Chelsea 3-1 Liverpool: Enzo Maresca’s side pass test against new champions to maintain pursuit of top-five Premier League finish
The visit of new champions Liverpool to Stamford Bridge was always going to make for a Sunday blockbuster. Chelsea needed the three points to push for a top-five finish and Champions League football next season. Liverpool didn’t become champions by making concessions. But ultimately, Enzo Maresca’s side came out deserved 3-1 winners.
The Blues started the game in the best possible manner, with Enzo Fernandez putting them ahead after brilliant work from Pedro Neto on the right. Maresca said before the match that Chelsea had “regained our momentum by winning some games”. That was obvious at times in this one. Chelsea’s clever movement at the centre of the park, while against a completely rotated Liverpool midfield, should not be underrated: it had them breezing past Arne Slot’s side for much of the game.
On the right flank, Neto was sharp and kept running at Liverpool left-back Kostas Tsimikas. It was his energetic drive that created the first goal. The home fans, who have complained heavily this season about the side’s boring performances, were more than pleased. Perhaps tellingly, there was none of the grisly possession hoarding. Instead, Maresca’s side moved with pace and purpose.
Chelsea created various other chances to double their lead. Jackson’s goal was ruled out for offside. Neto lashed a shot just slightly on the wrong side of the upright. But it was Liverpool who ultimately helped the Blues get their second, when Virgil Van Dijk kicked the ball off Jarell Quansah and beyond Alisson Becker, after good work from Cole Palmer on the right.
Early in the second half, Madueke worked hard on the left and danced into the box but Jackson scuffed the resulting shot. Then Allison saved a Jadon Sancho strike from close range. Palmer hit the upright from the byline and then was also denied by Allison when he popped up on the right edge of the box and twisted a shot toward the far post.
After sealing the Premier League title last weekend, Arne Slot would have wanted his team to come back from the celebrations firing, but the Reds looked slightly hung over for various periods. After the early Chelsea goal, Liverpool appeared to settle into the game for much of the first half, with Cody Gakpo looking particularly sharp. However, at other times they looked unsettled and struggled to remain coordinated.
Jones worked hard in midfield and Mohamed Salah had a few moments, but the attacking rhythm that won them their second-ever Premier League title never came. In the second half, Slot made a flurry of changes to try and salvage the match.
Liverpool held a lion’s share of the possession, but Chelsea were patient off the ball and accurate in their passing on the counter. Darwin Nunez characteristically headed well wide in front of goal, after Salah had delivered an inviting ball right onto the six-yard line. In the 85th minute, Van Dijk made up for his earlier error when he rose highest to thump a header beyond Robert Sanchez and into the Chelsea goal: 2-1.
Liverpool pushed for the equaliser in a thrilling endgame but Chelsea remained resolute. Then on stoppage time, Quansah gave away a penalty after a poor pass from Dominik Szoboszlai, and Palmer sent the home support into raptures.
