Chelsea Beat Liverpool 2-1 At Stamford Bridge As Reds Suffer Third Consecutive Loss

Liverpool suffered a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, marking their third consecutive loss in all competitions and raising concerns over their Premier League form. Chelsea took an early lead in the 14th minute when Moisés Caicedo unleashed a powerful long-range strike. Liverpool responded in the 63rd minute through Cody Gakpo, who finished a clever setup from Alexander Isak to level the score. The Blues clinched the victory in stoppage time, with 18-year-old substitute Estevão converting a cross from Marc Cucurella. Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca was sent off for excessive celebration after the decisive goal. Despite missing several key players, Chelsea impressed with their resilience and creativity, particularly from Estevão and the other young talents in the squad. The win ends Chelsea’s recent poor run and intensifies pressure on Liverpool manager Arne Slot. The loss leaves Liverpool with growing concerns, having now dropped three consecutive matches, including defeats to Crystal Palace and Galatasaray, as the team struggles to regain its early-season momentum.  

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Champions League: Osimhen Fires Galatasaray to Victory over Liverpool

Reigning Premier League champions and league leaders may be held to higher standards but concerns grow for Liverpool. Arne Slot’s side suffered back-to-back defeats after falling to Galatasaray in Istanbul. Their performance may trouble Liverpool’s head coach greater than the result. Liverpool were short on ideas and again suspect defensively as they were beaten by Victor Osimhen’s first-half penalty. Defeat could have been heavier had the Galatasaray striker not squandered two clear openings early in the second half and it needed the 62nd minute introduction of Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak to inject direction into the Liverpool attack. Despite a quiet start to the season by his standards, and the opportunity for more rotation from Slot following a summer of heavy investment, the absence of Salah from a Liverpool starting lineup still contains the capacity to surprise. Galatasaray had won only one of their last 18 Champions League group games prior to Liverpool’s visit and none of their last seven European ties. From the backing of an impassioned crowd to the wild commitment of their players, the champions of Turkey were determined to make amends. Hugo Ekitike steered a free header wide from Cody Gakpo’s cross as the visitors attempted to silence the din. Gakpo created another opening for Ekitiké when slipping him through with a neat pass. Ugurcan Cakir, like Alisson before him, stood tall and saved with his legs only for the rebound to fall to Gakpo. Yilmaz had been caught in the face by Szoboszlai’s trailing hand — it was more of a stroke of the stubble than a proper slap — but the referee Clément Turpin immediately pointed to the spot. Osimhen drilled the spot kick straight down the centre of Alisson’s goal. Liverpool dominated possession and outnumbered the Galatasaray defence on several counterattacks without turning promise into genuine opportunity. Cakir saved from Wirtz at close range, desperate defending prevented Ekitike and Milos Kerkez converting at the resulting corner and Konate put a free header wide at the near post. But Slot’s side were unconvincing at the back and almost punished again when Osimhen dispossessed Ryan Gravenberch before being tripped by the midfielder just outside the Liverpool area. The £65m striker felt he was denied a clear goalscoring opportunity but Gravenberch was punished with a yellow card. Osimhen, a disruptive force all night, was gifted a chance to double the hosts’ lead by a mix-up between Konaté and Gravenberch. A tame shot was easily gathered by Alisson, but the Liverpool keeper was injured in the process and had to be replaced by Giorgi Mamardashvili. Alisson’s replacement was not troubled once Osimhen departed injury. Neither was Cakir, however, despite Liverpool penning Galatasaray in during the closing stages.

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Osimhen Penalty Sinks Liverpool as Injuries and VAR Controversy Compound Champions League Defeat

Victor Osimhen’s first-half penalty was enough to condemn Liverpool to a second consecutive Champions League defeat, as Galatasaray secured a 1-0 victory in Istanbul on a frustrating night for Arne Slot’s side. The loss marks back-to-back defeats for Liverpool for the second time under the Dutch manager and came with added concerns after injuries to goalkeeper Alisson Becker and striker Hugo Ekitike. The game also included a controversial VAR decision that denied Liverpool a potential late penalty. Slot surprised many with his team selection, leaving Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak on the bench, and opting to start Jeremie Frimpong on the right wing. Despite that, Liverpool’s defensive issues resurfaced early, with Dominik Szoboszlai struggling at right-back. Galatasaray’s Baris Alper Yilmaz, who consistently troubled Liverpool’s right side, forced a good early save from Alisson before Liverpool wasted a golden opportunity at the other end. Ekitike failed to finish when played through on goal, slipping as he tried to round goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir. Cody Gakpo’s follow-up was cleared off the line by Ismail Jakobs. Just seconds later, Liverpool were punished. Yilmaz again beat Szoboszlai and was caught in the face by the defender’s arm inside the box. Referee Clément Turpin pointed to the spot, and Victor Osimhen calmly converted the penalty down the middle. Liverpool pushed for an equaliser, but clear chances were limited. Salah and Isak were introduced in the second half, but their impact was minimal. The team’s frustration peaked late on when VAR declined to award a penalty for a possible handball, leaving the visitors with nothing to show for their efforts. The night ended on a sour note with both Alisson and Ekitike leaving the pitch injured, adding to Liverpool’s growing concerns ahead of a busy schedule. Despite creating more chances and leading the expected goals tally, Liverpool came away empty-handed once again. Slot now faces pressure to steady the ship as his side struggles for form both domestically and in Europe.

