In a dramatic finish at Stamford Bridge, Estevao netted a last-minute goal to hand Chelsea a 2-1 victory over Premier League champions Liverpool, marking the Reds’ third consecutive loss.
The young Brazilian forward’s decisive strike at the far post ignited jubilant celebrations among the Chelsea faithful after an intense encounter on Saturday.
Estevao’s goal, his first since transferring from Palmeiras, ensured Liverpool entered the international break displaced from the summit of the league table.
Chelsea had taken the lead before halftime thanks to Moises Caicedo’s powerful shot from outside the penalty area, but Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo responded to level the score.
Reflecting on the narrow defeat, Liverpool manager Arne Slot remarked, “We faced a similar challenge here last season. Stamford Bridge is always a tough venue. The outcome hinged on fine details.”
Slot also addressed recent setbacks, including the Champions League loss to Galatasaray and the defeat at Crystal Palace.
“As I mentioned after Galatasaray, we had a one-on-one situation that led to a penalty. Against Palace, we conceded in stoppage time. Today, the winning goal could have gone either way,” he added.
Meanwhile, Arsenal climbed to the top of the table, overtaking Liverpool by a single point following their 2-0 triumph over West Ham earlier in the day.
Manchester United also secured a vital 2-0 win against Sunderland, boosting their campaign.
Manchester United Manager Amorim Finds Respite
Ruben Amorim made strategic adjustments that paid dividends, delivering a much-needed victory for Manchester United.
This win may temporarily ease the pressure surrounding Amorim’s tenure, as he has yet to guide United to consecutive league wins after nearly a year at the helm. Nonetheless, Saturday’s result marked progress.
“Winning is crucial for confidence, but we must move past this game and focus on the next challenge,” Amorim stated.
In a bold move, Amorim benched $84 million summer signing Matheus Cunha and handed a debut start to new goalkeeper Senne Lammens in a match viewed as a potential pitfall after three losses in six league outings.
The gamble paid off with first-half goals from Mason Mount and Benjamin Sesko at Old Trafford, alongside United’s first clean sheet of the season.
With only 10 wins from 34 league matches under his belt, Amorim acknowledged before the game that failure to improve results would make his continuation “impossible.”
Victory over Sunderland was especially critical amid criticism from club legends Wayne Rooney and Gary Neville, and with the international break often serving as a juncture for managerial changes.
“Pressure is always present at a club like this, but we try to channel it positively,” said Sesko, who scored in consecutive games since his $99 million move from RB Leipzig. “We showed we can perform well and secure wins.”
Arsenal’s Momentum Builds
Arsenal extended their winning streak to four matches, solidifying their position as title contenders.
Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, who converted a penalty, handed West Ham their first defeat under new coach Nuno Espirito Santo during Mikel Arteta’s 300th game in charge.
“Celebrating this milestone with a victory means a lot,” Arteta expressed.
After a challenging start to the season, Arsenal is back in the title race following three consecutive runner-up finishes.
Saka, marking his 200th appearance for the club, praised Arteta’s influence on his development and expressed confidence in the manager’s ability to bring silverware.
“We’ve faced tough away fixtures, but we’re in a strong position and eager to keep pushing forward,” Saka told the BBC. “Mikel has elevated my game, and I’m grateful to have him as coach. I believe he will lead this club to success, and I look forward to that day.”
However, the victory was tempered by another injury to captain Martin Odegaard.
Kudus Scores First Goal for Tottenham
Mohammed Kudus opened his scoring account for Tottenham, helping Thomas Frank’s side maintain their strong form.
Kudus’ second-half goal from the edge of the area secured a 2-1 win over Leeds, propelling Spurs to third place in the league.
Under Frank, who took over in the off-season, Tottenham remain unbeaten in their last seven matches across all competitions and have suffered just one league defeat.
Kudus, a key summer acquisition from West Ham, delivered the winning moment at Elland Road by cutting inside from the right and firing a low shot past goalkeeper Karl Darlow in the 57th minute.
Mathys Tel had put Spurs ahead with a deflected strike that soared into the top corner, while Leeds, unbeaten at home since February, equalized through Noah Okafor’s close-range finish in the 34th minute.
