In a match that pitted the self-styled World Champions against the Premier League champions, Chelsea snapped a three-match winless streak in the league and condemned Liverpool to their third successive defeat.
Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca was sent off in the dying moments of the game for his energetic celebration of Estevao’s added time winner after he charged down the touchline, Jose Mourinho-style, and received a second yellow card.
The victory, achieved without nine injured first team players, alleviated the pressure that had begun to build on Maresca and strengthened the claim of man-of-the-match Moises Caicedo, who scored a rocket of an opening goal, to be the best holding midfielder in the world.