LONDON — Chelsea hosted Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Saturday and this is a massive clash for both teams given their recent struggles, and the Blues delivered a statement performance and win in London.
MORE — Player ratings | Arne Slot reaction | Willy Caballero reaction after Maresca sent off
Chelsea overcame a blown 1-0 lead and two more injuries in their depleted center back corps to gain all three points when Marc Cucurella assisted Estevao Willian in stoppage time. The celebrations went so wild that Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca was shown a second yellow card.
WATCH — Chelsea v Liverpool full match replay
Moises Caicedo had given Chelsea a halftime lead but Cody Gakpo poked the Reds level just after the hour mark. Chelsea then had to contend with injuries to Josh Acheampong and Benoit Badiashile yet found a way to not just keep things tight in their end but nab a winner.
MORE — What do Liverpool and Arne Slot need to fix?
Liverpool have now lost three-straight games in all competitions, and are now a point behind leaders Arsenal.
Chelsea move onto 11 points, three away from the top four.
Chelsea claim the statement win of statement wins
There will be more and more talk about what’s wrong with Liverpool, but that really misses the point here. Chelsea were fantastic both mentally and physically on Saturday, as they had every reason to doubt their chances against the champs once Liverpool made 1-1 and the Blues lost both starting center backs to injury. Throw in the four center backs unavailable to them to start the game with Trevoh Chalobah suspended and Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana, and Levi Colwill all out through injury, and then ask almost anyone in football whether the Blues would hold on for a point over 22 minutes plus stoppage time with four fullbacks across the back against the richest front line in the Premier League? Granted Jorell Hato isn’t an alien to center back, but this was at-best 3.75 fullbacks in the four defender spots against Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Mohamed Salah and a handful of minutes for Alexander Isak. Now tell those same people that Chelsea would go toe-to-toe with Liverpool in righteous pursuit of a win, and that they’d get it. Unreal! Games like this become lore in great teams’ seasons, and this result could long live in the memories of Chelsea as they look to add to their Conference League and Club World Cup under Maresca. (NM)
What’s next?
The international break! Then, Chelsea go to Nottingham Forest at 7:30am ET Saturday, October 18, a day before Liverpool host Manchester United at 11:30am.
Chelsea vs Liverpool final score: 2-1
Caicedo 14'; Gakpo 63', Estevao 90+5'
Chelsea vs Liverpool extended video highlights
Chelsea vs Liverpool live updates! — By Joe Prince-Wright
ESTEVAO WILLIAN GOAL
Chelsea have done it. They earned this in so many ways, and Cucurella’s cross from the left of the six makes it all the way to the back post for Estevao.
Josh Acheampong is now off
Chelsea are down another center back, as Hato comes on at center back. Five injured center backs and one suspended.
Salah curls another effort high and wide
How many times have we seen Salah bury a chance like this? He’s had two curlers way over the bar in the second half, and put another shot into the side-netting.
Gakpo fires home!
Liverpool are level. A cross from the right is flicked on brilliantly by Isak and Gakpo hammers home from close range. 1-1 with just over 20 minutes to go. Liverpool’s fans and bench go bonkers. They fancy this. Surely they’re not going to grab another comeback win, are they?
Fernandez almost gets in at the back post
Lovely calm build-up play from Chelsea sees Neto clip a cross to the back post but Enzo Fernandez just can’t get on the end of it.
Chelsea and Liverpool both shuffle things with center backs off
Okay, so Chelsea are down yet another center back as Badiashille joins Fofana, Colwill and Tosin with an injury, with Chalobah out suspended. That means Romeo Lavia comes on in midfield with Reece James going to center back and Malo Gusto moving to right back. Liverpool are also down a center back as they bring on Jones and Robertson for Konate and Kerkez. Gravenberch has gone to center back.
Salah curls another effort over
Liverpool are well on top in this second half. Salah cuts inside and curls way over.
Salah should make it 1-1!
Wow. What an impact that nearly was from Wirtz. Liverpool break right after half time and Wirtz spins and flicks the ball superbly to Salah who is in, but his shot is just wide. He should score. Positive signs for Liverpool.
Wirtz on at half time for Bradley
That sub was coming as Conor Bradley was on a yellow card and had committed a few fouls. Szoboszlai to right back with Florian Wirtz playing as a central playmaker.
Half time: Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool
That was a great first half from Chelsea. Brilliant energy and Caicedo’s goal was a beaut. Liverpool have looked sluggish. What can Arne Slot say, and do, at half time? Surely subs are coming on for Liverpool very soon.
Isak heads over
Chelsea give the ball away and Liverpool cross from the right. Isak heads towards goal but loops it just over. At the moment Chelsea being too casual on the ball is the only way Liverpool look like scoring.
