Chelsea analysis: Eden Hazard gives Blues psychological edge over Liverpool

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Simon Johnson26 September 2018

Eden Hazard scored a superb winner as Chelsea came from behind to beat Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield in the third round of the Carabao Cup.

The Reds' seven-match winning start to the season was halted after substitute Hazard fired past Simon Mignolet in the 85th minute at the end of a wonderful run.

Hazard's goal came six minutes minutes after he helped create Emerson Palmieri's equaliser, which cancelled out Daniel Sturridge's 58th-minute opener.

Simon Johnson assesses the key talking points for Chelsea...

Chelsea need to keep Cahill for the season

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Cahill admitted last week that he wanted to leave Chelsea in the new year but the past week has shown his importance to the squad.

After not making a single appearance in the first five matches of the campaign, the 32-year-old has been involved in two successive fixtures.

On Sunday he came on as a substitute for the injured Antonio Rudiger at west ham, but this was more of a test against all-conquering Liverpool.

Even though Cesar Azpilicueta has been first choice captain this season, coach Maurizio Sarri gave Cahill the honour tonight.

And the England international responded with a mature performance that underlined he can still bring a lot to the club.

While Liverpool named Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino on the bench – until late on - he still had the likes of Saido Mane, Daniel Sturridge and Xherdan Shaqiri to deal with.

The veteran kept a calm head throughout and the travelling contingent clearly appreciated his efforts by singing ‘one Gary Cahill’.

Chelsea can ill afford to let a man of such experience leave in the new year, even though he understandably wants the guarantee of first team football elsewhere.

Barkley enjoys his return to Liverpool

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The England international has had to wait eight months to return to the city where he grew up with his new club.

Signed from Everton for £15m in January, Barkley barely featured until Maurizio Sarri replaced Antonio Conte as manager.

This was a chance to show the people of Merseyside, the red half at least, the development he’s been making at Stamford Bridge.

Barkley definitely made a bright start, playing intelligently in between the lines and found space to operate in.

But as Liverpool exerted more pressure in midfield, Barkley either made the wrong decision or gave the ball away carelessly, to jeers from the Liverpool fans in the stands.

Observers here said beforehand that they couldn’t remember the 24-year-old having a good game against them and it seemed certain to end the same way here.

However, it was his header that Simon Mignolet did well to keep out that led to Emerson netting an equaliser and started Chelsea’s late comeback.

Caballero has recovered from World Cup disappointment

In Pictures | EFL Cup third round

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To say Caballero had a disappointing World Cup is an understatement. He started the competition in between the posts, but was relegated to the bench as Argentina struggled to get out of the group stage.

And with Chelsea signing Kepa Arrizabalaga for a world record fee for a keeper worth £71.6m to replace Thibaut Courtois, his status as the club’s back-up was arguably more cemented than ever.

This was his first outing of the season but he left Anfield as Chelsea’s clear man-of-the-match after a series of fine saves.

Naby Keita, Saido Mane and Daniel Sturridge were all left frustrated by Caballero as he denied them with some fine stops.

He came to their rescue again when palming another Keita shot into the air, but the ball rebounded to Sturridge to impressively volley the ball into the net.

Kepa will be back on duty in the League game against Liverpool on Saturday, but Sarri will be reassured to know that Caballero has put his summer woes behind him.

Hazard gives Chelsea the psychological edge

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Remarkably Liverpool hadn’t beaten Chelsea at Anfield since 2012 and thanks to a magic goal from Hazard that run continues.

Just three days before these two teams go at it again in the Premier League, Hazard’s individual effort has ensured Chelsea go into the top of the table encounter full of confidence.

Both sides made eight changes and Chelsea initially looked the better outfit as they passed the ball confidently toward the Kop end.

Yet as many clubs have found to their cost, Liverpool are difficult to play against once they get their pressing game right and the home side took control in the latter stages of the first half.

The home side looked certain to win after Sturridge put them deservedly in front after the break, but Chelsea bounced back in style.

Crucially, the manner in which Hazard waltzed past their defence will leave a few Liverpool defenders fearing the Belgian at the weekend.

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