Chelsea Teenage Star Estêvão Delivers 96th-Minute Stunner to Down Liverpool 2-1

Estêvão stunned reigning champions Liverpool with a breathtaking 96th-minute winner as Chelsea secured a dramatic 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge. The 18-year-old Brazilian’s late heroics saw Liverpool lose their third competitive game in the space of eight days, compounding the Reds’ recent struggles.

Chelsea Dominate First Half as Caicedo Strikes Gold

Chelsea were by far the better side in the first half and led at the break after a sensational Moisés Caicedo strike just 14 minutes in. After picking up a pass from Malo Gusto and drifting past Alexis Mac Allister, the Ecuadorian rocketed a shot into the top corner of the net past Premier League debutant Giorgi Mamardashvili in the Liverpool goal.

Caicedo came into this game having scored twice already in the Premier League, including a brilliant goal in the 2-2 draw at Brentford last month. He added another impressive goal to his repertoire with the powerful strike from outside the box. Caicedo has now scored three goals in his last six Premier League appearances, as many as in his previous 133 games in the competition.

That strike highlighted Liverpool’s fragility at the back, with the Reds now keeping just two clean sheets in their last 16 games. Liverpool arrived at Stamford Bridge with some question marks around their recent performances away from home, having suffered back-to-back defeats at Crystal Palace in the Premier League and Galatasaray in the Champions League.

Garnacho Denied as Chelsea Press for Second

Alejandro Garnacho, making his first league start for Chelsea, came close to doubling Chelsea’s lead late in the half, but his curling shot from outside the box struck the foot of the post and went wide. A minute later, the 21-year-old believed he should have won a penalty after a push from Dominik Szoboszlai, but referee Andrew Taylor remained unconvinced and was backed by the VAR.

Gakpo Equalizes as Liverpool Finally Respond

It took Liverpool 51 minutes to attempt their first shot on target, but they scored with their second 12 minutes later through Gakpo. Alexander Isak brought down a cross into the box, but Gakpo was quicker to respond to the loose ball to fire the ball into the roof of the net from yards out.

It was his first Premier League goal involvement against Chelsea on what is his seventh appearance against them in the competition and also meant that he’s now scored against 20 different clubs in the Premier League.

That strike also kept Liverpool’s Premier League scoring run going, extending it to 41 matches and now only 14 behind the competition record held by Arsenal (55 games) between 2001 and 2002.

Chelsea’s Injury Crisis Deepens

With Chelsea arguably already down to their fifth and sixth-choice central defenders coming into this clash, their injury woes at the back continued when Benoît Badiashile was forced off just 10 minutes into the second half. He was joined by Josh Acheampong 11 minutes later, with the only potential positive being that the Blues don’t play another competitive game for two weeks.

Despite those enforced changes, Chelsea looked the more likely side to find a winner as they pushed forward. They came close in the 91st minute, with Enzo Fernández’s header rattling the outside of the post, but more drama was to come.

Estêvão’s Moment of Magic Breaks Liverpool Hearts

Rescued by late goals on numerous occasions this season, but undone by one last weekend at Palace, there was yet another late blow for Liverpool in this game, as Estêvão slid in at the back post following Marc Cucurella’s excellent low cross.

Estêvão is the 11th different Brazilian player to score in the Premier League for Chelsea – only Arsenal (13) have had more Brazilian goal scorers in the competition. Aged 18 years and 163 days old, Estêvão is the second youngest Brazilian to score in the Premier League, after Rafael for Manchester United in November 2008 (18 years and 122 days).

Historical Context: Chelsea’s Resurgence Against Liverpool

Chelsea have beaten the reigning Premier League champions for the first time since a 1-0 win against Liverpool at Anfield in March 2021. Between that victory and today’s match, Chelsea had drawn three and lost six against reigning champions.

Chelsea are now unbeaten across their last five Premier League home games against Liverpool, recording two wins and three draws. This represents their longest such run against the Reds since 1991-2003, when they went 13 games unbeaten (nine wins, four draws).

The Bigger Picture: Title Race Implications

Following this defeat, Liverpool end the day in second place, a point behind Arsenal having led the Gunners by five points two weeks ago. Arne Slot has lost three games in a row in all competitions for the first time in his managerial career.

The defeats at Crystal Palace in the Premier League and Galatasaray in the Champions League had already created momentum concerns for Liverpool. This latest setback at Stamford Bridge compounds those issues, particularly regarding their away form and defensive vulnerabilities.

For Chelsea, the victory demonstrates their ability to compete with the Premier League’s elite. Despite severe injury problems at center-back, the Blues controlled large periods of the match and showed resilience to claim all three points with a dramatic late winner.

Caicedo’s Transformation Into Goal Threat

Moisés Caicedo’s opening goal was particularly significant for his development as an attacking presence. Having scored just three goals in his first 133 Premier League appearances, he has now matched that tally in just his last six games. The powerful strike from outside the box showcased his growing confidence in the final third, adding a new dimension to his game beyond his established defensive qualities.

Liverpool’s Scoring Streak Continues Despite Defeat

Despite the loss, Liverpool maintained their impressive Premier League scoring streak at 41 consecutive matches. They now sit just 14 games behind Arsenal’s competition record of 55 consecutive games with a goal, achieved between 2001 and 2002. Cody Gakpo’s equalizer ensured this remarkable run remained intact, even as the team suffered another away-day disappointment.

Gakpo’s Growing Premier League Portfolio

Cody Gakpo’s goal represented a personal milestone, as it was his first Premier League goal involvement against Chelsea in his seventh appearance against them in the competition. The strike also meant he has now scored against 20 different clubs in the Premier League, demonstrating his consistency and adaptability across multiple opponents.

The Road Ahead for Both Teams

Chelsea don’t play another competitive game for two weeks, which provides crucial recovery time for their injury-hit squad. The break comes at an opportune moment given the defensive casualties suffered during this match.

Liverpool, meanwhile, must regroup after three consecutive defeats across all competitions. With Arsenal now leading the Premier League table by a point, the Reds face a critical period where they need to rediscover the form that saw them lead by five points just two weeks ago.

The dramatic nature of Estêvão’s winner encapsulates the unpredictability of the Premier League title race. With young talents emerging for Chelsea and established powers like Liverpool showing vulnerability, the remainder of the season promises intense competition at both ends of the table.

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