Eden Hazard came off the bench to fire Chelsea into the last-16 of the League Cup with a 2-1 victory at Anfield, and inflict Liverpool’s first defeat of the season in all competitions.
Daniel Sturridge looked set to haunt his former employers by opening the scoring for Liverpool shortly after he had missed an open goal early in the second half.
Both sides made nine changes, with one eye on the top-of-the-table Premier League clash between the same two sides on Saturday.
But Maurizio Sarri’s gamble on throwing on Hazard 10 minutes into the second half paid off, as Emerson Palmieri levelled from his free kick 11 minutes from time before the Belgian’s wonderful solo effort won the tie.
It was another frustrating night for Alvaro Morata, though, as the Chelsea striker failed to make the impact Sturridge did at the other end.
Morata’s best chance came inside 20 minutes, when the Spaniard latched on to Cesc Fabregas’ pass over the top.
Simon Mignolet did well to divert Morata’s initial chipped effort, before he dragged the rebound across goal and beyond the far post.
Liverpool took longer to adjust to the wholesale changes, with £47 million signing Fabinho making his full debut in midfield, while Dejan Lovren made his first appearance of the season in central defence after playing a full part as Croatia reached the World Cup final.
However, they dominated the early stages of the second period, and should have been in front when Sturridge rounded Willy Caballero, but somehow skewed wide with the goal at his mercy.
Sarri introduced Hazard with 35 minutes remaining, but moments later, his side were behind as Sturridge made amends in spectacular fashion with an overhead kick after Caballero parried Naby Keita’s drive.
Hazard took his time to make an impact, but also had a hand in the equaliser as his free kick was headed goalwards by Ross Barkley and, after Mignolet made a smart save, Emerson poked home the rebound.
Sturridge came close to putting Liverpool back in front as he hit the bar.
But instead, it was Hazard who showed his class to strike the winner as he danced past five Liverpool challenges before crashing a rising shot into the far corner for his sixth goal of the season.
. @hazardeden10: 'I spoke to N'Golo on the bench, and he said he didn't want to take a penalty so you have to score!' 👏 #LIVCHE pic.twitter.com/XU3BGfP5pd
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 26, 2018
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp immediately introduced Mohamed Salah for the final few minutes in the hunt for an equaliser.
But it was to no avail, as another chance to land his first trophy as Liverpool manager slipped by for Klopp.