After Yang Yang scored the goal, Mourinho immediately made a decisive substitution. Ferreira came on to replace Boulahrouz, whose performance had been visibly sluggish from the start.
The Dutch defender had struggled badly all night while marking Yang Yang. His lack of pace, slow reaction speed, and heavy turning made him an easy target for a sharp, explosive attacker like Yang Yang. He was constantly on the back foot, repeatedly exposed, and increasingly passive. As a result, Chelsea's supposed "Mr. Zero Turnover" produced almost nothing of value, making mistakes all over the pitch.
By contrast, once Ferreira entered the match, Yang Yang found himself tightly tracked by the Portuguese right-back. He no longer enjoyed the same freedom he had when facing Boulahrouz, and the physical toll of the match was beginning to show. To create advantages, Yang Yang had been interchanging positions constantly and repeatedly sprinting back into space. He recorded the highest number of high-intensity runs in the team, something that fueled his brilliance and attacking power but also consumed enormous amounts of energy.
Even so, after scoring his second goal, Yang Yang's presence alone carried tremendous deterrence.
With a 2–1 lead, Liverpool continued pressing Chelsea relentlessly. With a numerical advantage, they controlled the tempo with ease, keeping the ball circulating and forcing Chelsea deeper and deeper. The pressure became suffocating.
Finally, in the 87th minute, after Aurelio combined with Yang Yang down the left flank, the Brazilian full-back delivered a curling cross into the box. Crouch rose above everyone and cushioned a smart header back into the central zone. Gerrard arrived at full speed, met the dropping ball cleanly, and smashed a volley into the net — Liverpool's third goal of the night.
It was also the final goal of the match.
3–1!
The entire Liverpool squad was lifted, from the pitch to the bench.
Last season in the Premier League, Liverpool lost 4–1 at Anfield and 0–2 at Stamford Bridge. Earlier this season in the Community Shield, they were beaten again 1–2 by Chelsea, missing out on the first trophy of the campaign. Looking even further back, in Benítez's first season in charge, Liverpool also lost home and away to Chelsea in the league. In other words, since Benítez took over, Liverpool had suffered five straight league defeats to Chelsea.
The only bright spots had come in the Champions League and the FA Cup, where Liverpool managed to knock Chelsea out.
But today, at Stamford Bridge, Liverpool defeated Chelsea 3–1. This was unquestionably Benítez's first league victory over Chelsea in his three years at the club.
At the same time, it marked Chelsea's first home defeat in three years.
Stamford Bridge fell into complete silence. The Blues supporters simply could not accept the result; they had not tasted a home defeat in years. Tonight, they not only lost the match — they lost their aura of invincibility.
Ballack's red card was undeniable. Whether intentional or not, the challenge fully warranted a sending-off. But the bigger issue was the team's overall performance, which had been shockingly poor.
In stark contrast to Chelsea's frustration, Liverpool were all smiles.
Beating Chelsea 3–1 had every player buzzing with excitement — and even the usually reserved Benítez looked genuinely elated.
…
…
"There is no doubt that it is a red card!"
At the post-match press conference, Mourinho — having lost at home — looked unusually deflated. The arrogance and sharpness that normally defined him seemed dulled. Even his famously stubborn tone softened as he acknowledged the dismissal.
"I believe anyone who saw it would agree it was a red card. Ballack's action completely killed the match. He left us playing a man down for most of the second half."
"If that red card doesn't happen, the entire match looks completely different."
But Mourinho quickly shifted the conversation to another incident: a long Chelsea pass in which Robben drove past Aurelio and Agger, broke into the penalty area, and went down under Carragher's challenge. Mourinho insisted the Liverpool defender never touched the ball.
"There's no doubt — it is absolutely a penalty. No question. But the referee seems not to have seen it at all. I'm very puzzled."
Then he dropped the comment that ignited the room.
"Perhaps some people think we've won too much at home and wanted to see us lose. Maybe that's why these decisions happened."
The press conference exploded. Reporters from every major outlet were stunned. No one expected Mourinho to once again point fingers at the officials so directly, especially after a home defeat.
In response to Mourinho's claim, Benítez simply said he didn't see the incident clearly. But he added that before that supposed penalty, Drogba should have received a second yellow for elbowing. "The Ivorian should have been sent off," he argued.
"And let me also say this — in the second half Lampard clearly shoved Gerrard inside the penalty area. That is definitely a penalty as well, and he should have received a second yellow card. Yet the referee did nothing."
Both managers criticized the officiating and were clearly dissatisfied, even Benítez — who won the match.
