As Liverpool suffered a hangover from the Premier League at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, Chelsea increased their chances of making it to the Champions League with a 3-1 victory.
Through Enzo Fernandez’s early strike at Stamford Bridge, Enzo Maresca’s side took the lead.
Virgil van Dijk’s late reply for Liverpool came after Jarell Quansah’s own goal in the second half.
The champions only suffered their third league defeat of the season when Cole Palmer scored in stoppage-time.
After winning a record-equalling 20th English title last weekend with a 5-1 victory over Tottenham, lacklustre Liverpool had little to play for. Chelsea had every motivation to win a priceless three points.
The Blues are currently in fifth place, one point ahead of fourth-placed Newcastle, who hope to reclaim the Champions League with a top-five finish after drawing at Brighton 1-1 earlier on Sunday.
If they defeat Crystal Palace on Monday, Nottingham Forest will share the lead with 63 points with Chelsea and Newcastle.
With three games to go, the top five rivalry will have a thrilling conclusion, leaving Manchester City, who are currently third, one point clear of Chelsea.
Chelsea return to action on Thursday in the second leg of their UEFA Conference League semifinal against Djurgardens, with a 4-1 lead over Djurgardens expected to bring them to the final of Maresca’s tenure.
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Liverpool’s only other victories in a merry-making league season came against Fulham in April and Nottingham Forest in September.
Arne Slot’s men played as though the title party had rendered them groggy on yet another unsuccessful trip to west London.
When the Reds entered the pitch before kick-off, Chelsea’s players gathered to give Liverpool a guard of honor.
Lethargic Liverpool
Large sections of the Chelsea fanbase booed as Liverpool made their entrance, but the gesture of respect didn’t go down well with them.
After Slot rested Luis Diaz, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Andrew Robertson, and Ibrahima Konate, a much-changed lineup emerged through the divisive welcome.
Liverpool supporters chanted “champions” and waved banners with references to their 20 titles in one Stamford Bridge corner as they celebrated their new status.
Chelsea opened the scoring in just three minutes when Fernandez was picked out by Pedro Neto’s cross and the unmarked Argentine midfielder slotted home from eight yards with Liverpool’s defense disorganized.
Moments later, when Noni Madueke danced through the Reds back four with ease and was inches away from double-dotting Chelsea’s advantage, he scuffed his shot just wide of the far post.
After a risky raid, Neto fired narrowly wide after Nicolas Jackson’s cross slammed off the crossbar.
In the 56th minute, Maresca’s men struck once more in an odd manner.
Palmer slammed past Madueke for a low cross before the Liverpool goalkeeper.
Van Dijk quickly made a clearance that smacked into Quansah and rebounded into the net during the subsequent scramble.
Before Palmer hit the post as Chelsea turned the screw, Alisson Becker made a good save from Jadon Sancho.
Robert Sanchez was gifted a header in the 85th minute by Van Dijk.
With the penalty converted by Palmer for his first goal since January, Quansah tripped Moises Caicedo, who had already lost in a close game.
Source: Channels TV
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