… As Hazard snatches victory
EDEN HAZARD inspired a sensational Chelsea comeback to bring Liverpool’s winning streak to an amazing end.
The Blues looked to be drifting out of the cup when their former striker Daniel Sturridge acrobatically put the Kop ahead on the hour. Eden Hazard scored a late winner as Chelsea beat Liverpool 2-1
But supersub Hazard supplied the free-kick which saw Emerson Palmeri level things up just over 10 minutes before the end.
And then the Belgian superstar weaved through the Reds defence before beating his countryman Simon Mignolet with a sizzling drive.
It means Maurizio Sarri’s men drew first blood in their double header against the table toppers from Anfield.
Both managers made eight changes from the weekend – no doubt mindful of that huge Premier League clash less than 72 hours later.
Hazard weaved his way through Liverpool’s defence before blasting home with five minutes remaining
There was a first Liverpool start for Fabinho – who joined the Reds for £43 million from Monaco in May but has made just one substitute appearance.
Jurgen Klopp said the Brazilian may need six months to settle in at Anfield – but picked handed him a midfield berth here.
The League Cup is the only competition that Liverpool have won since summer 2006 and it looked a good opportunity for them to end their trophy drought.
Meanwhile Klopp was looking for 50th victory at Anfield as he approaches his third anniversary in charge – but it was the visitors who started brightly.
Gianfranco Zola agrees with Jamie Carragher that match winner Eden Hazard is the best player in the Premier League
Hazard’s goal came five minutes after Emerson’s dramatic equaliser
The Brazilian pounced from a corner to send the away fans into raptures
A super ball over the top from Cesc Fabregas saw Alvaro Morata get the wrong side of Dejan Lovren.
The Spaniard tried to lift his shot over Simon Mignolet but the Kop keeper stood up tall and blocked him – with Morata firing the rebound back across the face of goal.
A couple of minutes later the £58 million forward had another chance but this time the angle was too tight and he was again denied by Mignolet.
Liverpool saw appeals for a penalty waved away by Kevin Friend – with replays showing Naby Keita had clearly dived over the leg or Gary Cahill.
Jurgen Klopp questions some of the decisions in key moments as Liverpool lose to Chelsea in the Carabao Cup
But even so that seemed to bring the Kop to life and Keita weaved past Cesar Azpilicueta before firing a right footed effort that brought a flying save from Willy Caballero.
Soon afterwards a cross from the right by Xherdan Shaqiri was perfect for Sadio Mane but his downward header was pushed away by the visiting keeper.
This was Caballero’s first competitive game since his horror show for Argentina against Croatia at the World Cup – and it was a much more assured display.
Just before the break he was out quickly again to deny Daniel Sturridge as he failed to control a smart through ball from Shaqiri.
Daniel Sturridge had put Liverpool ahead with a sharp finish
It was Hazard who had the final say at Anfield
The second half started in a similar vein with Sturridge letting his old club off the hook.
Andreas Christensen never looked as he passed back to Caballero – allowing the England forward to go clear on goal.
Caballero got a good hand on the ball but Sturridge still had the goal at his mercy – yet somehow managed to slide it wide of an empty net.
It was a shocking miss and the home fans were still shaking their heads as Morata nodded a Willian cross over the bar – when he too should have done better.
Culled from The Sun UK