The reporters knew how this worked. In a match of this intensity, a referee will inevitably produce controversial decisions. Some will benefit Liverpool, some Chelsea. The final balance depends on the referee's feel for the game. If every single contact were officiated to the letter, every Premier League match would end with multiple penalties and sendings-off.
Both managers were still satisfied with their teams' performances. Mourinho felt Chelsea held the advantage in the first half, and that the red card completely altered the match. Benítez believed his side showed greater threat throughout and produced their most exciting performance of the season.
"From this match, I feel the team has gained confidence," Benítez said. "And more importantly, if you look at the detailed data, you'll see we consistently create more shooting opportunities than our opponents."
Benítez also stressed that Liverpool could easily have kept a clean sheet, but Drogba scored a brilliant goal — something he didn't consider a defensive mistake.
Mourinho likewise praised Drogba's strike, saying the Ivorian had made tremendous progress and was capable of taking on greater responsibility. But he insisted Chelsea's real issue was out wide.
"A lot of people think I should strengthen the wing attack," he said. "But the players I want didn't arrive. I have only one Robben. He missed four matches before this one with injury. Tell me — who am I supposed to use on the flanks?"
His tone made it clear he was venting frustration toward the club's management. He had never wanted Shevchenko. What he had repeatedly said — publicly and privately — was that he wanted Yang Yang.
But in this match, Yang Yang wore Liverpool red, scored twice against Chelsea, and even played a key role in the third goal from the left flank.
"There is no doubt Yang Yang is already a world-class winger," Mourinho said without hesitation. "His speed, explosiveness, close control, dribbling, and scoring ability — all exceptional among players his age. And he is improving at a frightening pace. He is the most complete attacking player I have ever seen, with very few weaknesses."
When a reporter reminded him that heading was considered Yang Yang's weakness, Mourinho shook his head.
"He scored a header in the World Cup. Maybe tonight he simply didn't get the chance. That's all."
Clearly, Mourinho had been watching Yang Yang very closely.
Strikingly, on the topic of Yang Yang, Benítez and Mourinho agreed almost completely.
Liverpool's manager said Yang Yang was still adapting to the Premier League and learning how to maximize his attacking impact.
"The completeness of his technique gives us enormous tactical flexibility. Yang Yang is a remarkably well-rounded player. Any defender marking him will tell you how painful it is — stopping him is incredibly difficult."
"Is this Yang Yang at his best? No. He hasn't reached his peak yet. I definitely haven't seen it."
Discussing Yang Yang's goal where he dribbled past three Chelsea players, Benítez smiled and admitted he was surprised.
"He worked tirelessly tonight, but afterward in the dressing room, he told us he never planned to dribble past three players. He just wanted to put the ball in the net. In that moment, he felt confident enough to go for it alone."
"I want to emphasize that he has never been an individualistic player. On the contrary, he has always been team-oriented. He has five Premier League goals this season and has already contributed two assists. For a newcomer to English football, this is an almost perfect start."
Mourinho agreed entirely with Benítez, though his tone carried envy and regret — because Yang Yang was supposed to be his player.
…
After the two head coaches finished giving their post-match comments, the Liverpool players celebrated the rare and hard-earned victory inside the dressing room. Spirits were high, and the mood was lighter than it had been all season.
What delighted many of them even more was how Yang Yang's solo dribble past three Chelsea players was already being compared in the media to Cristiano Ronaldo's recent moment with Manchester United. Only a week earlier, the Portuguese star had dribbled through three players before scoring, sparking talk of a "challenge" between the two wingers. Now Yang Yang had responded with a similar feat of his own.
The question immediately floating around was simple: could Ronaldo match Yang Yang's thunderous long-range strike that found the net just ten seconds into the Merseyside Derby?
If he could, the debate remained balanced. If he couldn't, the comparison tilted in Yang Yang's favor.
But Yang Yang himself paid no attention to this supposed rivalry. He didn't care about public narratives or imaginary duels.
What mattered far more to him was something else entirely.
After the match, Ballack approached the Liverpool players personally and apologized to Mohamed Sissoko. He explained that the dangerous tackle had not been intentional — he had simply arrived a fraction too late and had been unable to pull his leg back in time.
Sissoko accepted the apology graciously, saying he didn't hold anything against him.
Seeing the German international take responsibility so openly left a strong impression on Yang Yang. He admired Ballack's attitude, and he immediately greeted him with respect. Back in the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan, Yang Yang had been deeply impressed by Ballack's performances, and the admiration lingered.
