A pulsating, breathless evening of Premier League action ended in heartbreak for Liverpool and ecstasy for Chelsea as 18-year-old substitute Estevão Willian struck a dramatic winner in the 95th minute to seal a 2–1 victory for the Blues at Stamford Bridge.
The win not only brought Liverpool’s recent good form crashing down but also underscored Chelsea’s resilience in a clash laden with injury woes, tactical shifts and nerve-shredding drama.
From the outset, the match carried an electric atmosphere, with both sets of fans anticipating a high-stakes duel. Chelsea, already depleted by injuries and suspensions, entered the game missing several first-team regulars, yet they refused to shrink under pressure. In the 14th minute, Moisés Caicedo announced Chelsea’s intent in spectacular style.
Picking up the ball some 20 yards from goal after a pass out of midfield, the Ecuadorian midfielder took a touch, steadied himself, and unleashed a thunderous strike that arrowed into the top corner past Liverpool’s goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, who was making his league debut in place of the injured Alisson. The finish was emphatic, leaving no chance for the substitute keeper.
Liverpool attempted to regroup, seeking to impose their usual passing rhythms and wing play, but for much of the first half their efforts were stifled. Chelsea’s backline, bolstered by full-backs and a disciplined midfield, contained forward surges and thwarted crosses.
Benoît Badiashile made several key blocks, and the defensive unit held firm despite sustained pressure. Liverpool’s best chance before the break came from a flicked header by Alexander Isak that sailed over the bar.
Chelsea, for their part, flirted with a second — Alejandro Garnacho bent a curling shot that clipped the post and drifted wide. A penalty claim by Chelsea, when Garnacho went down under pressure from Dominik Szoboszlai, was checked by VAR but ultimately dismissed.
At half-time, Liverpool manager Arne Slot responded by bringing on Florian Wirtz for Conor Bradley, hoping that the fresh legs and creativity would rejuvenate his side. The substitution had immediate effect: within seconds of the restart, Wirtz flicked a clever pass into Mohamed Salah, opening a window of hope.
Yet Salah’s shot sailed wide — a haunting miss in hindsight. Liverpool continued pressing: Ryan Gravenberch fired a long-range effort that forced Robert Sánchez into a fine save before the Reds’ rhythm briefly threatened to take hold. Chelsea, however, were not passive, and their transitions often carried danger.
Fifteen minutes into the second half the goal Liverpool craved finally arrived. Szoboszlai dispatched a cross into the area, Isak controlled it smartly, and the ball fell invitingly to Cody Gakpo, who drove a shot past Sánchez to level the tie. The equaliser invigorated Liverpool, and momentum seemed to shift.
Slots were tinkered with; personnel rotated; the dynamics became more open, end to end. Chelsea’s defence, meanwhile, took a hammering. Benoît Badiashile and Josh Acheampong both succumbed to injuries, forcing reshuffles — Reece James, already stationed at right-back, was pressed into central defence, and teenage prospect Jorrel Hato was thrust into action during the final third of the match.
As the clock ticked into stoppage time, tensions mounted. Chelsea threw on attacking reinforcements — Jamie Gittens and Estevão Willian among them — in a bold bid to snatch the winner. Liverpool sensed vulnerability, and both sides exchanged desperate forays. Enzo Fernández voyaged into the penalty area and glanced a header against the post.
Moments later, Marc Cucurella played a low cross across the Liverpool six-yard box. At the far post, Estevão, having come off the bench, poked the ball home and ignited wild scenes of jubilation in the home end. Manager Enzo Maresca, overcome by emotion, charged down the touchline to celebrate, earning a second yellow card and a red. Chelsea’s staff and players huddled in delirious embrace as Liverpool were left reeling in the wreckage of yet another late collapse.
In the aftermath, the home crowd cheered long into the night, celebrating a victory born of guts, grit and opportunism. Assistant coach Willy Caballero later noted that Maresca, despite his dismissal, was very happy with the team’s effort and resilience in overcoming the odds.
For Liverpool, the result compounds a troubling trend: this was their third defeat in succession across all competitions, and two of those losses have come via stoppage-time heartbreaks. Their title defence now looks exposed.