Chelsea kept their Champions League dream alive with a 3-1 win over newly crowned Premier League champions Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Enzo Maresca’s side made a fast start as Enzo Fernandez opened the scoring just three minutes in. Chelsea continued to press and were rewarded in the second half when a scrambled clearance by Virgil van Dijk bounced off Jarell Quansah for an own goal.
Virgil van Dijk pulled one back for Liverpool with a powerful header in the 85th minute, but Cole Palmer sealed the win with a stoppage-time penalty after Quansah brought down Moises Caicedo in the box.
Liverpool, fresh off their record-equalling 20th league title win after thrashing Tottenham last weekend, looked a shadow of themselves and suffered only their third league loss of the season. Arne Slot rested several key players, including Luis Diaz and Alexis Mac Allister, which may raise eyebrows among Chelsea’s top-five rivals.
The Reds were given a guard of honour by Chelsea before kick-off, a gesture that didn’t sit well with large parts of the home crowd who responded with boos.
Chelsea’s high intensity rattled a sluggish Liverpool side, with Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson threatening throughout. The Blues now sit fifth, level on points with Newcastle, and firmly in the race for a top-five finish with three games to go.
Chelsea turn their attention to the UEFA Conference League semi-final second leg against Djurgardens on Thursday, holding a 4-1 advantage.
Liverpool’s only other league defeats this season came against Nottingham Forest and Fulham, but they were second best again in west London, as Chelsea dealt a sharp blow to their post-title celebrations.
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