Liverpool crashed to a third successive defeat as Estevao Willian’s last-gasp strike condemned the spluttering Premier League champions to a 2-1 defeat against Chelsea on Saturday.
Arne Slot’s side were rocked by Estevao’s close-range finish in the final seconds at Stamford Bridge after Cody Gakpo’s second half equaliser had cancelled out Moises Caicedo’s brilliant opener for the Blues.
After making a perfect start to the season with seven wins in all competitions, including five in the Premier League, Liverpool have suffered an unexpected blip with shock defeats at Crystal Palace, Galatasaray and Chelsea.
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Having lost to Palace in the closing moments last weekend, this was another agonising blow for Liverpool, who had made a habit of scoring late winners themselves in the early weeks of the season.
Those late goals had papered over the cracks as Liverpool struggle to gel following Slot’s close-season spending spree.
Once again the second-placed Reds were below the standards that carried them to the title last season despite splashing out more than £400 million ($539 million) on new signings.
They have surrendered first place to Arsenal, who climbed one point above them after beating West Ham on Saturday.
Chelsea’s late show lifted them to sixth place as under-fire boss Enzo Maresca avoided a third successive league defeat.
Maresca’s men snatched the lead with a bolt from the blue in the 14th minute.
When Liverpool carelessly conceded possession, Caicedo pounced on the loose ball and advanced unchecked as Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate backed off, allowing the 23-year-old midfielder to lash a sublime strike into the top corner from the edge of the area.
Caicedo’s third goal this season was the kind of breathtaking moment that underlined why Liverpool were so keen to sign him from Brighton before Chelsea outbid them for the Ecuadorian in 2023.
– Liverpool rocked –
The Reds lacked their usual fluency and Alejandro Garnacho almost added to Slot’s angst with a curler that clipped the outside of the post as Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili stood rooted to the spot.
Garnacho was denied a penalty just before half-time after Dominik Szoboszlai shoved the Argentine to the turf, with the incensed Maresca earning a booking after becoming embroiled in a row with Liverpool goalkeeping coach Xavi Valero.
AFP
