4 May 2025
Chelsea 3 Liverpool 1
Chelsea welcomed Premier League champions Liverpool to Stamford Bridge, still looking to secure Champions League qualification for next season. The Reds meanwhile were almost on the beach as they just fulfilled their contractual obligations despite having nothing to play for. They did get to enjoy a guard of honour from the hosts as they took to the field.
A much-changed side was put out by Arne Slot as he made six alterations from the team who beat Tottenham to secure the title. It was a lacklustre start by the visitors as they failed to track runners or be first to the ball. Chelsea came forward with Palmer, who spread it out wide with a pass to Neto. He ran at Tsimikas and Quansah before looking to cut it back into the middle.
Fernandez had made a run through the middle, completely unmarked. He took one touch to get the ball under control, before slotting it past Alisson to give The Blues an early lead. It was terrible defending from the champions. They looked like they were playing a forced kickabout on the beach when all they really wanted to do was enjoy their cocktails and sunbathe.
Moments later Alexander-Arnold lost the ball in the middle and Chelsea were on the attack again. Jackson played it into Madueke, who looked to get a shot off but dragged it wide of the far post. With news dropping this week that the full-back is leaving when his contract expires at the end of the season, Reds’ fans can expect to see someone who can actually defend in the position next campaign.
The hosts were dominating the game and create carnage in the Liverpool defence. A pass was threaded in behind them for Jackson to run onto. He looked to take it around Alisson but was upended by the advancing keeper. Fortunately for the Brazilian, the flag went up for offside to save his blushes and a potential early bath.
Maresca’s side continued pile on the pressure without really testing the Liverpool keeper. As the visitors failed to clear their lines on numerous occasions, Caicedo tried to cross from byline but sliced his effort towards goal. It looped over Alisson and clipped the top of the crossbar but, once again, it seemed the hosts had strayed offside in the build-up.
The Reds had created nothing in the final third and were looking a far cry from the side we have seen dominate the league this campaign. Chelsea, as in many games this season, just could not seem to find that second goal to give them some breathing space. As both sides headed in at the interval, Arne Slot’s team could count themselves lucky only being behind by a single goal.
After the break, it seemed the visitors had more of an urge to get forward but as one such move broke down, Chelsea countered. Jones lost the ball in a dangerous position as Palmer stole it off him. He drove into the box and looked to cut a pass back from the byline to Madueke. Endo put in a good challenge to deny the ball reaching him but as van Dijk looked to clear, things went pear-shaped.
The usually reliable defender’s clearance struck Quansah and rebounded into his own net. Stamford Bridge erupted, they didn’t care who scored it, they just wanted their second goal. This was turning into a horror show from the visitors and Jones played a big part in both incidents that led to The Blues scoring. Not a good day at the office for the scouser.
As Liverpool tried to find a way back into the game, Elliott spread it out wide to Salah. Cucurella did not seem comfortable with the Egyptian winger running at him, before he cut onto his left-foot and clipped a cross into the box. It was inch-perfect for an unmarked Nunez but, incredibly, he headed it dreadfully wide of the goal. That was the Uruguayan’s Anfield career summed up in one move.
Slot’s side were asking more questions of this Chelsea defence now. Tsimikas stood up a cross to the back post to find Salah, but his header across goal narrowly missed the far post. Despite being second best for most of this game, Liverpool could have easily been on level terms had they taken their chances created in the second half.
Sancho then combined with Palmer and as the forward ran towards the byline, he tried a cheeky shot to beat Alisson, who had gambled on cutting out the cross. It was brilliant improvisation and he was unlucky to see his effort strike the inside of the far post and come back out into play. So close to putting this game to bed for The Blues.
Liverpool forced another corner and van Dijk met it with his head to beat Sanchez and give the visitors a lifeline in this game. With seven minutes plus added time remaining in the match, there was enough time for them to get something out of this. Muted cheers greeted the goal from the away end as the Chelsea faithful fell silent.
Quansah’s dire game continued as made a half-hearted attempt to get to the ball before Caicedo. The midfielder went to ground and the referee immediately pointed to the penalty-spot. Palmer stepped up to take it and stroked it past Alisson to get his first goal since January. It put the icing on the cake for Chelsea as they took all three points.
Reds’ fans will want to see better performances between now and the end of the season, hoping this poor performance was just a mere blip. Enzo Maresca’s side now made themselves favourites to seal one of the five Champions League spots up for grabs. It is all in their own hands now, if they win their last three games, they will be playing in Europe’s elite competition next season.
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