Chelsea take advantage of Liverpool title hangover as Blues star silences Reds chants

Daily Mirror

04-05-2025

CHELSEA 3-1 LIVERPOOL: Enzo Maresca's side were given a helping hand by the new champions in their race for a Champions League spot as Liverpool had an off-day after sealing the title
Arne Slot's newly crowned champions were given a guard of honour before kick-off - but that is where the respect ended.
Chelsea were hell-bent on taking advantage of a much-changed Liverpool line-up who were well below their best at Stamford Bridge. Liverpool had certainly earned the right to party and celebrate their success after clinching their 20th title at Anfield last week.
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The Reds were handing out gifts all over the pitch with an own goal and an injury time penalty for Cole Palmer to end his 19-game drought. That probably brought the biggest cheer from the home fans as they rolled over the champions with relative ease.
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And even the travelling fans in the away end were so busy singing about titles that they did not seem to be too worried about what happened on the pitch. With the title already in the bag, Liverpool boss Slot does not owe anyone any favours but Chelsea were certainly given a big one because the victory is a huge boost for their chances of securing a Champions League spot.
It was all too easy for Chelsea who started on the front foot - Enzo Fernandez's third-minute opener was the fastest goal at Stamford Bridge since 2017 - and they never looked back. Chelsea defended well, they only briefly wobbled after Virgil van Dijk's late consolation but even that came too late to save the visitors.
Chelsea's second goal - courtesy of a bizarre own goal off Jarell Quansah - just summed it all up as Liverpool were guilty of some comical defending. The only sour note for Chelsea was Nicolas Jackson who looked very unhappy at being substituted but that felt like a small footnote by the end. They now look well capable of snatching a place in the top five.
The Liverpool fans, who battled their way to London despite chaos on the trains and Tubes, were still singing, dancing and taunting until the end as if it did not matter much anyway. 'You should have signed for the champions' they sang at Romeo Lavia as they taunted the Chelsea midfielder who chose Stamford Bridge over Anfield a couple of years ago.
Nothing much bothered them - and you can understand why. What a season they have enjoyed. Slot had promised to give everything until the end but they were below their best and Chelsea were bang at it. Slot also probably owed it to a few squad players to give them a go.
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Chelsea set the tone after just three minutes when Palmer spread a clever ball wide to Pedro Neto wide on the right who was given time and space to pick out a team-mate in the penalty box. In rushed Fernandez and the Chelsea captain had time, space and the composure to pick his shot and fire past Liverpool keeper Alisson and into the far corner.
It was a dream start for Chelsea - and they rarely looked back. Liverpool were off colour as even Mo Salah could not find his touch. Even he looked miles off. Chelsea were given breathing space after 56 minutes with Palmer heavily involved in the build-up as the England star's low cross caused chaos in the Liverpool box.
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Van Dijk went to clear but only ended up hammering the ball against fellow defender Quansah and it cannoned past Liverpool keeper Alisson for Chelsea's rather comical second goal. Liverpool pulled one back when Van Dijk headed in Alexis Mac Allister's corner but then the game got even worse for Quansah as he gifted Chelsea a penalty with a clumsy trip on Moises Caicedo - and an open invitation to Palmer end his drought.
Palmer stepped up and stroked it into the corner to complete the win.