on the right. Liverpool’s defence did not look secure. Ibrahima Konaté’s suspect positioning caused problems while the sight of Giorgi Mamardashvili, deputising for the injured Alisson in goal, opening his league debut by twice sending passes out of play told Chelsea it was all to play for as long as they were able to keep their own self-destructive tendencies at bay.
This has not been an easy period for Maresca. Chelsea have been stretched by injuries, the impact of the Club World Cup starting to bite, and must have been nervous about how Benoît Badiashile and Josh Acheampong would fare against Isak.
As it was, Liverpool created nothing during the opening half-hour. Salah wasted opportunities to release Isak and there were structural problems in midfield, caused by Maresca’s decision to put Malo Gusto rather than Reece James next to Caicedo and Enzo Fernández.
Gusto was an energetic, highly effective pest. The French full-back stuck to Mac Allister, preventing the Argentinian from instigating the buildup, and even made the opening goal when a quick ball round the corner to Caicedo exposed the gaps in Liverpool’s setup in the 14th minute.
There was so much space for Caicedo that for a moment he looked unsure what to do with it. But when Virgil van Dijk backed off and the crowd roared for a shot there was only path to take. And soon, with no Liverpool player resisting, the ball was flying off Caicedo’s right foot and screaming past Mamardashvili on its way into the top corner.
A special goal to enliven a mundane half. Chelsea played it carefully, sitting in a low block and launching counterattacks. Maresca had to be pleased when he saw Gravenberch misplacing passes. The one scare came from Salah crossing for Isak to head over but Chelsea looked strong and might even have had a penalty when Szoboszlai tangled with Garnacho. Maresca being booked for his furious appeal was not the best look given that his young side have had three red cards in four games.
Chelsea needed to maintain their composure. They wanted a second yellow for Bradley when the right-back fouled Garnacho. Taylor’s leniency allowed Slot to adjust at half-time, Wirtz introduced for Bradley and Szoboszlai tasked with dealing with Garnacho.
Wirtz was immediately involved, brilliantly flicking Gakpo’s pass to Salah, who shot wide. The mood was different. Salah sent another shot over before a limping Badiashile, who was having an excellent game, had to make way for Roméo Lavia.
after newsletter promotion
Maresca now had James partnering the 19-year-old Acheampong. Life was not getting any easier for Liverpool, though. They lost Konaté to injury, forcing Gravenberch to step into defence, and were relieved to see Pedro Neto and Garnacho spurn chances to extend Chelsea’s lead.
The level of Liverpool’s play remained low. Then they scored from nothing. Szoboszlai overlapped and crossed. Marc Cucurella’s block was not enough and the ball span to Isak, whose attempt to turn and shoot instead turned into the perfect assist for Gakpo, who arrived to beat Robert Sánchez from close range.
Chelsea’s nerve was under examination. Their issues increased when Acheampong went down with cramp and made way to Jorrel Hato, another teenager.
Chelsea were crying out for fresh legs. Maresca’s response to Isak making way for Hugo Ekitiké was to bring on Jamie Gittens, Estêvão and Marc Guiu. Gravenberch soon had to divert a dangerous ball from Fernández. Chelsea rallied; Gittens and Estêvão drew fine saves from Mamardashvili.
In then end it was Chelsea hunting a late winner. It should have arrived when Estêvão crossed for Fernández, who headed against the woodwork. No matter. Back came Chelsea, Cucurella overlapping and crossing for Estêvão, who slid in behind Andy Robertson to turn the ball in. Liverpool were beaten again.
