Estevao’s 95th-minute winner stuns Liverpool as Chelsea seize breathless 2-1 victory

Chelsea struck at the death to beat Liverpool 2-1 at Stamford Bridge, with Brazilian teenager Estevao Willian sliding in a 95th-minute winner to hand the champions a third straight defeat in all competitions. Moises Caicedo’s spectacular early strike put the hosts in control before Cody Gakpo drew Liverpool level after the break, but the decisive act arrived deep into stoppage time.

Marc Cucurella’s driven cross found Estevao stealing ahead of Andrew Robertson to turn in and spark a blue eruption that swept head coach Enzo Maresca down the touchline—and earned him a second yellow card. The finale capped a pulsating night that Chelsea largely controlled, even as Liverpool’s half-time reshuffle briefly tilted the contest back toward Arne Slot’s side.

Blueprint and a bolt: Caicedo sets the tone for Chelsea

Maresca’s opening plan asked Malo Gusto to disrupt Alexis Mac Allister’s rhythm in the build-up and encouraged Alejandro Garnacho to dart in behind Conor Bradley. The patterns paid off. On 14 minutes, space opened and Caicedo collected a quick pass before unleashing a rising, 20–25-yard screamer past Giorgi Mamardashvili—deputising for the injured Alisson—into the top corner.

Chelsea’s structure muted Liverpool through much of the first half. Bradley struggled to contain Garnacho, while Mohamed Salah’s best involvement before the interval was a cross that Alexander Isak headed over. The visitors looked a shade more solid than in recent defeats, yet the hosts’ pressing lanes and counter-attacking thrust kept them on the back foot.

Slot’s reshuffle and Gakpo’s lifeline

Liverpool’s head coach turned to Florian Wirtz at half-time, moving Dominik Szoboszlai to right-back to contend with Garnacho. The tweak brought an initial surge: Wirtz released Salah, who dragged wide with only Robert Sanchez to beat, and the visitors finally began to pin Chelsea back.

The equaliser arrived on 63 minutes when Szoboszlai’s deflected cross reached Isak, whose heavy touch broke perfectly for Gakpo to stab beyond Sanchez. Even so, the champions’ cohesion wavered. Ibrahima Konate’s withdrawal forced Ryan Gravenberch into defence, and Liverpool’s combinations—particularly between Salah and Isak—lacked fluency.

Teenage bench swings it: Chelsea finish stronger

Maresca doubled down on energy by introducing teenagers Estevao, Jamie Gittens and Marc Guiu for the final stretch. Mamardashvili twice denied the fresh legs—parrying efforts from Estevao and Gittens—and then tipped over a long-range Caicedo hit. When Estevao picked out Enzo Fernandez, the midfielder’s header smacked the outside of the post.

Just as a stalemate loomed, Chelsea forced one last opening. Cucurella whipped a low ball across the face; Robertson hesitated at the far post and Estevao nipped in to finish. Maresca’s exuberant celebration drew a red, but Stamford Bridge scarcely cared as a deserved victory was secured.

What it means and what’s next

Liverpool’s week darkened with another late concession, echoing their stoppage-time loss at Crystal Palace in the previous league match. It leaves Arsenal top of the table, a point ahead of Slot’s side after the Gunners’ win over West Ham earlier in the day.

For Chelsea, this was a complete team effort under trying circumstances after both Benoit Badiashile and Josh Acheampong went off injured, forcing Reece James to shuffle roles and the back line to improvise. With an international break arriving, both teams will welcome the pause—Chelsea to heal, Liverpool to reset and reforge connections at both ends.