Chelsea

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

Chelsea's form with and without Romeo Lavia has been the subject of several questions sent in via our 'Ask about Chelsea' form' after the midfielder impressed in his second appearances of the season as a substitute in Saturday's win over Liverpool.

While Estevao Willian rightly received the plaudits for his match-winning cameo in Saturday's win over Liverpool, the 35 minutes afforded to Romeo Lavia has slightly gone under the radar amid the dramatic finish at Stamford Bridge.

However, the 21-year-old midfielder completed 17 of his 19 attempted passes, with nine completed into the final third.

He completed the only dribble he attempted, won three out of his four duels, won his only aerial duel, and won possession twice.

Image source, Getty Images

Defining whether Chelsea perform better or win more points with Lavia in the side is hard to quantify due to the small sample size.

Since joining the Blues for £58m in the summer of 2023, Lavia has been ravaged by ankle, thigh and hamstring injuries, and been in the matchday squad on just 29% of occasions.

In all competitions, he has made just 25 appearances and started just 15 times - totaling 1,147 minutes across two seasons.

Chelsea have played 82 Premier League matches since Lavia's arrival on 18 August 2023, with the Belgium midfielder featuring in 19 of them.

In those 19 games, the Blues have averaged 1.89 points per game, while in the 63 where he did not feature at all, the team have averaged 1.70 points per game.

However, Lavia has not completed 90 minutes since his switch from Southampton and half of his eight substitute appearances in the Premier League have been for 11 minutes or less.

Coupled with the fact his first season - in which he featured just once in the league - was the troubled campaign under Mauricio Pochettino - this skews the points per game stats without him and make it difficult to pinpoint a direct impact on results.

Image source, Getty Images

What is definite is the respect Lavia commands within the Chelsea camp.

In a recent quick-fire interview posted on social media, external Cole Palmer named him as his 'most underrated player' after previously saying his former Manchester City academy teammate would become "one of the best midfielders in the world, external".

Manager Enzo Maresca said after the win over Liverpool in May, external that "you can see that we are a better team with Romeo".

When fit, he offers press resistance, positional intelligence, and an ability to dictate the tempo of a game which would improve any team.

Blues fans have been robbed of a proper opportunity to see how balanced a midfield of him, Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez could look, but perhaps a fully-fit Lavia could make a real difference should he remain available for any consistent period this season.

Pat Nevin
Former Chelsea and Scotland winger

Image source, Getty Images

I was at Newcastle then Istanbul last week, so Chelsea v Liverpool at Stamford Bridge could have been quiet in comparison. With the two teams struggling lately, a decent number of key players injured and fans not exactly in love with both their playing styles, they still managed to serve up another breathless and noisy affair.

‌It could have gone either way, but in a season of last-gasp winners, no-one had left before Estevao Willian's stoppage-time winner.

Enzo Maresca's relieved and excited 70-yard sprint to celebrate showed the media pressure has been getting to him after all.

Even with a red card, it was a perfectly understandable reaction. His bold substitutions had worked - bringing on 19-year-old Marc Guiu, 21-year-old Jamie Gittens and the 18-year-old scorer Estevao were big but crucial calls near the end.

‌Maresca's willingness to be more offensive right from the start suggested he had listened to recent complaints about negativity.

Going from 4-2-3-1 to 4-1-4-1 might not sound like a huge change, but that additional forward midfielder contributed to their first goal and the extra attacking freedom raised the belief in his players.

‌Maybe the most pleasing thing was that neither team considered settling for a draw at 1-1. Because of this positivity and openness, the Premier League is as entertaining as it has ever been.

‌A loss for the Blues would have silenced any hopes from their fans. But, now they are back in the conversation for a top-four finish - all because the manager was brave enough to take a few more risks.

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Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca will not bring outcast France defender Axel Disasi, 27, back into his squad despite a defensive injury crisis. (Sun, external)

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Will Faulks
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

A win before the international break is always nice. A win over the reigning champions is even better. Getting both, with a patched-up squad on the back of a couple of weeks of rising tension? That's really special.

Chelsea's win over Liverpool on Saturday brought their best performance of the season and the most raucous Stamford Bridge atmosphere perhaps since the Blues beat Manchester United 4-3 18 months ago. It could not have come at a better time for the team and their manager Enzo Maresca.

The injury crisis that meant they started the fixture eight players and with a makeshift defence only got worse through the course of game. But in two weeks a host of first-team players will be back fit and others will have had a vital restorative rest.

That should mean the team's prospects improving rapidly, especially with Nottingham Forest, Ajax, Sunderland and Wolves up next. Win all four of those and Chelsea will be looking good in three competitions, with the likes of Liam Delap and Cole Palmer back or at least close to a return.

Positive results will, in turn, lift the pressure on Maresca and his players, helping them to play better.

A win against a strong team (albeit one with problems of its own) should not allow anyone to be distracted from the ongoing issues with this side, however. Even in this match, shots and chances from open play were in short supply. The fact that Liverpool were willing to attack suited Chelsea, but the four games after the break will see sides setting up much more defensively.