From Ballack, Yang Yang saw something important.
A true star is defined not just by technique, but by character as well.
After all, a player of Ballack's stature taking the initiative to apologize to a young newcomer like Sissoko was no small gesture.
...
"The Chinese world-class winger delivers again — Liverpool's strongest ace is Yang Yang!"
The morning after Liverpool's 3–1 victory at Stamford Bridge, the Liverpool Echo ran that headline across the front page. The cover featured a striking photo of the moment Yang Yang scored his second goal, surrounded by jubilant teammates piling onto him in celebration.
With his brace, Yang Yang had once again produced a match-winning performance. He now had five goals in the four Premier League matches he had played, along with two assists. The Echo described his introduction to English football as nothing short of perfect.
"I believe anyone who watched the match can clearly see that Yang Yang is rapidly becoming the core of Liverpool's front-line attack. Especially in this difficult away match against Chelsea, the left side became Liverpool's most threatening route forward."
"Yang Yang and Aurelio formed a razor-sharp partnership on the flank, combining attacking menace with solid defensive contribution. From the first minute, Chelsea's right side was under constant pressure — and Yang Yang was at the heart of it."
"Once again he scored twice and played a decisive role in the third goal. Yang Yang was undoubtedly one of the key reasons Liverpool were able to defeat Chelsea away from home."
The Liverpool Echo continued, noting that despite joining for a club-record €40 million and suffering an early injury setback, Yang Yang quickly proved his worth with his performances.
"After this dominant display against Chelsea, all doubts surrounding Yang Yang should be put to rest."
"Even Chelsea manager José Mourinho admitted publicly after the match that a decisive reason for Liverpool's victory was that Benítez had Yang Yang — and he didn't."
Benítez also acknowledged that Yang Yang was becoming a core member of the squad. However, he emphasized that the young winger had not yet reached his full potential. Yang Yang was still only twenty years old at the end of October, and Benítez urged people not to put excessive pressure on him.
"This is his first season with Liverpool and his first experience in the Premier League. It is unreasonable to demand specific statistical targets from him. What he has shown so far is more than enough to prove himself, and he has convinced all of us that he can succeed in England."
"But at the same time, we must recognize that he has many challenges ahead. He must continue to grow and continue to work hard. The winter period in late December is a difficult test even for players familiar with the Premier League."
Still, Benítez concluded firmly that he believed Yang Yang would thrive in England.
The Echo pointed out that after five rounds, Yang Yang's five goals put him level at the top of the Premier League scoring chart alongside West Ham United's Bobby Zamora.
"Since Michael Owen left, this is the first time we have had a player leading the scoring table. Every Liverpool supporter will feel a surge of excitement — the club finally has a genuine contender for the Premier League Golden Boot, and Yang Yang looks fully capable of delivering."
...
"Yang Yang: You dribbled past three players before scoring? Well, so did I!"
That was the headline written by Telegraph reporter Henry Winter. In his article, Winter openly declared that he had become a Yang Yang fan.
"There were four goals in this match, and the first three were all outstanding."
"Yang Yang's first goal came from a perfectly timed run behind Chelsea's defensive line. Under pressure from Boulahrouz and Essien, he shaped to shoot first-time, steadied the ball with a subtle touch, and then curled a right-footed strike into the top corner. The sequence showcased his quick decision-making and superb technique."
"And his second goal needs no introduction. Faced with two Chelsea defenders, Yang Yang suddenly accelerated, using speed and tight control to burst past both. Then, with trademark step-overs, he toyed with John Terry — widely regarded as the Premier League's most fearsome defender — before finishing calmly inside the box."
"Either one of these goals would be enough to keep me awake with excitement. But Yang Yang scored both in the same match. His form is extraordinary."
Winter then revisited the narrative that began a week earlier.
"Everyone remembers that in Manchester United's match against Tottenham, Cristiano Ronaldo dribbled past three Spurs players before scoring. Many saw the Portuguese star's celebration as a veiled challenge aimed at Yang Yang."
"When reporters asked Yang Yang about it after the Merseyside derby, he said he had scored similar goals before. At the time, many did not believe him — after all, dribbling past three players in the Eredivisie is not the same as doing it in the Premier League."
"But now Yang Yang has delivered a perfect response — scoring a near-identical goal just one week after the so-called challenge stirred up by the media."
"He has proven, with undeniable facts, that he can beat three players in the Eredivisie and he can do it in England as well. Even Essien of Ghana, Boulahrouz of the Netherlands, and John Terry — the Premier League's ultimate iron-clad defender — could not stop him."
