Chelsea’s push for a UEFA Champions League finish on the Premier League table continues following a 3-1 win over newly-crowned Premier League champions, Liverpool, at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
The traditional champions’ guard of honour was carried out by Chelsea in recognition of Liverpool’s Premier League success ahead of kick-off, with Arne Slot making six changes from the side that beat Tottenham Hotspur to clinch the title at Anfield last time out.
And it was evident that Liverpool’s display lacked the usual intensity from the changes, as it took only three minutes for the first goal to arrive and it came the way of Chelsea. Enzo Fernandez arrived in the box with perfect timing to turn in a cross from Pedro Neto.
The hosts doubled their advantage in the 56th minute 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.
Arne Slot’s men had several chances to stage a comeback, but Mohamed Salah and substitute Darwin Nunez missed big chances to make them count. Then Cole Palmer, who had been the best player on the pitch then hit the post late on, before Virgil van Dijk halved the deficit with a header five minutes from time to set up a tense finale.
However, it was Palmer who wrapped up Chelsea’s win as he converted a 96th penalty after Quansah’s miserable afternoon was compounded when he brought down Moises Caicedo in the box. The strike ended Palmer’s drought, which had been a sequence of 18 games without a goal – a run stretching back to January this year.
Next up for Chelsea is a tricky trip away to Newcastle United at St James’ Park in a battle for a UCL spot, while Liverpool will take on Arsenal on Matchday 36.