'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Chelsea scripted a stunning comeback at Anfield to register a 2-1 win over Liverpool in their Carabao Cup third round clash on Wednesday night. Maurizio Sarri's men showcased tremendous character to knock the hosts out of the competition in their own backyard in what proved to be a classic cup tie on Merseyside.
The first half was fairly open as the teams created chances at both ends, but struggled to find the killer touch that would break the deadlock. Alvaro Morata failed to beat Simon Mignolet when he was played through on goal, courtesy of a defence-splitting pass from Cesc Fabregas, while Willy Caballero conjured a number of saves at the other end to maintain parity between the two sides at half-time.
Liverpool settled in well during the second half and missed a golden opportunity to break the deadlock when Daniel Sturridge blasted a shot wide from a narrow angle after taking aim at an empty goal. However, the former Chelsea striker redeemed himself with an acrobatic finish in the 58th minute when he found the back of the net after Caballero had parried away a shot into his path.
The Reds were in cruise control up until the final 15 minutes, but soon Chelsea clawed their way back into the game through Emerson Palmieri in the 79th minute. Eden Hazard, who came off the bench, dispatched a sublime delivery from a set-piece and Ross Barkley forced a save from Simon Mignolet, only for Emerson to pounce on the lose ball and slot it home for the equalizer.
A moment of individual brilliance from Hazard in the 85th minute helped the visitors mount an unbelievable comeback as they became the first team to beat Liverpool this season, and extended their unbeaten run at Anfield across all competitions to nine now. On that note, let's take a closer look at the five best and worst performers from the clash.
#5 Hit - Xherdan Shaqiri (Liverpool)
The winger was handed a second consecutive start by Jurgen Klopp on the night and he troubled the Chelsea defenders with his quick feet and trademark sprints. Emerson in particular had a difficult time dealing with Xherdan Shaqiri whenever he took the defender on, as he was allowed too much space in behind to make runs and operate on his own terms.
Shaqiri also managed to pick out his teammates with a pass in crucial areas of the pitch, but was largely let down by Liverpool's wasteful nature, especially in the first half. The 26-year-old proved to be a real handful whenever he had the ball at his feet and was constantly trying to make things happen while pushing forward.
The Switzerland international was also available to receive a pass whenever his teammates wanted to get out of tight areas and worked tirelessly down the right flank throughout the game.
#4 Flop - Cesar Azpilicueta
Cesar Azpilicueta will probably be the most relieved man after Chelsea's win over Liverpool, considering the fact that he was at fault when the visitors conceded the opening goal on the night. The Spaniard never had an easy moment with Sadio Mane on the flanks, and looked nervy whenever he faced the prospect of going up against the Senegalese.
Mane pounced on Azpilicueta's careless pass during the build-up to Liverpool's goal and in all honesty, it was only matter of when rather than if that mistake would come and it happened just before the hour mark. The defender resorted to an uncharacteristic approach of trying to play the ball out of trouble and it proved to be too costly when the move backfired tremendously.
Apart from a few instances in the first half, the full-back never really troubled the opposition while going forward, and was pegged back into his own half for the majority of the game.
#3 Hit - Willy Caballero
The Chelsea shot-stopper was at his best whenever he was called upon and made a number of crucial saves that helped the visitors stay in the game early on. Willy Caballero is yet to make a solid reputation at Stamford Bridge, but against Liverpool he punched above his weight on a number of occasions at least.
The Argentine, who has lately been associated with comical errors, looked calm and composed between the sticks for Chelsea and his decision making wasn't too bad either. Caballero made a brilliant diving save to deny Naby Keita a goal in the first half, before he managed to hold on to a header from Sadio Mane.
That was not the end of it as he bailed Chelsea out of jail yet again when Christensen's poor back pass was almost converted by Mane, but Caballero decided to make himself big in front of goal and stood his ground to produce a crucial block. An impressive performance from Chelsea's back-up keeper who made sure that the visitors remained in touching distance as they waited for Eden Hazard to run the show in the end.
#2 Flop - Alberto Moreno
Liverpool's forgotten man made it almost feel like he was not there on the pitch at all as he struggled to provide any urgency in attack or resiliency at the back for the hosts. Alberto Moreno was pitted against Victor Moses and although it did not prove to be a huge challenge, he never really got going on the night.
The full-back rarely bombed forward and was never really confident with the ball at his feet, looking almost like a passenger during a number of instances. The Spaniard eventually succumbed to Chelsea's pressure in order to snatch a goal in the end and was comprehensively schooled by Eden Hazard during the build-up to the visitors' winner on the night.
Not a welcome performance for someone who is struggling to get regular minutes at Anfield, and it might even suggest that maybe he does not have a future on Merseyside after all.
#1 Hit - Eden Hazard
The Eden Hazard show continues as the Belgian came off the bench to inspire an unbelievable comeback win for the visitors at Anfield. The winger has been in sublime form since the World Cup in Russia and his return to the Premier League with Chelsea has been nothing short of spectacular.
The 27-year-old just keeps getting better and better under Maurizio Sarri with every passing game, and played a crucial role in helping Chelsea disrupt Liverpool's perfect start to the season. The Belgian's well-worked free-kick paved the way for the opening goal, while it took him just six more minutes to come up with a truly astonishing solo goal that sent the away supporters into a delirium of noise at Anfield.
Hazard picked the ball up from a wide area and conjured a driving run inside the area, skipping past Naby Keita and Alberto Moreno, to dispatch an unstoppable shot into the far corner. The goal was the perfect testament to the Belgian's form this season.
