Liverpool’s difficult week ended with another setback as they fell to a 2-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge, their third straight loss away from home in all competitions.
Arne Slot made five changes from the side that lost to Galatasaray, with Giorgi Mamardashvili handed his Premier League debut in goal due to Alisson’s injury.
Conor Bradley returned at right-back, Mohamed Salah came back into the XI, while Alexander Isak led the line. Florian Wirtz dropped to the bench again as last season’s midfield trio was restored.
The hosts, despite missing several key players, struck first when Moisés Caicedo unleashed a stunning 20-yard strike into the top corner in the 14th minute, the third game this week in which Liverpool have conceded the opening goal.
Liverpool had chances to respond before half-time. Cody Gakpo created an opening for Dominik Szoboszlai, who failed to finish, while Isak missed a golden headed chance from Salah’s brilliant outside-of-the-boot cross just before the break.
At half-time, Arne Slot shuffled his side again, switching Szoboszlai to right-back after Bradley was taken off on a yellow card, and later brought on Curtis Jones and Andy Robertson.
The Reds equalised just after the hour when Cody Gakpo poked home Salah’s low cross, with Isak involved in the build-up. At that stage, it looked as though Liverpool might push for a winner.
Instead, it was Chelsea who found the decisive goal late on. Estevão scored at the back post in the 95th minute, punishing Liverpool’s reshuffled defence and sealing a deserved win for the Blues.
The defeat leaves Liverpool second in the Premier League table but marks their third straight defeat on the road heading into the international break.
