Chelsea vs Liverpool Player Ratings – Caicedo and Estevão Inspire Maresca’s Men To Stunning Win! | OneFootball

At Stamford Bridge, Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea found both defiance and deliverance. Injuries had stripped them bare, back-to-back league defeats had drained belief, yet when it mattered most, the Blues summoned resilience to humble the reigning champions. Moises Caicedo’s first-half thunderbolt and Estevão Willian’s stoppage-time strike handed Chelsea a 2-1 victory over Liverpool – a result as much about character as craft.

Chelsea began tentatively, wary of Liverpool’s early press, but quickly grew into the game as Caicedo and Enzo Fernández imposed control in midfield. Maresca’s tactical instruction was clear: compress the central spaces, draw Liverpool forward, then transition sharply through Garnacho and Neto. When the opportunity came, it was seized emphatically.

In the 14th minute, Caicedo – afforded an unforgivable yard of space – unleashed a venomous drive from distance that Giorgi Mamardashvili could only brush with his fingertips on its way in. The Ecuadorian’s strike set the tone for a first half of disciplined structure and measured aggression.

Liverpool, for all their possession, were largely contained. Cody Gakpo’s equaliser midway through the second half threatened to undo Chelsea’s graft, yet in stoppage time, a moment of clarity and courage restored order. Marc Cucurella’s inch-perfect delivery found Estevão at the far post, and the young Brazilian did the rest – driving a dagger through Liverpool hearts and lifting Stamford Bridge into elation.

Chelsea Player Ratings

Goalkeeper & Defence

Robert Sánchez – 6/10

Unconvincing at times with the ball at his feet, but made himself big when required. Had little chance with Gakpo’s close-range finish. Still, communication and distribution remain question marks in Maresca’s possession-first structure.

Reece James – 7.5/10

Chelsea’s captain once more embodied leadership. Operating partly as an inverted full-back and partly as an auxiliary centre-half, James handled Alexander Isak’s movement astutely. His blend of defensive authority and progressive intent underpinned Chelsea’s width and balance. His challenge, as ever, is continuity and fitness.

Josh Acheampong – 7/10

Assured beyond his years before injury curtailed his evening. Stepped out of defence confidently and read Liverpool’s transitions well. Another setback for Chelsea’s already depleted backline, but a promising display nonetheless.

Benoît Badiashile – 7.5/10

Commanding at the heart of defence. Marshalled the line effectively, intercepted danger early, and combined well with Acheampong. His withdrawal through injury was another blow, but his contribution had already set a platform for Chelsea’s solidity.

Marc Cucurella – 8.5/10

Not his most flamboyant display – until it mattered. The Spaniard’s defensive diligence was commendable throughout, but it was his composure and precision in the dying moments that stole the night. His assist for Estevão’s winner was exquisite – the mark of a player whose timing and delivery can alter outcomes.

Midfield

Malo Gusto – 6.5/10

Tasked with an unfamiliar midfield role in Maresca’s asymmetric setup, Gusto battled gamely. His positioning occasionally left gaps, but he adapted well when shifted to right-back later on, showing discipline and energy to close down Liverpool’s wide overloads.

Moises Caicedo – 8.5/10

A masterclass in midfield balance. Screened the defence impeccably, broke play with precision, and capped it with a thunderous goal that set Chelsea on their way. His reading of transitions was elite, repeatedly cutting out Liverpool’s attempts to build centrally. In a game of fine margins, his presence made all the difference.

Enzo Fernández – 7/10

Shouldered creative responsibility in Cole Palmer’s absence, alternating between deeper and advanced roles. Worked tirelessly to knit play together, though his final-third efficiency varied. Could have sealed it late on but headed wide. Nonetheless, an industrious showing that underpinned Chelsea’s control phases.

Attack

Pedro Neto – 5/10

A subdued performance from the Portuguese winger. Struggled to impose himself on Kerkez and often recycled possession rather than driving forward. Carelessness in transition blunted Chelsea’s attacking flow.

João Pedro – 5.5/10

Out of rhythm. Isolated for long periods and struggled to find pockets between Liverpool’s lines. Has been one of Chelsea’s brighter additions this season, but this was a quieter outing.

Alejandro Garnacho – 7.5/10

Electric in the first half, tormenting Conor Bradley with pace and directness. His early energy forced Slot into a half-time change. Faded after the interval but demonstrated the kind of incision Chelsea have lacked in wide areas.

Substitutes

Romeo Lavia – 7/10

Reintroduced after a lengthy lay-off and slotted in seamlessly. Composed under pressure, kept the ball ticking and helped Chelsea regain midfield control in the closing stages. His cameo suggested he could soon reclaim a starting berth.

Jorrel Hato – 6.5/10

Thrown in after further defensive injuries, the youngster coped admirably. Read the game well, maintained line integrity and resisted Liverpool’s late aerial bombardment.

Jamie Gittens – 6.5/10

A mixed cameo – one that showed both potential and rust. Forced Mamardashvili into a fine save but was occasionally loose in transition. Needs rhythm, but the spark is there.

Marc Guiu – 5/10

Worked hard off the ball but offered little penetration. Occupied the centre-backs without truly unsettling them.

Estêvão Willian – 7/10

The moment belonged to him. Injected pace and invention upon his introduction and repeatedly tested Liverpool’s defensive shape. His late, ice-cold finish – guiding Cucurella’s cross beyond Mamardashvili – sealed the night and reaffirmed the promise surrounding Chelsea’s Brazilian prodigy.

Manager

Enzo Maresca – 8/10

Set his team up intelligently, blending compactness with selective aggression. Even as injuries mounted, his substitutions were proactive rather than reactive. His demand for positional discipline and control was evident, and the team’s collective structure rarely wavered. The late winner was reward for persistence and tactical clarity rather than fortune.

