Chelsea came flying out of the blocks and made the early breakthrough as Moises Caicedo accelerated past Alexis Mac Allister before unleashing a venomous strike that flew into the top corner and left Premier League debutant Giorgi Mamardashvili with no chance. Liverpool were struggling to get a proper foothold in the game after falling behind although a delicious Salah cross with the outside of his left foot created the visitors’ best chance of the half, only for Isak to head over the bar.
Salah then had a chance of his own immediately after the half-time break, with Florian Wirtz, brought on at half-time by Slot as he looked to address his side’s sluggish performance, nonchalantly flicking the ball into the Egyptian’s path only for him to lash a wild shot off target. It summed up a hugely disappointing display from the former Chelsea man, who was uncharacteristically wild with his attempts at goal.
The equaliser would eventually arrive, however, with Gakpo smashing into the net after Isak’s touch dropped kindly for the Dutchman on the half-volley. Mamardashvili was then forced into making two decent stops to deny Jamie Gittens and Estevao Willian, but he could do nothing to stop the Brazilian’s winning goal, as he ghosted in at the far post deep into stoppage-time to convert Marc Cucurella’s low cross.
BALLGM rates Liverpool’s players from Stamford Bridge…
Chelsea came flying out of the blocks and made the early breakthrough as Moises Caicedo accelerated past Alexis Mac Allister before unleashing a venomous strike that flew into the top corner and left Premier League debutant Giorgi Mamardashvili with no chance. Liverpool were struggling to get a proper foothold in the game after falling behind although a delicious Salah cross with the outside of his left foot created the visitors’ best chance of the half, only for Isak to head over the bar.
Salah then had a chance of his own immediately after the half-time break, with Florian Wirtz, brought on at half-time by Slot as he looked to address his side’s sluggish performance, nonchalantly flicking the ball into the Egyptian’s path only for him to lash a wild shot off target. It summed up a hugely disappointing display from the former Chelsea man, who was uncharacteristically wild with his attempts at goal.
The equaliser would eventually arrive, however, with Gakpo smashing into the net after Isak’s touch dropped kindly for the Dutchman on the half-volley. Mamardashvili was then forced into making two decent stops to deny Jamie Gittens and Estevao Willian, but he could do nothing to stop the Brazilian’s winning goal, as he ghosted in at the far post deep into stoppage-time to convert Marc Cucurella’s low cross.
BALLGM rates Liverpool’s players from Stamford Bridge…
Giorgi Mamardashvili (6/10):
Can’t blame him for failing to keep out Caicedo’s rocket, or Estevao’s winner, and he made a couple of smart second-half saves on what was his Premier League debut.
Conor Bradley (5/10):
Hooked at half-time as he walked a disciplinary tightrope following his first-half yellow card, with Garnacho in no mood to stay on his feet.
Ibrahima Konate (5/10):
Used his physicality to limit Joao Pedro’s impact on the game but dawdled on the ball one too many times for Slot’s liking, resulting in him being substituted early on in the second half.
Virgil van Dijk (4/10):
Should’ve stepped out to close down Caicedo for the opener and was nowhere to be seen in the middle as Cucurella’s low cross made it all the way to the far post.
Milos Kerkez (5/10):
Had some issues containing Pedro Neto and Slot decided enough was enough as he brought on Andy Robertson after 55 minutes.
Ryan Gravenberch (5/10):
A rare off day for Gravenberch as the game bypassed him somewhat. A disappointing evening was compounded when he switched off and failed to track Cucurella’s run for the late winner.
Alexis Mac Allister (5/10):
Saw his error of judgement pounced upon by Caicedo for the emphatic first goal. Never really got going after that.
Dominik Szoboszlai (5/10):
Wasn’t able to influence the game as much as he’d have liked and was then deployed at right-back for the second half, a move that clearly took him out of his comfort zone.
Mohamed Salah (3/10):
Has his finishing ever been this bad? Wasted two or three presentable opportunities as he failed to hit the target on what was a really slack display from the Egyptian.
Alexander Isak (6/10):
A dismal first-half where he was made to look distinctly ordinary by Acheampong. Improved in the second and claimed the assist for Gakpo’s goal but Liverpool fans will be expecting far more.
Cody Gakpo (8/10):
Looked the most likely to make something happen and duly belted home the equaliser as he linked up with Isak. Certainly not his fault that Liverpool lost again.
Florian Wirtz (6/10):
On at half-time and almost made an immediate impact with a delicious flick that set-up Salah. Didn’t really happen for him after that.
Andy Robertson (4/10):
Replaced Kerkez shortly after half-time and lost Estevao at the far post for the late winner.
Curtis Jones (6/10):
On for Konate after 55 minutes and tried to get Liverpool moving forward on the counter.
Hugo Ekitike (N/A):
Came on for the final 15 minutes as Isak started to flag but had little impact.
Wataru Endo (4/10):
Introduced for the last few minutes and allowed Cucurella to run off him for the winning goal.
Arne Slot (4/10):
A really disappointing display from his side as they failed to stop the rot. That’s the first time he’s lost three games in a row as Liverpool manager and some bold and quite bizarre substitutions that saw players playing out of position really didn’t pay off here.