This fortnight brings important breathing room - but the manager and his staff need to make the most of it if they want to kick on later this month.

Find more from Will Faulks at Chelsea News, external

On the latest episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, former Premier League defender Connor Coady says he doesn't understand the criticism surrounding Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca.

Having played under Marescsa himself, Coady says his style was "one of the most enjoyable ways to play football," and believes that Chelsea's players are enjoying playing under him as well.

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

Crystal Palace plan to offer midfielder Adam Wharton a new contract to try to ward off interest from Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City in the 21-year-old England midfielder. (Mail), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca couldn't control his celebrations after Estevao Willian's 95th-minute winner against Liverpool, landing himself a second yellow card of the game, a sending off and a one-game suspension.

It is his second touchline ban since becoming a Premier League manager in June 2024. He served his first suspension in April 2025 after picking up a third yellow card of the season while celebrating Pedro Neto's 93rd-minute winner at Fulham.

Several questions have been sent in via our 'Ask about Chelsea' form about the suspension and what it will mean for the club when they travel to Nottingham Forest after the October international break.

Where will Maresca be sitting? Will he be able to make contact with the players during the match? Will he be allowed in the dressing room at half-time?

In short, the Football Association (FA), external sets out where head coaches can or cannot go before, during and after a match when a touchline ban has been issued.

The Italian boss will be required to sit in the directors' box at the City Ground. If there isn't a seat available in the directors' box, he will need to "sit in a stand away from opposition supporters and away from the vicinity of the technical area".

Other restrictions include not being allowed to sit near the club's designated dugout, go near the field of play or shout instructions down to his staff.

Maresca won't be banned from entering Chelsea's dressing room though, as the FA rules state that he is allowed in there before kick-off, at half-time and at full-time.

He will also be able to communicate with his staff "by means of telephone, a runner or any other electronic device such as a radio or mobile phone" during the match.

Ask Me Anything is a service dedicated to answering your questions.

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Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea captain Reece James has withdrawn from the England squad for this month's international fixtures after picking up an injury against Liverpool.

The defender had been named in Thomas Tuchel's original squad for the October internationals against Wales and Latvia.

In his absence, Manchester City midfielder Nico O'Reilly has received his first senior England call-up, moving up from the Under-21s squad.

England face Wales at Wembley on Thursday, 9 October in an Alzheimer's Society International before travelling to Riga to take on Latvia in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, 14 October.

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Chelsea and Liverpool.

Here are some of your comments:

Chelsea fans

Evan: Honestly one of the best Chelsea performances I've seen in a long time. The last 15 minutes of the game we dominated and deserved to win as we did. Estevao looks brilliant and I'm excited to see him in the future when he is in his prime.

Fossie: A superb win. A stunning performance from Moises Caicedo, and a brilliant goal. It would have been easy for our heads to drop after the equaliser, but Chelsea came back stronger for it. The winner was an excellently crafted goal. Injuries in the back line are a concern, but a bit of time for some recoveries now. Well done Chelsea.

Rod: One of the best performances for years. It proves that it is there, just got to stop the boring wasteful side-and-back passing. Keep playing like this!

Scott: Really controlled performance from Chelsea in the first half - absolute mayhem in the second due to the defensive substitutions. Excellent win and Enzo Maresca deserves credit as he went for it - more of that please.

Liverpool fans

Fraser: People were scapegoating Florian Wirtz for our performances lately - we were actually better when he came on. Wirtz and Alexander Isak are not the problem - the problem is clearly tactical/systematic. I don't think Arne Slot knows what his best starting XI is or how to best utilise them. That, combined with key veterans struggling for form, especially Mohamed Salah, Ibrahima Konate and Alexis Mac Allister. We're too exposed at the back and we're far too slow and cautious going forward. The international break couldn't have come at a better time.

Killian: No point hiding it - that was a dreadful performance. The lads look like they don't know each other. Total faith in Slot and the team to turn it around. I genuinely believe we have an elite squad - we just need to bring it together. YNWA!

Andrew: Time to recognise Salah has passed his peak and let Federico Chiesa have his chance. Overall, too many established players underperforming at the same time and apart from Hugo Ekitike, all the other newcomers have distinctly disappointed. Time for Slot to earn his coin.

Rae: Another desperately nervous performance - Milos Kerkez not yet settled, Conor Bradley trying too hard and Konate out of form. Slot is also trying to force the likes of Wirtz and Isak into an unsuitable formation.

Chelsea are interested in signing Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo and are willing to pay about £78m for the 25-year-old Ghana striker. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external

However, the Blues will not make a move for Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi, 25, despite the England defender being available on a free transfer next summer. (Express), external

Meanwhile, Juventus have rejected a bid of about £58m from the Blues for 20-year-old Turkey forward Kenan Yildiz. (TuttoJuve via Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

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Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

In Brazil, Estevao had already emerged as a star player for one of the country's biggest clubs, and earned seven caps for the national team which is now led by legendary former Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti.

It has, understandably, taken slightly longer for him to settle in England having arrived after the conclusion of this summer's Club World Cup.

