After a steady first half in which Chelsea dominated possession, it was in the second half that we broke the deadlock with Kiano Dyer scoring a fine strike. Ato Ampah played a perfect ball into the area and Dyer powered his shot into the top corner, leaving the Liverpool keeper helpless.

We quickly built on that momentum with substitute Shumaira Mheuka adding to the scoreline with a towering header, expertly meeting a floated delivery from Dyer.

At this point, Liverpool appeared rattled, struggling to cope with our dangerous runs and relentless pressing as we looked to extend our lead. The game shifted further when Ampah used his quick footwork to drive into the area, only to be brought down by Lee Jonas, who received his second yellow card, reducing Liverpool to ten men.

With the game firmly in our control, Donnell McNeilly stepped up to take the penalty. Calm and composed, he sent the keeper the wrong way, securing the win and our eighth victory of the league campaign.

Early pressure

The Blues came out on the front foot, pressing aggressively from the first whistle. Our first real chance came within the opening five minutes, when Ampah whipped in a swinging corner. Josh Acheampong rose highest to meet it, thundering a powerful header toward goal, but it flashed just wide of the post. It was an early statement of intent, showing we meant business.

Minutes later, we had strong claims for a penalty. Ampah threaded a perfectly weighted through ball into the path of McNeilly, who drove into the box before being brought down by Amara Nallo. However, the referee waved away the appeals, much to our frustration. Still, it was another warning for Liverpool, reinforcing our attacking dominance and keeping them on edge.

The pressure mounted. Ampah was next to threaten, bursting past his markers with a determined run into the box. But Liverpool goalkeeper Harvey Davies made a crucial intervention, rushing off his line to close the angle and gather the ball before our winger could get a shot off.

Our control of the game was once again evident when Dyer and McNeilly combined brilliantly in a swift one-two as they charged towards goal. Unfortunately, Dyer couldn’t generate enough power in his shot, and the effort drifted wide. At the other end, Liverpool struggled to create any real chances. Aaron Anselmino and Samuels-Smith remained disciplined, making it difficult for the hosts to break through.

A brief stoppage came around the half-hour mark when Liverpool’s Terence Miles picked up an injury, forcing a substitution as Jonas replaced him. Moments later, the Reds had their first real sight of goal. Rio Ngumoha made his way into the penalty area and fired a close-range strike from a tight angle, but Ted Curd reacted swiftly, pushing the effort away to keep the game level.

As the first half drew to a close, we continued to dominate possession and create dangerous moments. Ronnie Stutter tried his luck from distance, but once again, Davies was equal to it.

In the final chance of the half, Dyer unleashed a venomous strike from outside the area, but the Reds' keeper was on hand to gather it confidently. Despite our control and attacking intensity, the teams headed into the break goalless.

Liverpool created the first chance after the restart. Tommy Pilling closed down Rak-Sakyi to win the ball and quickly spotted Kieran Morrison in the area. Morrison unleashed a powerful left-footed shot, but fortunately for the Blues, it sailed over the crossbar, letting us off the hook.

Clean, clinical finish

We stayed composed and quickly regained control of possession. It didn’t take long for the breakthrough to come. The move started with Brodi Hughes, who delivered a precise pass to Ampah on the wing. Ampah raced down the flank, cutting the ball back for Dyer, who calmly slotted it into the top corner, giving Chelsea a 1-0 lead.

Our goalscorer nearly doubled the advantage moments later. Dyer surged forward, firing a powerful low shot from just outside the area. But Davies reacted quickly, diving to his left to deny our midfielder a brace with a fine save.

The game grew more lively as Liverpool pressed for an equaliser. Morrison had a similar opportunity to his earlier effort, finding space to unleash a powerful shot, but once again, it sailed over the bar.

Breathing space

We quickly doubled our lead, with substitute Mheuka making an swift impact after coming on at the break. The goal came from what seemed like a perfectly rehearsed set-piece. Ampah played a short corner to Dyer, who delivered a perfectly weighted ball into the area. Our attacker leapt to meet the ball, powering a brilliant header into the back of the net, which bounced off the inside of the post, putting us 2-0 up.

The game remained in Chelsea's favour in the closing stages when Liverpool were reduced to ten men. Jonas received a second yellow card for fouling Ampah inside the area during a build-up and the referee pointed to the spot, awarding Chelsea a penalty.

Icing on the cake

McNeilly stepped up confidently to take the penalty, sending the Liverpool keeper the wrong way and firing home from the spot to put Chelsea 3-0 up. We were on fire now.

As the match wound down, we kept applying pressure, keeping Liverpool on the back foot. Rak-Sakyi delivered a whipped cross that narrowly missed the face of goal, and moments later, McNeilly met Dyer's corner with a powerful header that forced a strong save from the keeper.

We maintained our dominance in the final moments, continuing to keep Liverpool under pressure. The Blues sealed the victory, heading back to Cobham with a clean sheet and a 3-0 win.

What's next

Chelsea Under-21s will continue our Premier League 2 campaign as we host Manchester United at Kingsmeadow on Friday 21 February, with kick-off at 7pm.

Tickets are still available at our updated Academy ticket prices. Season ticket holders (both men's and women's teams), members and supporters under 20 are eligible for a free ticket. General admission for adults and seniors is priced at £4.

The teams

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Ted Curd; Brodi Hughes, Josh Acheampong, Aaron Anselmino (Landon Emenalo 61), Ishe Samuels-Smith (c); Harrison McMahon, Samuel Rak-Sakyi; Ato Ampah, Kiano Dyer, Ronnie Stutter (Shumaira Mheuka h-t); Donnell McNeilly
Unused subs: Eddie Beach, Genesis Antwi, Harrison Murray-Campbell
Scorers: Dyer 56, Mheuka 72, McNeilly pen 87
Booked: Samuels-Smith 64

Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Harvey Davies, Isaac Mabaya (Carter Pinnington 81), Terence Miles (Lee Jonas 30), Treymaurice Nyoni, Wellity Lucky, Amara Nallo, Trent Kone-Doherty, Tommy Pilling, Keyrol Figueroa (Ranel Young 71), Kieran Morrison, Rio Ngumoha (Michael Laffey 81)
Unused sub: Kornel Misciur
Booked: Jonas 37, 88, Pilling 78, Davies 87
Sent off: Jonas 88