Garnacho goes down in the box, but no penalty
Alejandro Garnacho goes down in the box as he goes around Dominik Szoboszlai, and Chelsea want a penalty kick. VAR checks but no penalty given. Looked soft as there was a slight nudge from Szobszolai but Garnacho was already going down. Why did he go down!? Enzo Maresca is booked for his reaction to the fourth official as he went bonkers. Arne Slot and his staff not happy with Garnacho going down like that in the box. Tasty.
Garnacho curls inches wide
A corner is played back to Garnacho and he curls a low shot just wide of the post. He thought that was in. So close to a second for Chelsea.
Pedro Neto does superbly to win a corner
Chelsea win it back again down the right with Pedro Neto surging forward and then beating Van Dijk before his cross is cleared by Konate. Liverpool look so vulnerable as soon as they lose the ball. They can’t wait for the half time whistle to arrive.
Chelsea deserve this lead
The Blues have been pressing high relentlessly and Liverpool can’t cope with it. They have had no control on this game.
Chelsea have been absolutely brilliant in these opening 32 minutes. Pressing high whenever they can and it's really brave to go man for man, especially in midfield and with Josh Acheampong stepping out. Liverpool have no control of this game. #CFC 1-0 #LFC
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) October 4, 2025
Szoboszlai’s shot blocked
Okay, Liverpool have finally woken up. The ball is played across to Dominik Szoboszlai in the box and his shot is on target but is blocked superbly.
Moises Caicedo smashes home a beauty!
What a goal! Moises Caicedo smashes a beauty into the top corner. Fantastic strike, but how much time and space did he have there!? Cries of “shooooot!” every time Caicedo gets the ball now. Enzo Maresca is delighted on the sidelines and is whipping up the home fans.
Malo Gusto in midfield and Reece James at right back
We are off and running at the Bridge and James is at right back with Gusto in midfield. Intriguing.
Team news!
It looks like Reece James is in central midfield for Chelsea with Fernandez pushed forward to a no. 10 role. Neto and Garnacho start out wide to support Joao Pedro. Liverpool start Bradley at right back and Mac Allister in midfield with Salah and Isak coming back in to start up top.
Chelsea lineup
Sanchez; Gusto, Acheampong, Badiashille, Cucurella; James, Caicedo; Neto, Fernandez, Garnacho; Joao Pedro
Liverpool lineup
Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Isak
Chelsea team news, focus
Maresca has plenty of issues at the back with Tosin and Wesley Fofana out injured, Trevoh Chalobah suspended and Levi Colwill out long-term. That means youngsters Jorel Hato and Josh Acheampong are in the mix to start alongside Benoit Badiashille at center back. Star playmaker Cole Palmer remains out with a groin issue, while midfielder Andrey Santos is a doubt and striker Liam Delap is still out. All of that adds up to problems for Maresca but their squad is deep enough to still have plenty of quality to choose from. Reece James could start in midfield with Malo Gusto at right back and that would free up Enzo Fernandez to play further forward. It will also be intriguing to see who starts out wide with Alejandro Garnacho and Pedro Neto perhaps the best options with Joao Pedro up top and Estevao, Facundo Buonanotte and Jamie Gittens the other attacking options. Chelsea have been clunky so far this season but they still have so much quality and experience, especially in midfield, that they will cause Liverpool problems.
Liverpool team news, focus
Arne Slot has said that Alisson will miss this game through injury after coming off against Galatasaray, so Giorgi Mamardashvili is set to come in for his Premier League debut. Hugo Ekitike also came off against Galatasaray but it seems like he will be fit enough for at least a spot on the bench and Federico Chiesa is back in training too. Both Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak surprisingly started on the bench in Istanbul in midweek but that was presumably to save them for this trip to Chelsea as they will both start. Liverpool may consider dropping Ibrahima Konate given his recent struggles and Joe Gomez could partner Virgil van Dijk at center back, with Andy Robertson potentially coming in at left back would give Liverpool some more defensively solidity. In midfield we could see either Dominik Szobszlai or Alexis Mac Allister start alongside Ryan Gravenberch, while Florian Wirtz could start in a central role with Cody Gakpo on the left.
Chelsea vs Liverpool preview
Enzo Maresca saw his injury-hit Chelsea side edge past Benfica 1-0 in the Champions League in midweek but that came after three defeats in their last four in all competitions. Chelsea have lost back-to-back league games to Manchester United and Brighton and with suspensions and injuries piling up, the pressure is mounting on Maresca.
The pressure is cranking up on Liverpool too, as they have lost two on the spin heading into this game. Arne Slot’s side were sloppy once again in midweek as they lost 1-0 at Galatasaray in the Champions League and suffered some injuries of their own. That came off the back of a defeat at Crystal Palace last weekend as the reigning Premier League champions have to improve defensively and the balance of their team feels off as they can’t keep relying on late heroics.
Chelsea vs Liverpool prediction
This feels like it will be a draw and both teams will be happy enough with that heading into the international break after a tough few weeks. Chelsea 1-1 Liverpool.
