Chelsea strengthen top-five push with 3-1 win over champions Liverpool
Chelsea enhanced their hopes of Champions League qualification with a confident 3-1 victory over newly crowned Premier League champions Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Enzo Fernandez opened the scoring after just three minutes, and Jarell Quansah’s own goal early in the second half gave the Blues a two-goal cushion. Virgil van Dijk pulled one back for Liverpool, but Cole Palmer’s stoppage-time penalty sealed a deserved win for Enzo Maresca’s side.
“It’s very important, especially at this stage in the season,” Maresca told Sky Sports. “I’m very impressed with the players. We didn’t plan to wait and defend deep, but they forced us to do this and it showed why they won the Premier League — they are a top side.”
The result lifts Chelsea to fifth in the table, level on points with Newcastle United, who drew 1-1 with Brighton earlier in the day. Sixth-placed Nottingham Forest could also join them on 63 points if they beat Crystal Palace on Monday. Just one point now separates Chelsea from third-placed Manchester City, with three games remaining in a tightly contested race for the top five.
Liverpool, who wrapped up a record-equalling 20th English title last weekend with a 5-1 thrashing of Tottenham, looked off the pace and rotated heavily, leaving several regulars on the bench. Arne Slot’s side had only suffered two league defeats prior to this weekend.
“A wise man once said, nothing good comes from winning a football game, and I have to agree,” Slot said. “The way we lost is more positive. We reacted after going 2-0 down and never gave up.”
Fernandez’s opener came after a precise Pedro Neto cross, and Chelsea nearly doubled their lead through Noni Madueke. The second goal arrived when Cole Palmer’s cross sparked a chaotic moment that ended with Van Dijk’s clearance cannoning off Quansah and into the net.
Van Dijk’s late header briefly gave Liverpool hope, but Palmer slotted home from the spot after Quansah fouled Moises Caicedo to end the contest.
Chelsea return to European action on Thursday with a UEFA Conference League semi-final second leg against Djurgardens, holding a 4-1 aggregate lead.
(Source: AFP)
