Chelsea strengthened their bid for a Champions League spot with a 3-1 victory over Liverpool, who were off the pace despite their recent Premier League title win. The Blues capitalized on a sluggish performance from the visitors, with Cole Palmer shining in the spotlight.
After Liverpool’s celebratory guard of honour at Stamford Bridge, following their title-winning performance against Tottenham, manager Arne Slot made six changes to his starting lineup. It was clear early on that the Reds weren’t at their best.
Blues Capitalize on Early Mistakes
Chelsea made the most of a mistake by Curtis Jones, whose slip allowed Pedro Neto to send a perfect ball to Enzo Fernandez. The Argentine slotted the ball home in the third minute to put the hosts ahead. This goal marked Fernandez’s 20th goal involvement of the season.
Liverpool struggled to find their rhythm in the first half, managing only one shot on target. Chelsea almost doubled their lead when Moisés Caicedo’s cross hit the bar, and Noni Madueke had a goal ruled out for an offside infringement from Nicolas Jackson.
Own Goal and Palmer’s Clinical Finish
Chelsea’s dominance continued in the second half. Cole Palmer, who was the standout performer, drove down the right before delivering a cross that found Noni Madueke in the box. Madueke was brought down by Virgil van Dijk, but as the Dutch defender attempted to clear the ball, he inadvertently struck Jarell Quansah, and the ball ricocheted into the net for an own goal.
Liverpool had a brief moment of hope when Van Dijk headed home from a corner to make it 2-1, but Chelsea quickly regained their advantage. Palmer, who had been excellent all game, earned a penalty when Dominik Szoboszlai’s poor pass was intercepted by Caicedo, who was then fouled by Quansah. Palmer confidently converted the penalty, securing his first goal in 12 matches and sealing the win for Chelsea.
Chelsea Eyeing Champions League
Chelsea’s 3-1 win brought them level on points with fourth-placed Newcastle, who drew 1-1 at Brighton. The Blues are now in a strong position to finish in a Champions League spot, three points ahead of fifth-placed Nottingham Forest.
For Liverpool, the title celebration continues, but they’ll need to quickly refocus with a match against second-placed Arsenal on the horizon.
Player Ratings:
- Chelsea:
Sanchez (6); Caicedo (8), Chalobah (7), Colwill (7), Cucurella (7); Lavia (8), Enzo (7), Palmer (9); Neto (7), Jackson (6), Madueke (8)
Subs: Sancho (6), Gusto (6), James (n/a) - Liverpool:
Alisson (6); Alexander-Arnold (5), Quansah (4), Van Dijk (6), Tsimikas (5); Endo (5), Elliott (5), Jones (5); Salah (4), Jota (5), Gakpo (5)
Subs: Bradley (6), Nunez (5), Mac Allister (6), Szoboszlai (5), Chiesa (n/a)
Palmer on Social Media Criticism:
Post-match, Palmer addressed the social media criticism he’s received after a slow goal-scoring stretch. “It gives me more fight to do well,” he said. “Social media is full of idiots, but it doesn’t bother me. I feel pride in helping the team, and today, I felt like myself.”
Maresca: ‘We Deserved the Win’
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca praised his team’s adaptability, saying, “We planned to play aggressively, but sometimes you have to defend deep against a team like Liverpool. We deserved to win today.”
Slot Reflects on Squad Rotation
Liverpool’s manager Arne Slot defended his decision to rotate his squad, saying, “These players have worked hard all season and deserve their chances. We will evaluate the squad and look to strengthen in the summer.”
Analysis: Liverpool’s Summer Plans
While Chelsea were clinical, Liverpool’s performance raised questions about the depth of their squad. With several key players struggling and Quansah’s poor performance, there are clear areas for improvement. The Reds may need reinforcements in defense, midfield, and attack.
Match Stats:
- Chelsea: 3 goals, 17 shots, 7 shots on target, 35.2% possession
- Liverpool: 1 goal, 11 shots, 2 shots on target, 64.8% possession
