Blues fans have been voting over the last week in a series of polls, as the eight shortlisted goals went head-to-head in a series of knock-out rounds, to determine which player receives the last of our end-of-season awards, joining Men's Player of the Year Mason Mount, Women’s Player of the Year Sam Kerr and Academy Player of the Year Harvey Vale on the club’s roll of honour in 2022.

The final vote saw supporters choosing between Kovacic’s strike against Liverpool and Harvey Vale’s effort for our Under-18s in an FA Youth Cup tie with Blackpool, resulting in an overwhelming victory for Mateo, who received 88 per cent of the votes. He had previously beaten competition from Hakim Ziyech and Antonio Rudiger in the first two rounds of polls.

The Croatian’s goal was certainly a worthy winner. He may not be a player often associated with finding the net, as this was the most recent of four he has scored in as many seasons with the Blues, but it was one which showed his technique and improvisation, as well as sparking a quickfire comeback from two down to draw 2-2 with Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.

When Marcos Alonso’s free-kick was punched clear of the box by the goalkeeper, Kovacic did brilliantly backpedalling to meet flight of the ball, before looping a first-time volley perfectly over the crowd of bodies and in off the inside of the right-hand post.

However, it was the importance of the goal in securing a memorable point at the Bridge which pleased the Croatian most.

‘That goal was very nice and of course one of the most beautiful goals in my career. I have to say there was a little bit of luck involved because it went in off the post, but I was happy to score,’ said the ever-humble Kovacic after the game.

‘We showed great character to come back after conceding two goals. It was one of the best atmospheres I have experienced in Stamford Bridge, to be honest, because when I scored the people really got up. Then two minutes later Christian [Pulisic] scores and it was an explosion. It was a really nice moment to be involved in such a great game.’

Kovacic becomes the 11th different player to win the Chelsea Goal of the Season award since it began in 2007 and the second to receive it for a strike against Liverpool in the last four years, along with Eden Hazard in 2019.

Chelsea Goal of the Season roll of honour2007 – Michael Essien v Arsenal (A)2008 – Juliano Belletti v Tottenham Hotspur (H)2009 – Michael Essien v Barcelona (H)2010 – Ashley Cole v Sunderland (H)2011 – Ramires v Manchester City (H)2012 – Ramires v Barcelona (A)2013 – Oscar v Juventus (H)2014 – Lewis Baker v Arsenal Under-21s (A)2015 – Oscar v Queens Park Rangers (H)2016 – Eden Hazard v Tottenham Hotspur (H)2017 – Eden Hazard v Arsenal (H)2018 – Willian v Brighton & Hove Albion (A)2019 – Eden Hazard v Liverpool (A)2020 – Fikayo Tomori v Wolverhampton Wanderers (A)2021 – Olivier Giroud v Atletico Madrid (A)2022 - Mateo Kovacic v Liverpool (H)