Chelsea Hit Seven, Liverpool Held
England's European night brought a storm in Graz, a draw at Anfield and a derby win for United — the flag is flying, but not at full mast.
“Seven is a statement,” said a Chelsea voice in the away end at the finish, and nobody in Graz was arguing. Sportklub Sturm Graz 0-7 Chelsea — read it again. Marcelo Formicola helped himself to a hat-trick, and the champions of England took a tired squad to Austria and turned a tricky night into a procession. Dimario's men have been flattening everything at home, unbeaten in the league, and now they have carried it onto the continent. That is how you fly a flag.
Liverpool could not match it. A 1-1 draw with Real Madrid at Anfield is no disgrace — Madrid are Madrid — but the old ground wanted a statement and got a handshake. Eddie Melia, once of Chelsea, wore red and will know his side let the night drift. The club spent years as a top-three force and the Champions League is where they measure themselves; one point against the Spanish side leaves the job half done.
Manchester United got the win that mattered, 1-0 against Everton, and a derby settled by the single goal is a sweet one. It will not live long in the memory like Graz, but it is a win, and United's supporters will take it.
So two wins, one draw, one defeat across four games. Chelsea carried England on their shoulders; Liverpool and United did enough to stay standing. Everton, beaten by their neighbours, have the sorest morning.
What comes next is the grind — the group table tightens, and the fixture list does not care for tired legs. Chelsea look the side built for it. The rest have work to do.