It was a night to remember at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea sealed a thrilling 2–1 victory over Liverpool — thanks to a stoppage-time strike from teenage sensation Estêvão Willian. The young Brazilian’s winner sent the home fans wild and handed the Blues a crucial three points in the Premier League title race.
From the first whistle, Chelsea looked hungry and sharp. Moisés Caicedo opened the scoring with a thunderous long-range effort that left Liverpool’s debutant goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili rooted. Liverpool, however, grew into the game after the break, with Mohamed Salah equalizing from close range following a clever setup by Cody Gakpo.
But just when it seemed the game would end level, Chelsea’s new wonderkid Estêvão combined with Cole Palmer to slot home the winner in the 95th minute — a goal that might just define the Blues’ season.
While the Brazilian grabbed headlines, it was Marc Cucurella who stole the pundits’ praise. Speaking on Sky Sports, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher singled out the Spaniard as Chelsea’s true difference-maker on the night:
> “He did something I haven’t seen from a Chelsea player in a long time — the energy, the decisions, the fight — it was simply incredible.”
Carragher went on to highlight how Cucurella effectively neutralized Salah throughout the match, saying:
> “Cucurella made Salah look ordinary. His positioning, his work rate — he was everywhere. In the end, he was the glue holding Chelsea together.”
Under Enzo Maresca’s guidance, Cucurella seems to have rediscovered his confidence and form, showcasing the kind of tenacity that once made him one of the Premier League’s most sought-after defenders.
Despite Liverpool’s late push, the defeat marked their third loss in five games — leaving manager Arne Slot visibly frustrated. “We had our chances, but we weren’t ruthless enough,” he admitted after the match.
As Chelsea rise up the table and Liverpool struggle to find consistency, one thing is clear — this clash wasn’t just about Estêvão’s heroics, but about an unsung defender who reminded everyone what true fight looks like. 💪⚽
“In big games like this, it’s the warriors who make the difference,” Carragher concluded.
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