It was all going alright for Chelsea until a long, searching ball on the stroke of half-time from Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson led to the defining moment of the game.
Chelsea centre-back Andreas Christensen hauled down Sadio Mané to leave the Blues a man down and facing an uphill task after the break.
Mané would prove instrumental with a brace of goals, with his second coming after yet another gaffe from struggling goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Chelsea were handed a lifeline when Reds debutant Thiago Alcântara was adjudged to have clipped Timo Werner in the penalty area.
But Jorginho’s tame effort from the spot summed up a sad afternoon at Stamford Bridge for Frank Lampard’s men.