Hazard’s brilliance seals Chelsea win at Liverpool in Cup

LONDON: In a formidable display of skill and speed, Eden Hazard slalomed past Liverpool players before scoring the goal that sealed Chelsea’s progress in the League Cup.

The winger’s sixth goal in seven appearances ended Liverpool’s perfect start to the season with a 2-1 victory on Wednesday at Anfield. And the teams have a swift reunion, with Chelsea hosting unbeaten early front-runner Liverpool at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Saturday.

Emerson Palmieri leveled after Daniel Sturridge gave Liverpool the lead in the 58th minute before Hazard’s mesmerizing winner in the 85th minute. The Belgium winger went past two Liverpool players around the halfway line before sending the ball through Robert Firmino’s

legs to Cesar Azpilicueta on the right flank. The Spaniard returned the ball to advancing Hazard, who went past three players, cut inside and sent a shot across goalkeeper Simon Mignolet and into the net.

Meanwhile, Sevilla thrashed Real Madrid 3-0 as the Blancos suffered their first defeat of the 2018-19 La Liga season and lost a change to climb over archrival Barcelona into the top spot.

Some 41,000 people packed into Seville’s Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium for the mid-week contest on Wednesday night, reports Efe news.

Real Madrid, losers in 10 of their last 17 La Liga matches here, began the game knowing that Barça had fallen earlier to Leganes, knowledge that should have provided the visitors with extra motivation.

With Dani Carvajal and Isco Alarcon — who underwent an emergency appendectomy on Tuesday — unavailable, Real Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui had to adjust his lineup, while keeping in mind the impending capital derby against Atletico Madrid. Sevilla’s Pablo Machin made only one change to the starting 11 that clobbered Levante 6-2 last weekend, replacing the injured Aleix Vidal with Arana.