Chelsea's Hazard-inspired comeback kicks Liverpool out of League Cup

Eden Hazard's second-half introduction helped Chelsea surge to a 2-1 comeback victory at Liverpool on Wednesday.

The Reds actually took the lead through Daniel Sturridge two minutes after Hazard was brought on, but the capital club eventually eliminated Liverpool from the League Cup third round by an Emerson Palmieri equalizer and some individual brilliance from substitute Hazard in the 85th minute.

Sturridge was guilty of missing an open goal early in the second half when he latched onto a backpass from Andreas Christensen. The Englishman rounded Blues backup Willy Caballero but, with the mesh at his mercy, steered the ball wide in front of the Kop.

Sturridge made amends just over 10 minutes later. Cesc Fabregas and Cesar Azpilicueta were pressed into submission by the Liverpool frontline, resulting in the ball being spilled to the feet of Mane. The Senegalese slid the ball to Naby Keita, whose parried shot was acrobatically dispatched by Sturridge.

Hazard then nabbed the winner with an excellent display of pace and technical wizardry.

Chelsea will learn who their opponent is in the next round when the draw is conducted on Saturday.