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Consider it the sweetest red card of Enzo Maresca's coaching tenure. Chelsea found themselves 2-1 up late in added time and Stamford Bridge was filled with astonishment when Maresca received his marching orders down the tunnel by the referee. Estêvão Willian, netted his maiden strike for the club and Maresca was shown a second yellow after running along the sideline to celebrate with the squad.

Has a yellow card ever more justified? The visitors are looking up rather than down for the initial occasion under Arne Slot. They have relinquished top spot to Arsenal and have a host of problems to fix. Their backline appears vulnerable, the midfield lacks solidity and there were little evidence of an understanding between Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak despite Liverpool up against a Chelsea back four filled with youngsters and makeshift options because of a lengthy roster of absentees.

Liverpool's Struggles Continue

Came an assist of sorts from Isak, who decorated an largely quiet performance by setting up Cody Gakpo's equalizer, but the Merseyside club were never convincing. Subpar during the first half, they did not even offer significant threat after nullifying the midfielder's early goal. Instead they faded during the final 15 minutes and conceded a last-minute strike for the second straight league game when the youngster appeared to give the Blues a deserved win.

It was impossible to know what to expect from both sides. The weight of expectation on Liverpool after defeats to Crystal Palace and Galatasaray was intensified by Arsenal beating the Hammers in the early kickoff, and there was a sense of Slot seeking consistency with his lineup, the exclusion of Florian Wirtz and the selection of the central three of Szoboszlai, Gravenberch and Mac Allister the move of a side trying to settle in familiar systems and combinations.

Chelsea's Tactical Approach

However the flaws in the system remained evident. Any encouragement for the hosts during the opening exchanges, it mostly stemmed from indications that one pass in behind was enough to release Alejandro Garnacho running past the full-back on the right. The away team's defence failed to appear secure. Ibrahima Konaté's suspect positioning created issues while the sight of the stand-in goalkeeper, deputising for the injured Alisson between the posts, opening his first league appearance by on two occasions playing the ball out of play signaled to Chelsea it was there for the taking as long as they were able to prevent their own costly errors at bay.

This has not been an easy spell for Maresca. The team have been stretched by injuries, the effect of their international commitments starting to bite, and must have been anxious about how Benoît Badiashile and Acheampong would cope against the Liverpool striker.

Opening Exchanges

As it was, the away side created no clear chances during the opening half-hour. Salah squandered opportunities to find his strike partner and there were organizational issues in midfield, caused by Maresca's choice to deploy Malo Gusto rather than Reece James alongside the Ecuadorian and Fernández.

Gusto was an dynamic, extremely disruptive pest. He stuck to Mac Allister, preventing the Argentinian from instigating the attacking moves, and even created the first goal when a quick ball into space to Caicedo revealed the holes in the opposition's setup in the 14th minute.

Existed ample room for Caicedo that for a moment he appeared uncertain what to attempt with it. But when the Dutch defender backed off and the crowd yelled for a shot there was one option to take. And soon, with no Liverpool player closing him down, his strike was soaring off Caicedo's right foot and screaming past Mamardashvili on its path into the upper net.

After the Break Twists

A special goal to brighten a uneventful first period. The Blues played it carefully, sitting in a deep defensive line and launching counterattacks. The manager had to be pleased when he saw Gravenberch misplacing his distribution. The one scare arrived when the forward delivering for the striker to nod over the bar but the home team seemed strong and could have earned a spot-kick when the Hungarian clashed with the Argentine winger. Maresca being booked for his furious protest was an unfortunate sight given that his young side have had three dismissals in their last four outings.

Chelsea had to maintain their discipline. They appealed for a another booking for the defender when the right-back brought down Garnacho. Taylor's leniency allowed the Liverpool manager to adjust at the interval, Wirtz brought on for the full-back and the midfielder assigned marking Garnacho.

The German was immediately involved, brilliantly redirecting his teammate's through ball to Salah, who shot wide. The atmosphere was transformed. He sent a further effort high before a limping Badiashile, who was producing an superb game, had to make way for Roméo Lavia.

Late Action and Winner

Maresca was now forced to use the captain alongside the teenage Acheampong. The task was becoming no simpler for Liverpool, however. They lost the defender to a knock, compelling Gravenberch to drop into defence, and were fortunate to watch Pedro Neto and Garnacho spurn chances to extend Chelsea's lead.

The level of Liverpool's play stayed poor. Then they found the net against the run of play. The midfielder overlapped and crossed. Marc Cucurella's interception was not enough and the ball span to Isak, whose attempt to control and shoot instead became the ideal assist for the Dutch forward, who arrived on the scene to beat the goalkeeper from close range.

Chelsea's composure was under examination. Their issues worsened when Acheampong succumbed with muscle fatigue and was substituted for Jorrel Hato, a fresh face.

The home side were desperate for fresh legs. Maresca's response to Isak being replaced for the substitute was to bring on Jamie Gittens, Estêvão and Guiu. Gravenberch soon had to divert a threatening cross from the Argentine. Chelsea rallied; Gittens and the youngster forced excellent stops from the keeper.

Ultimately it was Chelsea hunting a last-gasp goal. It ought to have arrived when the winger crossed for Fernández, who headed onto the crossbar. No matter. Back came Chelsea, Cucurella overlapping and delivering for the Brazilian, who slid in {behind