Chelsea strengthened their bid for a place in next season’s Champions League with victory against newly crowned Premier League champions Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot made six changes from the side that beat Tottenham Hotspur to clinch the title at Anfield, resulting in a display lacking some of their traditional intensity until it was too late.
After giving Liverpool the traditional champions’ guard of honour before kick-off, Chelsea went on to secure a crucial win that moves Enzo Maresca’s side level on points with fourth-placed Newcastle United – who they now only trail in the table on goals scored going into their meeting at St James’ Park next Sunday.
Enzo Fernandez put Chelsea on the road to victory after only three minutes, the Argentine arriving in the box with perfect timing to steer in Pedro Neto’s cross.
Chelsea extended their advantage after 56 minutes when Cole Palmer’s run created confusion in the Liverpool box, resulting in Virgil van Dijk blasting an attempted clearance against Jarell Quansah and into his own net.
Liverpool had opportunities to play on Chelsea’s nerves, but substitute Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah both missed good chances in front of the travelling support, who spent the game celebrating the club’s 20th title triumph.
Palmer then hit the post late on, before Van Dijk headed Liverpool back into contention with a header five minutes from time.
It was Palmer who wrapped up Chelsea’s win by ending a sequence of 18 games without a goal from the penalty spot seconds from the end after Quansah fouled Moises Caicedo.
Palmer returns to form with perfect timing
Palmer’s barren run of scoring form has been behind some of the inconsistencies that have beset Chelsea’s season – but he played a pivotal role here as they pushed themselves into a strong position to reach the Champions League.
Palmer’s influence in front of goal had dried up, last hitting the target in the 2-2 home draw with Bournemouth in January.
He was involved in all three of Chelsea’s goals, playing the pass out to Neto for Fernandez’s opener then embarking on a trademark run that created chaos in Liverpool’s box – ending with Van Dijk’s clearance flying in off team-mate Quansah.
Palmer was desperately unlucky when he outsmarted Liverpool keeper Alisson to hit the post from a tight angle, but he got his opportunity with that stoppage-time penalty that eased any lingering nerves around Stamford Bridge.
It illustrated Palmer’s importance to Chelsea once more, setting up a mouth-watering game with Newcastle in seven days.
Liverpool suffer for slow start
It was perhaps predictable that Liverpool would be carrying a few cobwebs after the high of the title celebrations at Anfield, and in the end Slot’s reshaped side left themselves with too much to do at Stamford Bridge.
Liverpool were behind after three minutes, only really coming into their own after they fell two goals behind – substitute Nunez and Salah both missing big chances before Van Dijk briefly offered up the prospect of a late twist in the tale.
None of this mattered to Liverpool’s supporters, who celebrated their new status as Premier League champions throughout in their corner of Stamford Bridge, with an array of banners proudly marking their 20th title.
The next big date for Liverpool is the title trophy presentation at Anfield on the final day of the season, when they host Crystal Palace.
There was no shortage of effort but, perhaps understandably, the usual spark was missing after all the emotional and physical intensity of the win against Spurs that was greeted with such joy.
BBC
