London, October 4, 2025 – In a pulsating Premier League encounter at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea emerged victorious with a dramatic 2-1 win over reigning champions Liverpool, thanks to a stoppage-time stunner from teenage sensation Estêvão Willian. The match, played under the floodlights on a crisp autumn evening, showcased the Blues’ resilience and tactical nous under manager Enzo Maresca, who continues to mold his squad into title contenders despite a turbulent summer of transfers and injuries.
The game kicked off with Chelsea asserting early dominance, pressing high and disrupting Liverpool’s rhythm. Moisés Caicedo, the Ecuadorian midfield dynamo acquired for a record fee two seasons ago, opened the scoring in the 35th minute with a thunderous long-range strike that left Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili rooted to the spot. The goal, a curling effort from 25 yards out, was a testament to Caicedo’s growing influence in the Chelsea engine room, where he combined defensive solidity with moments of attacking brilliance.
Liverpool, managed by Arne Slot and coming off a string of inconsistent results, struggled to find their footing in the first half. The Reds’ high-profile summer signing Florian Wirtz, who has faced criticism for his adaptation to the Premier League’s intensity, was substituted at halftime after a lackluster performance. Slot’s side improved after the break, with Mohamed Salah pulling the strings on the right flank. In the 60th minute, Salah leveled the score with a clinical finish from a Cody Gakpo assist, capitalizing on a rare defensive lapse from Chelsea’s backline. The Egyptian’s goal, his fifth of the season, briefly swung the momentum toward the visitors, who began to dominate possession and create chances.
However, Chelsea’s fighting spirit shone through in the dying moments. Substitute Estêvão, the 18-year-old Brazilian prodigy signed from Palmeiras for £50 million, latched onto a through ball from Cole Palmer and slotted home the winner in the 95th minute. The goal sent the Stamford Bridge faithful into ecstasy, marking Estêvão’s first in Chelsea blue and underlining the club’s investment in youth talent. The victory propelled Chelsea up to fourth in the table, just three points behind leaders Arsenal, while Liverpool slipped to third amid growing concerns over their form.
Post-match analysis on Sky Sports featured former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, who was unsparing in his assessment of his old club’s woes but reserved special praise for one Chelsea standout. Carragher, known for his forthright opinions, highlighted Marc Cucurella’s performance as the game’s defining factor. “He did something I haven’t seen in a long while from any Chelsea player, and it was simply incredible. The energy, the decision-making, and the fight he showed stood out massively,” Carragher said during the broadcast. “Not Estêvão, not Moisés Caicedo — but this player deserves all the credit today.”
Cucurella, the Spanish left-back who joined Chelsea from Brighton in 2022 for £62 million, has often divided opinion with his erratic form in previous seasons. However, under Maresca’s guidance, the 27-year-old has reinvented himself as a tenacious defender with an eye for progressive passing. Against Liverpool, Cucurella was tasked with shackling Salah, one of the league’s most lethal attackers. He rose to the challenge magnificently, winning 8 out of 10 duels, making four interceptions, and completing 92% of his passes. His ability to anticipate Salah’s movements and cut off supply lines frustrated the Egyptian star, limiting him to just two shots on target despite his goal.
Carragher elaborated on Cucurella’s impact: “Look, Liverpool were missing that spark today, but credit where it’s due – Cucurella made Salah look ordinary. That’s no small feat. His positioning was spot on, and he never stopped running. In a game where Chelsea were under pressure in the second half, he was the glue holding that defense together.” The pundit’s comments echo a broader sentiment among analysts that Cucurella’s resurgence could be key to Chelsea’s defensive stability, especially with injuries plaguing the squad. Benoit Badiashile, who started alongside Levi Colwill in central defense, was forced off in the 70th minute with a hamstring issue, further highlighting the importance of versatile players like Cucurella.
Maresca, in his post-match press conference, echoed Carragher’s sentiments while downplaying individual accolades. “Marc was outstanding today, but it’s a team effort. We’ve worked hard on our defensive shape, and players like him embody the fight we need every game.” The Italian tactician, who took over from Mauricio Pochettino last summer, has implemented a fluid 4-2-3-1 system that emphasizes high pressing and quick transitions – a style that played to Cucurella’s strengths against a Liverpool side still adjusting to life without departed legends like Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Liverpool’s Slot, meanwhile, cut a frustrated figure after the defeat, which marks the Reds’ third loss in five games. “We had our moments, but we weren’t clinical enough. Chelsea punished us late, and that’s football,” he said. The Dutch manager’s decision to bench Wirtz in favor of more physical midfield options like Dominik Szoboszlai drew pre-match scrutiny from Carragher, who had urged Slot to “rip up plans and go back to last season’s Liverpool XI” in a Telegraph column earlier in the week. Post-game, Carragher doubled down: “Liverpool look unbalanced. Wirtz has talent, but against a gritty side like Chelsea, you need fighters. Cucurella showed what that looks like.”
The match wasn’t without controversy. A potential penalty for Chelsea in the 82nd minute, when Alejandro Garnacho – the former Manchester United winger who joined Chelsea in a shock £80 million deal last summer – was bundled over by Ibrahima Konaté, was waved away by referee Anthony Taylor. VAR upheld the decision, much to the chagrin of the home crowd. Garnacho, who tormented Liverpool’s right side with his pace and dribbling, was another bright spark for Chelsea, registering an assist on Estêvão’s winner.
Beyond the on-pitch drama, the game highlighted the evolving dynamics of the Premier League. Chelsea’s squad, bolstered by ambitious signings like Estêvão and Garnacho, is beginning to gel, with young talents complementing established stars like Palmer and Caicedo. Liverpool, despite their championship pedigree, appear vulnerable, with questions mounting over Slot’s ability to integrate new faces like Wirtz and Alexander Isak.
Fans and pundits alike will remember this fixture for its late twist and Cucurella’s heroic display. As Carragher noted, “In big games like this, it’s the unsung heroes who make the difference.” For Chelsea, this win could be a turning point in their season, signaling a return to the elite. Liverpool, on the other hand, face a crucial international break to regroup before their next challenge.
