Chelsea strengthened their hopes of securing a Champions League spot with a 3-1 victory over newly crowned Premier League champions Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. The win was crucial for Enzo Maresca’s side, who are now firmly in the race for a top-five finish.
The Blues got off to a flying start when Enzo Fernandez opened the scoring in the third minute, calmly finishing after a precise cross from Pedro Neto found him unmarked in the box. Chelsea dominated much of the first half, with Noni Madueke narrowly missing a chance to double the lead after a dazzling run through Liverpool’s defence. Nicolas Jackson also came close, hitting the crossbar, while Neto fired just wide during another threatening move.
In the second half, Chelsea doubled their advantage in unusual fashion. Cole Palmer broke into the box and delivered a low cross that caused confusion in Liverpool’s defence. Virgil van Dijk’s attempted clearance ricocheted off teammate Jarell Quansah and into the net for an own goal in the 56th minute.
Liverpool, still basking in their recent title success after a 5-1 win over Tottenham, fielded a rotated squad with several key players rested by coach Arne Slot. Despite being given a guard of honour by the Chelsea players before kickoff—a gesture met with boos from home fans—the visitors lacked intensity and struggled to respond.
The Reds pulled a goal back in the 85th minute through Van Dijk, who powered a header in from an Alexis Mac Allister corner. However, any hopes of a late comeback were dashed when Quansah fouled Moises Caicedo in stoppage time, and Palmer stepped up to confidently convert the penalty—his first goal since January.
Chelsea now sit level on points with fourth-placed Newcastle, with three games remaining in a tightly contested race for the top five. Meanwhile, sixth-placed Nottingham Forest could also enter the mix with a win over Crystal Palace. The Blues will next face Djurgardens in the Conference League semi-final second leg on Thursday, holding a commanding 4-1 aggregate lead.
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