Chelsea bolstered their Champions League hopes with an impressive 3-1 victory over newly crowned Premier League champions Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.
The result lifts the Blues to 63 points, putting them level with Newcastle United in fourth place as the race for a top-five finish intensifies.
Enzo Maresca’s side bounced back from their earlier 2-1 defeat at Anfield with a composed and clinical display.
Enzo Fernandez opened the scoring with a precise finish, before a Jarell Quansah own goal doubled Chelsea’s advantage. Cole Palmer calmly converted a penalty to seal the win, continuing his fine form in front of goal.
Although Liverpool reduced the deficit, the damage was already done in what was their first match since securing the Premier League title.
Chelsea manager Maresca praised Arne Slot’s side, stating that Liverpool fully deserve their title triumph.
The victory not only avenges Chelsea’s narrow loss earlier in the season but also gives them vital momentum as the season draws to a close.
“I really think that Liverpool deserve to win the Premier [League]. First of all because they have been consistent. Second of all because they had consistently the [whole] squad available, something that unfortunately the rest [of the teams] have not,” said Maresca.
“Today again they show the reason why the have won the Premier League. We did not plan, I promise you, the game to defend deep. We plan the game to high press in the way we always [do] but sometimes the opposition is so good that you have to defend deep and you have to adapt and the players dealt with that very good.
“They are all going to be tough but now you have to go game-by-game and the reason why the staff, the coaching staff, the players at the end are so happy, even the fans, is because at this stage of the season you need to win games and for sure, today probably the environment was the best environment of this season with the fans, this is what we need every game, fantastic. It is so good.
“We go game-by-game for sure. Today the performance has been a good performance, especially for the effort of the players. I think we have for sure some moments a little bit been up and down for part of the season but overall I am happy in the way the players are trying to do their job.”