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Crystal Palace End Liverpool's Unbeaten Start to the Season

Crystal Palace End Liverpool’s Unbeaten Start to the Season

Crystal Palace stunned Liverpool to claim a dramatic 2-1 victory at Selhurst Park, ending the Reds’ unbeaten start to the Premier League season and climbing to second place in the table. Eddie Nketiah scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner, firing home after a long throw-in caused chaos in the Liverpool box. His goal came just minutes after Federico Chiesa had seemingly rescued a point for the visitors with an 87th-minute equaliser. The build-up to Chiesa’s goal was not without controversy, with replays suggesting Mohamed Salah may have handled the ball. Despite protests from Palace players, the goal stood, setting up a frantic finale. Ismaila Sarr had earlier opened the scoring for Palace, smashing the ball past Alisson after Liverpool failed to deal with a corner. The 27-year-old was quick to react as the ball fell to him in the box, delivering a powerful finish. The win propels Palace into second place in the Premier League standings, just behind the leaders. It’s a massive result for Oliver Glasner’s side, who continue to defy expectations this season with disciplined performances and clinical finishing. For Liverpool and new head coach Arne Slot, the result comes as a blow to their strong early-season momentum. Slot now faces the task of rallying his side quickly ahead of a congested fixture schedule. Later today, Tottenham Hotspur will look to close the gap at the top when they host Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Arsenal face a tricky trip to Newcastle United on Sunday. The Gunners have lost on their last three visits to St James’ Park. It’s shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable Premier League title races in years — and Palace have officially entered the conversation.

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Liverpool 2-1 Everton: Gravenberch Shines as Arne Slot’s Side Maintain Perfect Start

By Kamal Yalwa: Saturday, September 20, 2025 Liverpool continued their perfect start to the Premier League season with a 2-1 victory over Everton in a fiercely contested Merseyside derby at Anfield. The result extends David Moyes’ winless record at Anfield to 21 Premier League games across four different clubs, as Liverpool made a fast start and held firm under late pressure. Ryan Gravenberch opened the scoring in the 10th minute, latching onto a precise delivery from Mohamed Salah to give the hosts an early lead — their fastest home goal in over two years. Gravenberch, who returned to the midfield trio alongside Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister, was instrumental throughout. Shortly before halftime, he turned provider with a clever through ball to Hugo Ekitike, who calmly slotted home his fourth goal for Liverpool since joining in the summer. The 2-0 cushion gave Arne Slot’s side firm control going into the break. Alexander Isak made his Premier League debut for Liverpool, coming on for the final 20 minutes, but his presence wasn’t crucial as the hosts had already done the damage. Everton responded in the second half with renewed intent. Idrissa Gueye pulled one back with a powerful volley following an incisive run and cross from Jack Grealish, who was arguably Everton’s standout performer. The visitors pushed for an equaliser, creating a tense finish, but lacked the composure and final product to break through Liverpool’s defence again. Liverpool have now won five straight Premier League matches for the first time under new manager Arne Slot and sit six points clear at the top of the table. Their lead could be reduced depending on the outcome of Sunday’s clash between Arsenal and Manchester City, live on Sky Sports. The result strengthens Liverpool’s title credentials and deepens Everton’s early-season struggles, leaving Moyes and his side still searching for their first win at Anfield in the Premier League era.

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It’s Not Luck– Morrison Defends Liverpool’s Late-Win Mentality

LONDON – Former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison has dismissed suggestions that Liverpool’s repeated late victories this season are down to luck, instead attributing their success to determination and leadership on the pitch. “Everyone keeps saying Liverpool leave it late, but it can’t be lucky the number of times they’ve done it already this season,” Morrison said during post-match analysis. “They keep going; they’ve got that desire to push right until the end. They’ve got big players and big characters. Credit to Liverpool. They would’ve been disappointed had they not won – they were comfortable at 2-0 up.” The latest dramatic finish came courtesy of Virgil van Dijk, who scored a crucial late winner to seal the result. “We found a way again,” Van Dijk said in his post-match interview. “We were dangerous from our set-pieces. They were pretty aggressive. I’m happy I got the winner.” Liverpool’s late-game resilience has become a hallmark of their campaign, further fueling belief in their title credentials as the season progresses.

