Brazilian wonderkid Estevao scored his first goal for Chelsea, handing Liverpool a third consecutive defeat on Saturday. This result allowed Arsenal to ascend to the top of the Premier League table after their commanding 2-0 victory over West Ham.
After a promising start to the season with seven consecutive wins across all competitions, Liverpool’s recent form has been a cause for concern. The latest setback at Stamford Bridge leaves manager Arne Slot with much to contemplate during the international break.
Despite being plagued by injuries, Chelsea managed a dramatic 2-1 victory, ending their own three-game winless streak in the Premier League. Moises Caicedo, once a target for Liverpool, opened the scoring with a stunning strike in the 14th minute, giving Chelsea the lead at halftime.
Chelsea’s Resurgence and Liverpool’s Woes
Alexander Isak, who joined Liverpool last month for a record-breaking £125 million ($168 million), has yet to find the net in league play. However, his assist for Cody Gakpo’s equalizer just after the hour mark offered a glimmer of hope for the Reds. Yet, Chelsea’s Estevao sealed the win with a late goal, meeting Marc Cucurella’s cross in stoppage time, which led to wild celebrations from Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, who was subsequently shown a red card for his exuberance.
“Last season we lost against Chelsea as well. Stamford Bridge is always difficult. We were very close to a result. Small margins,” said Liverpool manager Arne Slot. “These are the margins that don’t fall for us at the moment. We have to work harder to not rely on these margins.”
“These are the margins that don’t fall for us at the moment. We have to work harder to not rely on these margins.” — Arne Slot
With this defeat, Liverpool now trails Arsenal by a single point, while Chelsea climbs to sixth in the standings.
Arsenal’s Ascent Amidst Injury Concerns
In Mikel Arteta’s 300th match at the helm, Arsenal showcased their strength by overpowering West Ham, furthering their quest for a first Premier League title in 22 years. However, the victory was bittersweet as captain Martin Odegaard was forced off the pitch before halftime due to injury, marking the third such incident this season.
Despite these setbacks, Arsenal’s depth has proven invaluable. “We dominated and fully deserved to win this,” Arteta remarked. “To go top of the table after some big fixtures over the last week and some injuries… we were able to respond.” Declan Rice, a £105 million acquisition from West Ham in 2023, scored Arsenal’s first goal, followed by Bukayo Saka’s penalty, which secured the win.
“To go top of the table after some big fixtures over the last week and some injuries… we were able to respond.” — Mikel Arteta
Manchester United and Tottenham’s Victories
Meanwhile, Manchester United provided some respite for manager Ruben Amorim with a 2-0 win over Sunderland. This victory comes after a challenging period where Amorim’s side had only collected 34 points from the previous 33 Premier League matches.
Amorim praised his team’s performance, stating, “We were a competitive and adult team today. We need to do this kind of performance away as well — it’s our responsibility to play like this.” The match also featured a moment of silence at Old Trafford to honor victims of a recent terror attack in Manchester.
Tottenham, under Thomas Frank, demonstrated newfound defensive resilience to end Leeds’ year-long unbeaten home streak with a 2-1 victory. Mohammed Kudus scored his first goal for Spurs, securing the win after Noah Okafor had equalized Mathys Tel’s opener.
As the Premier League takes a pause for the international break, teams will look to regroup and address their challenges. Liverpool, in particular, will aim to rectify their recent slide, while Arsenal will seek to maintain their momentum at the summit of the table.