"We know that a young player can suffer when he moves from another country to settle down here and to play for this club," said Chelsea assistant coach Willy Caballero, in the absence of Maresca after his red card.

"So the players, first of all, are doing a great job to involve all the new players. And when we have the chance, we work.

"I can speak with him most of the time in Spanish because he understands. And he's a really good kid. And we are so happy for him because he needs it, we need it, and he needs a goal as well."

Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin believes Estevao is "going to be special".

"Every time any Chelsea player gets the ball, they try to find Estevao," said Nevin on BBC Radio 5 Live. "That tells you a story about a player.

"He's an 18-year-old but everyone wants to give him the ball. That just shows what he's capable of and what he's doing in training. He's going to be special."

Read the full analysis on Estevao's performance against Liverpool

Pundits Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday's Premier League fixtures and Friday's action.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

• Manchester United 2-0 Sunderland

• Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Eighteen-year-old winger Estevao delivered Chelsea's best moment of the early part of the season with his last-gasp winner against the champions.

It was the first Blues goal for a wonderkid who has already started games for Brazil under Carlo Ancelotti - and who is regarded by many back home as the next star attacker from one of football's great talent factories.

Before his £51m move to Chelsea, Estevao had already become the first under-18 player to record 20 goals and assists for his former club Palmeiras, beating a record once held by Neymar.

His first Blues goal has taken a while to arrive but it came just when they needed it, as manager Maresca threw him - and other teenagers Marc Guiu and Gittens - on to win the match.

Estevao might be Chelsea's rising star, but Ecuador midfielder Caicedo is arguably the Blues' key man.

The £115m signing opened the scoring with a stunning strike and came close with another long-range effort in the 89th minute.

Then he showcased his defensive qualities by tracking Robertson's dangerous deep run four minutes into injury time.

Caicedo - who nearly joined Liverpool - must be in discussions for the best midfielder in the league.

One disappointing note for Chelsea will be the loss of their centre-back pairing Josh Acheampong and Benoit Badiashile to injury.

Their withdrawals in the second half leave the Blues without six central defenders with five injured and one out through suspension.

Chelsea assistant manager Willy Caballero on manager Enzo Maresca after he was sent off for celebrating a last-minute winner against Liverpool: "He's OK. He's so happy now. Of course he cannot be here now but we are so happy that we achieved the three points in the last seconds. We are so happy and so proud. The players did a fantastic job. Now is a good break for many of them and hopefully we can recover a few more players and start the new cycle of games with energy."

On scoring in the last minute: "It is extra special because you win energy, trust, confidence in the process. I think the atmosphere in the stadium gives us more. It's unforgettable. So now we have to take this to keep growing. It's a shame we have the break now but we have a really good connection between the players and the supporters. We have a very young squad."

On the team's unity: "We suffer another red card today (laughs) but we finish strong. We know that we are a good team that plays football and we create chances in the first half. We deserve the second goal in the second half. In the way we fought today, with four full-backs in the back four is incredible. All of us are so proud of our players. We don't look for excuses, we find solutions."

On injuries to Badiashile and Acheampong: "They are OK. They were a little bit concerned about their situations but we talked with them and they are OK. They need this break to recover well."

On Maresca's celebration: "It's something special for any manager, no manager can hold inside what they feel. Unfortunately for him he was already on a yellow. We are all human beings. We have been players, we love to see that. For sure all of us we can learn from that as well."

Did you know?

• Chelsea are now unbeaten across their last five Premier League home games against Liverpool (W2 D3), their longest such run against the Reds since 1991-2003 (13 games, W9 D4).

• Enzo Maresca and Arne Slot both received yellow cards (Maresca also a red), the first game of the 2025/26 Premier League season in which both managers were shown cards.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Chelsea's performance

What did you make of Liverpool's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Chelsea XI: Sanchez, Gusto, Acheampong, Badiashile, Cucurella, Caicedo, James, Pedro Neto, Fernandez, Garnacho, Joao Pedro

Subs: Jorgensen, Slonina, Hato, Emenalo, Lavia, Buonanotte, Gittens, Estevao Willian, Guiu

Liverpool XI: Mamardashvili, Bradley, Konate, van Dijk, Kerkez, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Salah, Isak, Gakpo

Subs: Woodman, Gomez, Endo, Robertson, Frimpong, Jones, Ekitike, Chiesa, Wirtz

There are four games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Leeds United v Tottenham (12:30)

• Arsenal v West Ham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Manchester United v Sunderland - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Chelsea v Liverpool (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Arsenal v West Ham" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Chelsea v Liverpool", for instance.

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Chelsea's back-to-back league defeats by Manchester United and Brighton have been a classic case of them shooting themselves in the foot.

If they had kept 11 men on the pitch in both matches it would have had a huge impact.

So, that is their first aim here and if it is 11 v 11 then Chelsea can hurt Liverpool, even without Cole Palmer, because the Reds are at sixes and sevens at the back.

I am tempted to go with a draw but this is a big game and I want to be brave and pick a winner.

I am going to stick my neck out and back my old team to make it a hat-trick of defeats for Arne Slot.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here