Cucurella names Liverpool player who Chelsea ‘targeted’ to get injury-time winner

That outcome allowed Arsenal, who had earlier defeated West Ham 2-0, to move ahead of the reigning champions and claim the top spot in the Premier League going into the October international break.

Estevao finished off Cucurella’s precise delivery into the box, which came after Enzo Fernandez had picked out the left-back with a well-placed ball down Chelsea’s flank.

Cucurella later shared that Enzo Maresca had instructed the team to exploit that side of the pitch late in the game, knowing Mohamed Salah wouldn’t be tracking back to defend.

‘We know that Salah is always ready for the counter attack so we practiced that and the manager said that the space might be there [on the right side of Liverpool],’ Cucurella told Sky Sports.

‘We saw that it was the last minute but we kept attacking. I tried to give my last effort and Enzo gave me the ball and I crossed for Estevao.

‘I think we deserve it. We started the game very well and then the second-half we started not in the right way again – we need to improve these things.

‘But in general I think we deserve this win. We came through some tough weeks, this moment was amazing and we go into the break with three points, so we are very happy.’

‘Most attackers are not going to track back every single time,’ former Liverpool and Chelsea forward Daniel Sturridge told Sky Sports.

‘I think every team would say that, there are times where you don’t track back. I’ve played in that position as a winger, and sometimes you try to get away with one, but you might not get away with it.’

Liverpool’s defensive issues on the right side have been evident this season, with Conor Bradley being withdrawn at half-time for the second consecutive match.

‘They’ve got problems at full-back. They’re missing Trent [Alexander-Arnold],’ former Liverpool star Jamie Redknapp added.

‘They haven’t played the same right-back since the Burnley game. Bradley had a tough 45 minutes.’