LONDON — Brazilian prodigy Estevao marked his first goal for Chelsea in stunning fashion, netting a stoppage-time winner in a 2–1 victory over Liverpool that handed the Reds a third consecutive defeat and sent Arsenal to the top of the English Premier League with a 2–0 win over West Ham.
After opening the season with seven straight wins in all competitions, Liverpool endured a nightmare week, leaving manager Arne Slot with much to reflect on heading into the international break.
An injury-hit Chelsea side were well deserving of their first Premier League win in four matches, AFP reported.
Former Liverpool target Moises Caicedo fired the hosts ahead in the 14th minute with a thunderous strike into the top corner. His goal came just weeks after Alexander Isak’s £125 million move to Liverpool broke Caicedo’s transfer record as the most expensive signing in Premier League history.
The Swedish striker is still waiting for his first league goal, but he helped create Liverpool’s equaliser, deftly setting up Cody Gakpo to level just past the hour mark.
Chelsea, however, refused to settle. In stoppage time, Estevao slid in at the far post to turn home Marc Cucurella’s cross, sealing a dramatic victory. Manager Enzo Maresca was sent off for his exuberant touchline celebration as Stamford Bridge erupted.
The result leaves Liverpool one point behind leaders Arsenal, while Chelsea climbs to sixth in the standings.
In Mikel Arteta’s 300th match in charge, Arsenal proved far too strong for the struggling Hammers to further their ambitions of a first Premier League title for 22 years.
Victory came at a cost for Arsenal as captain Martin Odegaard was forced off injured before halftime for the third time this season.
However, the strength in depth now on offer to Arteta has made light of Arsenal’s injury troubles.
“We dominated and fully deserved to win this,” said Arteta. “To go top of the table after some big fixtures over the last week and some injuries… we were able to respond.”
Declan Rice, who left West Ham for £105 million in 2023, ended the visitors’ resistance by blasting high into the net on the rebound after Alphonse Areola parried Eberechi Eze’s drive.
Bukayo Saka made the points safe midway through the second half from the penalty spot on his 200th Arsenal appearance after Jurrien Timber was brought down by El Hadji Malick Diouf.
Manchester United handed Ruben Amorim some relief with a 2-0 win over Sunderland on Saturday.
The Portuguese had taken just 34 points from his previous 33 Premier League games in charge, but enjoyed a rare convincing win to give him some breathing space over the international break.
“We were a competitive and adult team today,” said Amorim. “We need to do this kind of performance away as well – it’s our responsibility to play like this.”
Before kick-off Old Trafford fell silent to honour the victims of a terror attack on a Manchester synagogue this week.
Amorim’s bold calls with his team selection paid off as goalkeeper Senne Lammens kept a clean sheet on his debut, while Mason Mount justified his place over Matheus Cunha with the opening goal.
Mount eased the home fans’ tension with a fine finish from Bryan Mbeumo’s cross on eight minutes.
Benjamin Sesko doubled the Red Devils’ advantage with a predatory finish from a long throw-in for his first Old Trafford goal since a £74 million move from RB Leipzig.
There was nearly a twist at the end of the half as Sunderland were initially awarded a penalty, only for VAR to intervene due to insufficient contact by Sesko on Trai Hume.
Tottenham showed their newfound defensive resolve under Thomas Frank to end Leeds’ year-long unbeaten league run at Elland Road with a 2-1 victory.
Mohammed Kudus’ first goal for Spurs secured all three points after Noah Okafor cancelled out Mathys Tel’s opener for the visitors.
“That feeling to get over the line, to get three points, was big,” said Frank after his side moved up to third.
Tottenham needed late fightbacks to avoid defeat against bottom-of-the-table Wolves and Champions League debutants Bodo/Glimt over the past week.
Frank made six changes to the side that started in the Arctic Circle on Tuesday and was rewarded with a far more purposeful performance from the visitors.
But Leeds will rue their missed chances to avoid a first league defeat at Elland Road since losing to Burnley in September 2024.
Joe Rodon should have put the home side in front when he headed Sean Longstaff’s free-kick off the post on seven minutes.
