Chelsea edged Liverpool 2-1 in a thrilling Premier League Week 7 encounter at Stamford Bridge on Saturday night, with 18-year-old Brazilian winger Estêvão Willian grabbing a sensational stoppage-time winner to hand the Blues a morale-boosting victory.
According to Reuters, the win came as a relief for manager Enzo Maresca, whose side displayed grit and resilience after being pegged back by a second-half equalizer from Cody Gakpo.
First Half: Caicedo Opens the Scoring for Chelsea
Chelsea started brightly and took a deserved lead in the 14th minute through Moïses Caicedo, who fired home a thunderous 25-yard strike past Liverpool’s goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.
The home side controlled much of the first half, pressing high and forcing errors from Liverpool’s midfield. Chelsea had a penalty appeal waved away by referee Craig Pawson after a tussle involving Cole Palmer inside the box.
Manager Enzo Maresca was later booked for dissent following the incident, reflecting the tense atmosphere inside Stamford Bridge.
Second Half: Gakpo Equalizes Before Estêvão’s Late Magic
Liverpool improved after the break, and their persistence paid off when Cody Gakpo leveled in the 63rd minute, converting a low cross from Alexander Isak.
The Reds appeared to gain momentum, but Chelsea’s makeshift defense — already without Thiago Silva and Axel Disasi — faced further setbacks as Benoît Badiashile and Josh Acheampong limped off injured.
Just when it seemed both teams would share the spoils, Chelsea’s teenage prodigy Estêvão Willian stole the show. In the 95th minute, the youngster connected with Marc Cucurella’s cross to score the match-winning goal, sending Stamford Bridge into wild celebration.
Aftermath: Maresca Sent Off, Liverpool’s Woes Continue
Maresca’s passionate celebration earned him a second yellow card, resulting in his dismissal from the touchline. However, the Italian tactician praised his team’s fighting spirit, saying, “This is why we fight until the end.” (TalkSport)
Liverpool manager Arne Slot, meanwhile, admitted his side were punished for lapses in concentration. “We controlled parts of the game, but small mistakes cost us big again,” he told reporters.
The defeat marks Liverpool’s third consecutive loss across all competitions — two of which have come via stoppage-time goals — while Chelsea rise to 6th place in the Premier League table with 11 points, trailing leaders Arsenal by five.
Match Summary
Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
Final Score: Chelsea 2–1 Liverpool
Goalscorers:
Moïses Caicedo (14’) – Chelsea
Cody Gakpo (63’) – Liverpool
Estêvão Willian (90+5’) – Chelsea
Red Card: Enzo Maresca (Chelsea Manager, 90+6’)
Referee: Craig Pawson
Next Fixtures
Chelsea: vs Tottenham Hotspur (Away) – October 11, 2025
Liverpool: vs Brighton (Home) – October 11, 2025
Source Credits:
PremierLeague.com, Reuters, TalkSport, The Guardian
