Football news - Sensational Eden Hazard ends Liverpool’s perfect start

Substitute Eden Hazard scored a sensational solo goal as Chelsea roared back to beat Liverpool 2-1 in the Carabao Cup third round.

Both sides made eight changes in preparation for Saturday's Premier League rerun, and it was Chelsea's fringe players who settled quickest. Alvaro Morata was hoping to add to his single league goal this season but was twice denied by Simon Mignolet.

Willy Caballero was equally effective at the opposite end, the back-up Chelsea goalkeeper at full-stretch to save Sadio Mane's bullet header, as Liverpool began to get into their groove just before the half-time break.

The hosts were handed a gift-wrapped opportunity immediately after the break when Daniel Sturridge seized upon Andreas Christensen's woeful back-pass before rounding the goalkeeper and inexplicably shooting wide.

But the former Chelsea striker redeemed himself shortly after when he broke the deadlock with a beautiful bicycle kick after Caballero had saved Naby Keita's initial shot.

Liverpool's lead was short-lived however. Chelsea won a free-kick on the left which was swung in by substitute Hazard and met by Ross Barkley. Simon Mignolet could only parry it into the path of Emerson who bundled home the equaliser.

And moments later Hazard scored a goal of the season contender which proved to be the winner. Picking the ball up in midfield, the Belgian tricked his way on to the left flank via a quick one-two before dancing into the box and unleashing an unstoppable shot into the far corner to bring Liverpool's perfect run to a halt.

Chelsea now eagerly await Saturday's fourth round draw.

Eden Hazard fires Blues to glory. What a season the Belgian is having so far, with six goals and two assists already to his name. The 27-year-old provided the spark Chelsea were desperately missing when he was introduced on 56 minutes. In this kind of form Hazard has to be considered as one of the finest on the planet. If he can maintain this level of form throughout the season he will score 30-40 goals and perhaps even lead Maurizio Sarri's side to Premier League success.

Eden Hazard (Chelsea): Played less than 40 minutes, but proved to be more effective than any other player on the pitch. We are fast running out of superlatives for the Belgian.

Liverpool: Mignolet 7, Clyne 6, Lovren 5, Matip 5, Moreno 5, Fabinho 5, Milner 6, Keita 6, Shaqiri 6, Mane 6, Sturridge 6. Subs: Firmino 5, Salah N/A, Henderson 5.

Chelsea: Caballero 8, Azpilicueta 7, Christensen 5, Cahill 5, Emerson 6, Fabregas 6, Kovacic 6, Barkley 6, Moses 5, Willian 5, Morata 5. Subs: Luiz 5, Kante 5, Hazard 8.

17' - GREAT CHELSEA CHANCE! A splendid pass from Fabregas releases Morata who just has the goalkeeper to beat. He takes a beautiful first touch before trying to lob Mignolet but the Belgian gets a fingertip to it to keep it out! Morata has a second bite of the cherry but screws his shot wide from a tight angle.

37' - GREAT SAVE BY CABALLERO! Keita is allowed to cut in from the left flank and unleashes a venomous shot which looks destined for the top corner. Caballero is at full stretch to palm it away though.

39' - CABALLERO TO THE RESCUE AGAIN! What a delivery from Shaqiri! The Swiss international races down the right before pinging an inch-perfect cross to Mane. His bullet header is goal-bound but Caballero gets down to make a clever save.

47' - HOW DOES STURRIDGE MISS?! Dear me, a comedy of errors! Christensen's awful backpass is seized upon by Sturridge who rounds the goalkeeper but then inexplicably shoots wide with the goal gaping.

58' - GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea. Redemption for Sturridge who scores with a beautiful bicycle-kick against his former club! Caballero saves Keita's initial shot, it falls kindly to the Englishman but he still has it all to do. Wonderful technique to find the net with this acrobatic effort.

79' - GOAL! Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea. Emerson levels the scores! Hazard's free-kick delivery is met by Barkley whose powerful header is kept out by Mignolet, but the loose ball is toe-poked in by Emerson.

85' - GOAL! Liverpool 1-2 Chelsea: An amazing goal from Hazard surely wins the game for Chelsea! The tricky Belgian dances past a Liverpool defender on the flank, darts inside, beats another, and blasts an unstoppable effort into the bottom corner. A goal of the season contender.

Daniel Sturridge has scored 11 goals in his last 11 appearances in the Carabao Cup.

Liverpool haven't beaten Chelsea at home in any competition since May 2012 in the Premier League (4-1), drawing five and losing two since.

Chelsea have progressed from each of their past eight League Cup third-round ties since losing 4-3 to Newcastle United in 2010-11.