Stoppage time drama as Chelsea wonderkid Estevao strikes late to beat Liverpool
Estevao picked a wonderful time to score his first goal for Chelsea, evading Andrew Robertson at the back post to poke home Marc Cucurella’s low cross. Pic: Adam Davy/PA Wire.
Electric Estevao Willian emerged from the bench to earn Chelsea a last-gasp deserved win, extending Liverpool’s run of defeats to three and deepening Arne Slot’s list of concerns.
For 45 minutes the Premier League champions were second best to the world champions, not just trailing to Moises Caicedo’s 14th-minute stunner but unable to find any rhythm. Then Slot made three forward-thinking substitutions, headlined by Florian Wirtz’s introduction for the unconvincing Conor Bradley, and Cody Gakpo equalised.
Their search for a winner appeared to have been helped further by Chelsea concluding the match with two full-backs in central defence because starting pair Josh Acheampong and Benoit Badiashile hobbled off to join four other specialists in being unavailable.
Yet Liverpool remain startlingly unbalanced and Slot’s commitment to all-out attack ultimately proved costly. Estevao, 18, picked a wonderful time to score his first goal for the club by evading Andrew Robertson at the back post to poke home Marc Cucurella’s low cross – bookending a performance that eventually ended with the deserved result.
The 13 minutes preceding Caicedo’s piledriver were patient and uneventful. Yet that moment, as much about the stunning finish as it was slack defending, precipitated another prolonged spell of beige from Liverpool.
As the midfielder received possession from Malo Gusto, he skipped clear of an overly-eager Alexis Mac Allister and saw the space in front of him open up as Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate retreated together, inviting the shot from a player not known for being prolific.
What followed was a right-footed drive from just outside the penalty quadrant that stitched into the top left corner of Giorgi Mamardashvili’s goal, the stand-in stopper unable to keep it out despite his best efforts.
In meek response Dominik Szoboszlai, who was fed by Cody Gakpo, extracted a good block from Benoit Badiashile, but Liverpool’s passing too often lacked zip and their attacking movement was predictable.
Chelsea’s purposeful pressing did not help them and the visitors’ bubbling frustrations were summed up by Bradley earning himself a naive caution when hauling Cucurella to the floor.
Szoboszlai had a brief moment of fear when the VAR reviewed a penalty claim following a minor nudge on Alejandro Garnacho, rarely one to remain on his feet once the slightest contact is felt. The spot kick, unsurprisingly, was not awarded even if Enzo Maresca earned a booking because of a frank exchange of views on the touchline.
Bradley was then enraged by Garnacho earning another soft foul from him nearing the interval, while Alexander Isak offered a reminder of his presence following a largely anonymous 45 minutes when heading Mohamed Salah’s improvised delivery from the right off target.
The hooking of Bradley for Florian Wirtz, leading to Szoboszlai reverting to the right side of defence, prompted an immediate improvement from Liverpool.
Within 20 seconds Gakpo advanced down the left and the ball worked its way across to Salah via a fine bit of skill from Wirtz. The intent was much more recognisable, Salah’s execution remained wayward as he found the side-netting from about eight yards.
Isak tried his luck from range soon after and Salah, shifting in from the right, blasted over.
Although Szoboszlai offered higher resistance than Bradley, Garnacho remained the outlet for Chelsea as more significant spaces began to appear around the hour point and he combined well with Cucurella to create a chance that Pedro Neto could not convert.
It would prove costly. Gakpo’s leveller arrived soon after thanks to a fluid move far more in keeping with what is expected of Slot’s team.
The overlapping Szoboszlai’s cross from the right was heavily deflected by Cucurella into the path of Isak. With his back to goal the Sweden international sought to control the ball for himself only for it to turn into Gakpo’s welcoming path and he finished well.
Salah threatened twice as Liverpool suddenly looked more likely, while Andrew Robertson and Szoboszlai took aim without success, and for a spell it looked as if the hosts would finish their evening with backs against the wall.
Except Chelsea built up a fresh head of steam, finding gaps vacated by Slot’s gung-ho shift in personnel. Subs Jamie Gittens and Estevao flirted with a late winner from range and Caicedo brought a good save from Mamardashvili in the 89th minute, while Enzo Fernandez rattled the post in added time from four yards when getting in front of Szoboszlai to meet Estevao’s cross.
Then came the Brazilian youngster’s moment of glory, leading to Maresca racing down his touchline in wild celebration and picking up a red card.
Sanchez, Gusto, Acheampong, Badiashile, Cucurella, James, Caicedo, Pedro Neto, Fernandez, Garnacho, Joao Pedro.
Jorgensen, Slonina, Bynoe-Gittens, Hato, Guiu, Buonanotte, Estevao, Lavia, Emenalo.
Mamardashvili, Bradley, Konate, van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo, Isak.
Woodman, Gomez, Endo, Wirtz, Chiesa, Jones, Ekitike, Robertson, Frimpong.
Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)
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