Chelsea 3-1 Liverpool: Cole Palmer shines as Blues spice up Champions League hopes via beating out-of-sorts champions

Chelsea boosted their possibilities of qualifying for subsequent season’s Champions League as they deservedly gained 3-1 towards a much-changed Liverpool aspect nonetheless celebrating their Premier League name triumph.

After the Reds have been topped champions ultimate weekend following their win towards Tottenham Hotspur – and subsequently passed a guard of honour via the Blues prior to kick-off – Arne Slot made six adjustments to his common line-up and it confirmed.

Liverpool have been out of types, proper from the get-go as Chelsea scored from their first assault. Curtis Jones’ slip allowed the Blues to damage, with Pedro Neto crossing to Enzo Fernandez, who tucked house to make it 20 purpose involvements for the season.

Chelsea may have added to their lead prior to half-time, with Liverpool most effective having one shot on track within the opening duration. Moises Caicedo’s go inadvertently got here off the bar, whilst Noni Madueke noticed a purpose disallowed for a Nicolas Jackson offside.

The hosts endured their pressure in the second one duration and in the end were given their praise. Cole Palmer – the most efficient participant at the park – drove down the appropriate and crossed for Madueke, who went down within the space. As Virgil van Dijk attempted to transparent, he may just most effective boot the ball into Jarell Quansah and into the web.

It may have been 3 for Chelsea because the very good Palmer went on a solo run down the left and struck the interior of the submit. That saved Liverpool within the contest – and Van Dijk’s header from a nook halved the deficit to deliver nerves round Stamford Bridge.

Those nerves have been eased as Dominik Szoboszlai’s deficient go to Quansah noticed Caicedo nip in and he was once introduced down via the Liverpool centre-back. That allowed Palmer to step up and rating from the penalty spot to finish a 12-game run with out a purpose.

Chelsea’s win strikes them stage on 63 issues with fourth-placed Newcastle, who may just most effective draw at Brighton previous on Super Sunday – and Enzo Maresca’s aspect are 3 issues transparent of Nottingham Forest, who commute to Crystal Palace on Monday Night Football.

As for Liverpool, the name procession – or birthday party because it regularly seemed from the away lead to west London – continues, with the Reds web hosting second-placed Arsenal subsequent Sunday, survive Sky Sports.

WATCH: Boos on the Bridge as Liverpool get guard of honour!

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