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Chelsea had an important victory over Liverpool. |
Enzo Maresca’s sprint down the touchline in the fifth minute of added time may become a defining image of Chelsea’s season – explosive, emotional and defiant. The Italian was dismissed after 18-year-old Estêvão Willian, a Palmeiras gem, scored the winner in a 2-1 win over Liverpool. But for Stamford Bridge, it was a moment of intense release, a rekindling of the spark in their rebirth under Maresca.
Against an opponent who had reigned at the top of the table for more than a year, Chelsea not only won - they also suffocated Liverpool with tightly organized, precise and ruthless football down to the last detail.
Liverpool's systematic collapse
It was Liverpool's third consecutive defeat in all competitions, and their second Premier League defeat in just two weeks. The last time Arne Slot's side were not in the top four was on September 24, 2024 - more than 12 months ago.
The statistics reveal the whole problem: Liverpool had just two shots in the first half, none of which were on target. Alexis Mac Allister was pinned down by Malo Gusto, who Maresca pulled into the middle and combined with Moises Caicedo to create a perfect “sandwich”. Liverpool’s usual ball progression was disrupted at the source.
In the 16th minute, Caicedo took advantage of Van Dijk's mistimed retreat to unleash a stunning long-range shot that still flew up when it hit the goalpost - a symbol of the new vitality Maresca is injecting into his youthful squad.
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3 points won against Liverpool helped Chelsea return to the championship race. |
Liverpool only really got going after the break when Florian Wirtz - a £116m signing - came on. The German immediately provided some creativity in midfield, helping Cody Gakpo equalise in the 63rd minute. But that was all the visitors could muster. They had just eight shots in the 90 minutes, with Salah missing the target four times.
Another sobering statistic that illustrates his worrying decline: Mohamed Salah has scored just three goals from open play in his last 21 Premier League games. The Egyptian striker still moves around a lot, and is fouled more than any other player (four times), but he has completely lost the killer instinct that made him famous.
Chelsea under Maresca are becoming a different version: less dreamy, but much more effective. They press mid-range instead of taking risks high up the pitch, proactively controlling space and counter-attacking with great precision.
Malo Gusto played like a true defensive midfielder, Caicedo had a 91% pass accuracy, and Reece James won 8/10 duels. And when Estêvão - born in 2007 - fired past Giorgi Mamardashvili in the 90+5 minute, it was not only his first goal in a Chelsea shirt, but also an affirmation of the new generation emerging under Maresca.
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Chelsea deserved to win against Liverpool. |
This victory was not just decided by emotion. It was the result of a system that worked well: Chelsea had 52% possession, completed 88% of their passes, and committed just six fouls (compared to Liverpool’s 13) – stats that reflected the Italian’s discipline and clarity of football philosophy.
Slot and the unsolved problem
Liverpool are no longer the all-powerful machine that crushed opponents in the second half of last season. Key links are starting to crack: the right-back position distorts the pressing structure, while the arrival of Wirtz – creative as he is – upsets the balance between attack and defence.
Arne Slot insisted after the match: “This is not a crisis, but a period of adjustment.” But the reality is harsher: Liverpool have lost three of their last three games, conceded seven goals, and fallen from the top spot after 377 days.
The Merseyside team still has a talented squad, but this season's Premier League is more fierce than ever - where coaches like Maresca are showing their ability to "diagnose" Slot down to the smallest detail.
At the end of the Stamford Bridge tunnel, Estêvão was tossed into the air by his teammates, and Maresca - despite being sent off - was still smiling brightly. Chelsea still have work to do, but they are alive, fighting and - most importantly - finding their identity again.
And what about Liverpool? They still have the reputation and depth, but the cracks in the familiar red paint are starting to show. And for the Premier League, that's perhaps a good sign - the title race is truly open for all.
Source: https://znews.vn/chelsea-khien-liverpool-lo-dien-ban-the-mong-manh-post1590856.html
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