Anthony Taylor Under Fire After Chelsea’s Controversial 2–1 Win Over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge
Referee Anthony Taylor is once again at the centre of Premier League controversy after a string of questionable decisions overshadowed Chelsea’s 2–1 victory over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.
The match itself had all the drama football fans could ask for — stunning goals, late drama, and plenty of talking points. Yet, despite Chelsea’s impressive performance, much of the post-match discussion focused on Taylor’s officiating.
⚽ Chelsea Strike Early Through Moises Caicedo
Chelsea made the perfect start when Moises Caicedo opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a thunderous strike from the edge of the box. The Ecuadorian midfielder was left unmarked and made no mistake, drilling the ball into the top corner past Giorgi Mamardashvili to send Stamford Bridge into a frenzy.
Liverpool almost responded immediately, with Dominik Szoboszlai’s shot cleared off the line by Benoît Badiashile. Moments later, Alexander Isak headed narrowly over the bar as the Reds searched for an equaliser.
🔥 Gakpo Equalises Before Estêvão’s Late Heroics
After the break, Liverpool finally got their reward. Cody Gakpo reacted quickest to a deflected cross and poked the ball home to level the score at 1–1. But as the game looked set for a draw, Chelsea’s teenage sensation Estêvão stole the spotlight, firing home a stoppage-time winner to seal all three points for Enzo Maresca’s men.
However, the victory was quickly overshadowed by three major refereeing incidents that had fans and pundits alike questioning Anthony Taylor’s decisions.
🟨 1. Caicedo Escapes Yellow After High Challenge on Szoboszlai
Around the 30-minute mark, Caicedo lunged in late on Szoboszlai, catching the Hungarian high after missing the ball entirely. Taylor awarded only a free-kick, opting not to issue a yellow card — a call that many felt was lenient given the nature of the tackle.
Fans argued that similar challenges have often led to bookings this season, further fueling claims of inconsistency in Taylor’s officiating.
⚠️ 2. Garnacho Avoids Booking for Diving
Another flashpoint came in the 39th minute when Alejandro Garnacho went down in the box under minimal contact from Szoboszlai. Taylor correctly waved play on after replays showed there was almost no contact — but he did not book Garnacho for simulation.
Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett later told Football Insider that Garnacho “went down far too easily” and should have been cautioned. Instead, it was Enzo Maresca who was shown a yellow card for protesting the incident from the touchline.
🟨 3. Harsh Yellow Card for Szoboszlai
The controversy didn’t stop there. In the 79th minute, Szoboszlai was shown a yellow card for a supposed foul on Marc Cucurella. Replays revealed both players had gone for the ball simultaneously, and contact appeared accidental.
What looked harsh in slow motion reignited anger among Liverpool fans, especially since Caicedo had earlier avoided punishment for a more dangerous challenge.
🟥 Maresca’s Red Card Adds to the Drama
Just when the match seemed over, Taylor’s final decision sparked even more backlash. After Estêvão’s dramatic 96th-minute winner, Enzo Maresca ran down the touchline in celebration — only to be shown a red card moments later.
Former referee Keith Hackett criticised Taylor’s call, calling it “avoidable” and claiming it “put a damper on a special moment” for Chelsea and their supporters.
📊 The Verdict
Chelsea’s victory over Liverpool should have been remembered for Estêvão’s last-minute brilliance and Caicedo’s wonder strike, not for refereeing errors. But once again, Anthony Taylor has become the main talking point in a Premier League clash.
From missed bookings to a questionable red card, his performance has drawn sharp criticism from fans, pundits, and former officials — reigniting the debate about refereeing standards in English football.
As the dust settles on a dramatic night at Stamford Bridge, one question remains: why are crucial refereeing decisions still shaping Premier League matches?