Liverpool Player Ratings

Goalkeeper & Defence

Giorgi Mamardashvili – 6.5/10

Unfortunate to be punished for Caicedo’s thunderbolt after Van Dijk’s poor pass triggered the phase. Commanded his box confidently and made two strong saves from Gittens and Estêvão late on but could do nothing about the winner.

Conor Bradley – 4.5/10

Endured a torrid first half. Struggled to contain Garnacho and offered little in possession. Booked for a clumsy challenge – his fourth in nine league games – and replaced at the break.

Ibrahima Konaté – 5/10

A marginal improvement on recent outings but still uncertain in his decision-making. Played a few risky passes out from the back and looked off the pace when pressed. Subbed on 56 minutes.

Virgil van Dijk – 6/10

Organised but far from imperious. A misplaced pass helped create Chelsea’s opener and he retreated too deep for Caicedo’s strike. Made several key interceptions after the break but couldn’t marshal his side through another late storm.

Milos Kerkez – 4.5/10

Missed a big chance in the first half when through on goal and lost key duels down his flank. Substituted early in the second half as Slot sought greater control.

Midfield

Ryan Gravenberch – 5.5/10

A subdued performance. Flashes of quality but too often lost his duels and allowed runners past him, including for Chelsea’s stoppage-time winner. Looked more comfortable after dropping deeper but couldn’t influence the game’s tempo.

Alexis Mac Allister – 5.5/10

Outmanoeuvred by Caicedo for the first goal and struggled to find rhythm in possession. Grew into the match but still far from his commanding best. Replaced late on.

Dominik Szoboszlai – 7/10

Liverpool’s most effective outlet before fading. Delivered the cross that led to Gakpo’s equaliser and adapted well when moved to right-back in the second half. Booked harshly for a challenge on Cucurella but at least showed drive and conviction.

Attack

Mohamed Salah – 4.5/10

Oddly subdued. Drifted in and out of the contest, wasting an early second-half chance and ignoring better-placed teammates on another break. Created one fine cross for Isak but lacked sharpness and cohesion.

Cody Gakpo – 6.5/10

Liverpool’s bright spark in attack. Created Szoboszlai’s first-half chance, then reacted sharply to hammer home the equaliser. However, squandered momentum with poor decisions in transition thereafter.

Alexander Isak – 5.5/10

Started with intent but service dried up quickly. Headed over a gilt-edged chance before half-time and his deft touch for Gakpo’s goal was arguably accidental. Withdrawn with fifteen minutes to go.

Substitutes

Florian Wirtz (for Bradley, 46’) – 7/10

Instantly raised the tempo. Produced a glorious backheel to release Salah moments after coming on and gave Liverpool added dynamism. Still adapting to the Premier League’s physical edge but a genuine spark.

Curtis Jones (for Konaté, 56’) – 6.5/10

Brought balance and tidiness in midfield. Should have buried his late chance to win it – and paid for the miss minutes later.

Andy Robertson (for Kerkez, 56’) – 4.5/10

Added energy down the left and more directness going forward, but culpable for switching off at the back post for Estevão’s winner.

Hugo Ekitike (for Isak, 74’) – N/A

Had limited time to impact the game but showed smart movement and a clever dummy to open space for Jones’ late miss.

Wataru Endo (for Alexis Mac Allister, 86’)-N/A

Manager

Arne Slot – 5.5/10

His setup started positively, pressing high and forcing errors early, but Liverpool’s structure frayed once behind. The decision to start Bradley as a right back over Wirtz in the midfield and Szoboszlai as a makeshift right back backfired, and his substitutions, while proactive, couldn’t mask ongoing defensive disorganisation. Three defeats in succession will sting – particularly given the manner of them.

Man of the Match

Moises Caicedo (Chelsea) – The Ecuadorian epitomised Chelsea’s revival. Tireless, disciplined, and decisive, he dominated the midfield battle and delivered the opening goal that set the tone.

Tactical Overview

Chelsea’s 3-2-4-1 in possession evolved fluidly into a 4-4-2 without the ball. Caicedo anchored, Fernández advanced, and Garnacho’s high positioning stretched Liverpool’s back line. The absence of Cole Palmer meant creativity had to come from deeper zones, and while Chelsea’s attacks occasionally lacked fluidity, their defensive transitions were notably improved.

Maresca’s side pressed in bursts rather than sustained phases, conserving energy and ensuring compactness. When Liverpool equalised, Chelsea didn’t panic – instead, they reasserted shape and waited for the decisive moment. Cucurella’s assist and Estevão’s finish weren’t opportunistic; they were a product of positioning drilled through repetition.

Conclusion

This was Chelsea at their most human – patched, stretched, and yet utterly determined. Caicedo’s brilliance and Estevão’s composure encapsulated a performance of control and conviction. For Maresca, this win eases the pressure, halting a two-game losing run in the league and reigniting belief in his evolving project. For Chelsea, this was more than just three points – it was a statement. Injuries, fatigue, and form had clouded Maresca’s side, but a defiant 2-1 victory reignites belief in west London. For Liverpool, however, familiar frailties persist. Arne Slot’s men have now conceded late in consecutive away defeats in the league, slipping one point behind Arsenal in the title race.

For Liverpool, it’s a third successive defeat and a slip from the summit – one point adrift of Arsenal. For Chelsea, it’s oxygen. They climb back into the European conversation, propelled not by flair alone, but by structure, bravery, and a late flourish that reminded everyone that, even amid transition, Stamford Bridge can still roar.