"And Chelsea's 'Mr. Zero Error' Boulahrouz turned into 'Mr. Errors' the moment he faced Yang Yang."
"Throughout the match, the Dutch defender offered nothing except mistakes."
Another Telegraph columnist, Liverpool legend Alan Hansen, also praised Yang Yang, writing that he was rapidly becoming the core of Liverpool's attack.
"It may sound exaggerated, but I must say it — the nineteen-year-old Yang Yang is becoming Liverpool's most important attacking spearhead. No new signing arriving at Melwood has ever made such an impact so quickly. Four matches played, five goals, two assists in five league rounds."
"What more can anyone ask from him?"
Evans, editor-in-chief of The Times, also lent his voice to the praise. A passionate Liverpool supporter, he ensured that the Reds' victory over Chelsea dominated the most prominent pages of the newspaper. Yang Yang became the central figure of their coverage.
Evans wrote that Benítez was fulfilling the promise of his three-year project, and the team now showed a clear identity built on balance in attack and defense.
"With Yang Yang as the attacking focal point, Gerrard and Xabi Alonso controlling the midfield, and Carragher and Daniel Agger anchoring the defense, Liverpool's central axis is now essentially complete."
"Yang Yang's performance was sensational once again. His second goal — dribbling past three defenders — was simply addictive to watch. Liverpool have not seen such a devastating attacker in years. He brings to mind Michael Owen."
"But Yang Yang is even more astonishing than Owen."
"Imagine: When Cristiano Ronaldo beat three players to score a week ago, and Yang Yang responded by saying he could do the same, who believed him? And yet he delivered the moment so soon."
"As the Chinese saying goes, 'A gentleman's revenge can wait ten years.'"
"But for a young and fiery Yang Yang, ten years is far too long — he needed only one week."
"This is an absolutely incredible performance!"
The Times dedicated multiple large pages to Yang Yang's goal, praising his display with near fanatical enthusiasm. Evans' tone was so passionate that one could sense a near-mythical reverence forming around Yang Yang.
The Daily Mail's Martin Samuel also wrote a column full of praise for Yang Yang. But at the same time, he highlighted Drogba's extraordinary goal as well, giving both players high recognition.
Samuel pointed out that Chelsea, after forty-six home league matches and three years of invincibility, had finally suffered a home defeat — and it was a painful one.
"In the dressing room afterward, the core players — led by captain Terry and Lampard — deeply reflected on the loss. They admitted Liverpool tactically overwhelmed them, and many Chelsea players performed far below their usual standard."
"To blame Mourinho alone would be unfair. Apart from the injured Robben, he has no available wingers."
Samuel emphasized a growing consensus within Chelsea: failing to sign Yang Yang during the summer was a major mistake. And after this match, with Yang Yang dazzling and Shevchenko struggling, the contrast became even more embarrassing.
"Abramovich is now paying for the foolish decisions he made in the summer."
Samuel added that the club's patience with the injury-prone Robben was wearing thin. The team was likely to pursue a more durable and reliable winger during the winter transfer window.
...
...
Whether the media leaned toward Liverpool or Chelsea, most outlets kept their commentary relatively restrained. But The Sun, which never missed a chance to stir chaos, had no intention of being cautious.
The biggest-selling tabloid in the UK splashed a massive photo across its front page the day after the match — Yang Yang on one side, Cristiano Ronaldo on the other. Yang Yang's portrait was bright and vibrant, while the Portuguese star's image was deliberately darkened and desaturated, with a large question mark printed over it.
Next to Yang Yang's photo, The Sun added a bold caption:
"I dribbled past three players before scoring just like you — now let's see you match my ten-second goal!"
It was crude, direct, and pure tabloid provocation. And it immediately ignited a storm.
The public found the timing irresistible. Manchester United were scheduled to play a day after Liverpool, and their opponent was none other than Arsenal — another heavyweight fixture. United had won their first four matches of the season; a victory over Arsenal would keep them perfect with five straight wins.
Naturally, all eyes turned to Cristiano Ronaldo. After Yang Yang had produced his own three-player dribble, the entire country wanted to know:
Could Ronaldo answer by scoring in ten seconds the way Yang Yang did against Everton?
The British press went into full frenzy, and the excitement quickly spread across Europe and beyond. China erupted in celebration, treating Yang Yang's performance like a national triumph. Social media, newspapers, and television were flooded with praise, pride, and endless replays of his goals.
And when the news reached Spain …