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Call it the most rewarding sending off of Enzo Maresca's coaching tenure. Chelsea were 2-1 up late in added time and Stamford Bridge was in a state of disbelief when Maresca received his marching orders to the dressing room by Anthony Taylor. Estêvão Willian, had just scored his first goal for the club and Maresca had received a second yellow after racing along the sideline to celebrate with his players.

Has a yellow card ever more justified? The visitors are looking up rather than downward for the initial occasion under their new manager. They have relinquished top spot to Arsenal and have a host of issues to fix. Their backline looks suspect, the midfield is open and there were little evidence of a connection between their star forward and the striker even with Liverpool up against a opposition defense filled with youngsters and stand-in players because of a lengthy roster of unavailable personnel.

The Reds' Difficulties Persist

There was an assist of sorts from the Swedish international, who enhanced an largely quiet display by setting up Cody Gakpo's goal, but the Merseyside club were far from assured. Poor during the first half, they failed to produce much after cancelling Moisés Caicedo's opener. Rather they tired during the closing stages and let in a last-minute strike for the second consecutive league game when the youngster popped up to hand Chelsea a deserved victory.

It was impossible to know what to anticipate from either team. The pressure on Slot's side after losses to Palace and the Turkish side was intensified by Arsenal beating the Hammers earlier in the day, and there was a sense of the manager searching for consistency with his lineup, the omission of Florian Wirtz and the selection of the central three of Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister the move of a side attempting to find comfort in old patterns and partnerships.

Chelsea's Strategic Approach

Yet the flaws in their setup stayed apparent. Any positives for the hosts during the early stages, it primarily stemmed from signs that a single through ball over the top proved enough to send the winger sprinting past the full-back on the right. Liverpool's defensive line failed to appear assured. Ibrahima Konaté's suspect positioning caused problems while the view of the stand-in goalkeeper, deputising for the sidelined Alisson in goal, opening his first league appearance by on two occasions sending passes into touch signaled to Chelsea it was all to play for as long as they could prevent their own costly errors under control.

This has not been an easy spell for the Chelsea boss. Chelsea have been stretched by fitness concerns, the effect of the Club World Cup starting to bite, and must have been nervous about how Badiashile and Acheampong would fare against Isak.

First Half Exchanges

As it was, the away side created nothing during the first thirty minutes. The Egyptian wasted occasions to find Isak and there were organizational issues in midfield, stemming from the manager's decision to put Gusto instead of James next to Caicedo and Fernández.

The French full-back was an dynamic, highly effective pest. He marked tightly the Argentine, stopping the Argentinian from instigating the buildup, and even made the first goal when a quick ball into space to his teammate exposed the gaps in Liverpool's defensive structure in the early stages.

There was ample space for the midfielder that for a moment he appeared unsure what to do with it. But when the Dutch defender retreated and the crowd yelled for an effort there was only option to take. And soon, with no Liverpool player closing him down, the ball was flying from his boot and screaming by Mamardashvili on its way to the top corner.

After the Break Drama

A special goal to brighten a mundane half. Chelsea approached the game cautiously, sitting in a deep defensive line and initiating counterattacks. The manager must have been satisfied when he saw Gravenberch misplacing passes. The one scare came from the forward crossing for the striker to head over but the home team looked strong and might even have had a spot-kick when the Hungarian tangled with Garnacho. Maresca receiving a yellow for his furious protest was an unfortunate sight considering his inexperienced team have had three red cards in their last four outings.

They needed to keep their discipline. They wanted a another booking for Bradley when the right-back brought down Garnacho. Taylor's restraint allowed Slot to make changes at half-time, Wirtz brought on for Bradley and the midfielder tasked with marking Garnacho.

The German was instantly in the action, expertly flicking his teammate's through ball to the forward, who fired off target. The atmosphere was different. Salah sent a further effort over before a limping Badiashile, who was having an excellent game, had to make way for Roméo Lavia.

Closing Action and Winner

Maresca now had the captain alongside the teenage Acheampong. Life was not getting any easier for Liverpool, however. They saw Konaté to a knock, compelling Gravenberch to step into defence, and were fortunate to watch Pedro Neto and Garnacho spurn chances to extend Chelsea's advantage.

The standard of Liverpool's performance remained low. Suddenly they scored from nothing. Szoboszlai made a run and crossed. Marc Cucurella's block was not enough and it deflected to the striker, whose effort to turn and shoot instead became the ideal assist for Gakpo, who arrived on the scene to beat Robert Sánchez from point-blank range.

The Blues' nerve was under examination. Their problems increased when Acheampong went down with muscle fatigue and made way for Jorrel Hato, a fresh face.

Chelsea were desperate for new energy. The manager's response to the striker making way for the substitute was to introduce Gittens, Estêvão and Guiu. The midfielder quickly had to divert a dangerous ball from Fernández. Chelsea pushed forward; Gittens and Estêvão drew fine saves from the keeper.

In the end it was Chelsea searching for a late winner. It ought to have arrived when the winger crossed for Fernández, who nodded onto the crossbar. Regardless. Back came Chelsea, Cucurella making a run and delivering for Estêvão, who slid in {behind