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Liverpool vs Arsenal: Premier League Clash Set for Early-Season Title Implications

Anfield is set to host one of the Premier League’s marquee fixtures on Sunday, as defending champions Liverpool face perennial challengers Arsenal in a match that could shape the early title race. Both sides come into the clash with perfect records from their opening fixtures, but arrive via contrasting paths. While Liverpool have battled through dramatic late winners, Arsenal have remained defensively solid, yet are now dealing with a mounting injury list. Under new manager Arne Slot, Liverpool have shown early signs of grit and attacking versatility. The Reds opened the season with a 4-2 win over Bournemouth and followed it up with a last-gasp 3-2 victory at Newcastle, where 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha netted the winner from a Mohamed Salah assist in stoppage time. New signing Hugo Ekitike has impressed with two goals and an assist in as many matches, helping reduce the team’s reliance on Salah. Slot praised Ekitike’s impact both in scoring and build-up play:“He’s been a big influence already — not just finishing, but starting and linking attacks.” The club’s pursuit of Newcastle striker Alexander Isak continues, with a second bid reportedly being prepared. Arsenal began the season with a narrow 1-0 win at Old Trafford and followed that with a dominant 5-0 home victory over Leeds United. However, Mikel Arteta’s squad now faces a major test of depth after injuries to key players. Bukayo Saka (hamstring), Kai Havertz (knee surgery), and Martin Odegaard (shoulder) are all doubts or confirmed absentees for Sunday.“It’s the start of the season and we’ve lost three of our main players,” said Arteta. “That’s why you need a big squad to cope and sustain the level.” Summer signings Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke are expected to step up, while Eberechi Eze could make his Arsenal debut following his high-profile transfer from Crystal Palace. This will be the 245th meeting between the two clubs. Liverpool lead the all-time series with 94 wins, compared to 81 for Arsenal. Arsenal are winless at Anfield in the Premier League since 2012, though their last three visits ended in draws. Arteta acknowledged the challenge of ending that drought:“The favourite is always the reigning champion. Someone has to take the crown from them — that’s what we’re trying to do.” Team NewsLiverpool have no new injury concerns. Conor Bradley returned from injury as a substitute last match. Alexis Mac Allister is available after missing the Newcastle game. Virgil van Dijk is fit despite a heavy tackle last week. For Arsenal, Saka is out for several weeks with a hamstring issue. Havertz is sidelined after undergoing minor knee surgery. Odegaard is a doubt and will undergo a late fitness test. Christian Norgaard and Ben White are also being assessed.

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PSG to Face Barca in Champions League, Real Madrid Draw Man City & Liverpool

Liverpool and Manchester City will both come up against Real Madrid in this season’s Champions League, while title-holders Paris Saint-Germain were handed a tough list of opponents in Thursday’s draw, including Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Xabi Alonso’s Real will play City at home and take on Premier League champions Liverpool at Anfield in what will be two of the standout fixtures of the league phase. Arne Slot’s Liverpool, who finished first in the league phase last season only to be eliminated by PSG in the last 16, will also play Atletico Madrid, PSV Eindhoven and Qarabag of Azerbaijan at home. In addition, they must go to Inter Milan, Eintracht Frankfurt, Marseille and Turkish champions Galatasaray. City, who won the Champions League in 2023, will welcome Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, Italian champions Napoli and Galatasaray to the Etihad Stadium. As well as Real, they will also visit Villarreal, Monaco and Norwegian newcomers Bodo/Glimt. PSG will entertain Bayern and go to Barcelona, while the French club also have home fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United. Luis Enrique’s team went on to win the Champions League last season but only after struggling amid some difficult games in the league phase, in which they finished 15th. They have no obviously straightforward fixtures this time, as they also face Atalanta at home, as well as Leverkusen, Sporting CP and Athletic Club away. What is the Champions League format?Every team now plays eight games against eight different opponents in the new format of Europe’s elite club competition, which was introduced last season. All 36 clubs are pooled together into one league rather than split into groups. The top eight teams advance to the last 16, while those finishing between ninth and 24th go into the knockout round play-offs. The bottom 12 teams are eliminated. Other fixtures to look out for will include Barcelona visiting both Chelsea and Newcastle, while Arsenal entertain Bayern and Atletico and must also go to Inter Milan and to Bilbao. Tournament newcomers Kairat Almaty of Kazakhstan, who ousted Celtic on penalties in the play-off round, will host Real and travel to London to play Arsenal. Minnows Pafos of Cyprus will visit Chelsea and face Bayern at home. UEFA is not expected to announce specific fixture dates until Saturday, but the first round of games will take place across three days from September 16th to 18th. The eighth and final matchday is scheduled for January 28th. This season’s Champions League final will take place in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, on May 30th next year, with UEFA announcing on Thursday that the game will kick off at 18:00 local time rather than the usual 21:00. Who qualified for the Champions League?Below is the full list of 36 teams that qualified for the league phase, arranged in the Pots that were used in the draw: Pot 1: PSG, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona. Pot 2: Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen, Atletico Madrid, Benfica, Atalanta, Villarreal, Juventus, Eintracht Frankfurt, Club Brugge. Pot 3: Tottenham Hotspur, PSV Eindhoven, Ajax, Napoli, Sporting CP, Olympiacos, Slavia Prague, Bodo/Glimt, Marseille. Pot 4: FC Copenhagen, Monaco, Galatasaray, Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, Qarabag, Athletic Club, Newcastle, Pafos, Kairat Almaty.

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