At the fourth time of asking, Levi Colwill finally got one over on Liverpool as a Chelsea player on Sunday.
And the 3-1 victory at Stamford Bridge saw him finally beat Virgil van Dijk almost two years on from a particularly awkward encounter with the Reds icon. Colwill, 22, played the full 90 minutes as Enzo Maresca's men bagged three decisive points to keep themselves in the hunt for Champions League qualification.
And recently crowned Premier League champion Van Dijk had a day he would perhaps sooner forget despite his consolation goal having conceded three at Stamford Bridge, including an own goal he forced, as well as picking up a booking along the way.
It was back in January 2023 that Colwill managed to beat Liverpool in his first senior meeting with the Merseysiders while on loan at Brighton. However, Sunday's result was the first time he had managed to emerge on top of the fixture while Van Dijk was on the other side of the field.
And the Southampton native will have had a target painted on his back after not getting off to the smoothest of starts in their rivalry. That was after Colwill antagonised his opposite number with a two-word taunt while making his Chelsea debut in August 2023.
"I remember marking him in the box," he told TNT Sports last year. "He said something to me and I might have told him to shut up, accidentally.
"He looked at me like, 'Who is this little boy?' I thought, 'Ahh I've just disrespected him.' But that is what it is, my bad. It was [crazy]. I was just looking at him thinking I want to be like that or better when I'm older if I could, but he's a baller."
Levi Colwill celebrates after Chelsea's victory over Fulham
Colwill's first run-in with Van Dijk as a Chelsea player wasn't as smooth as he'd have liked (Image: Jacques Feeney/Offside)
Chelsea held Liverpool to a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge on that occasion after Axel Disasi cancelled out Luis Diaz's opener. Colwill again played the entire 90 minutes in west London, meaning he remains undefeated in three meetings with the Reds while his team is hosting.
Granted, Maresca's side were playing against a Liverpool team dotted with changes from Arne Slot on Sunday. Hot on the heels of having their second Premier League title confirmed, the Reds boss handed starts to the likes of Harvey Elliott, Wataru Endo, Kostas Tsimikas, Jarell Quansah and Curtis Jones in the capital.
Not that anything should be taken away from their hosts as Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez converted, along with a Quansah own-goal. The result keeps the Blues fifth in the Premier League for the time being, though Nottingham Forest can climb back above the Blues if they win at Crystal Palace on Monday evening.
As the scoreline would suggest, Colwill enjoyed the superior day at the office when compared with Van Dijk. Trevoh Chalobah was the standout performer in defence for Chelsea, though Colwill impressed all the same as he won 100% of his tackles, completed 89.8% of his passes and contributed five clearances.
Virgil van Dijk celebrates scoring for Liverpool
Van Dijk has never managed to beat Colwill at Stamford Bridge (Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
In another timeline, Colwill might have found himself playing alongside Van Dijk, rather than against him, this season. That's after the Reds were reportedly interested in signing the versatile defender, only for Chelsea to ward off any suitors and keep hold of the star.
The 22-year-old is still hoping to recapture the form that first made him a top-flight hit while on loan at the Amex Stadium. That being said, he has nonetheless become a key feature of the bedrock at the back for Chelsea, which has seen them leak just 41 goals in the league this term.
While he may regret how he went about his first run-in with Van Dijk, Sunday's result gives Colwill somewhat more sway in their rivalry. And it sets the stage for another rowdy reunion next term, when Chelsea will hope to be the ones giving Slot's side a run for Premier League honours.
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Chelsea flag prior the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg One match between Chelsea FC and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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