Chelsea boosted their Champions League ambitions after beating newly-crowned champions Liverpool 3-1 at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Arne Slot rotated his side after last weekend’s title celebrations but they started sluggishly and found themselves trailing after just three minutes.
Cole Palmer switched play out to Pedro Neto and the winger took on the full back before firing in a low cross for Enzo Fernandez, who took a touch and finished.
The Blues then doubled their advantage after the half-time restart when Virgil van Dijk’s hurried clearance after a goalmouth scramble deflected in off Jarell Quansah.
Liverpool responded by halving the deficit through a crashing Van Dijk header from a corner but Chelsea wrapped up the points after Palmer’s stoppage-time penalty.
Mail Sport’s LEWIS STEELE and KIERAN GILL rated the players…
Chelsea boosted their Champions League bid by beating champions Liverpool 3-1
Enzo Fernandez made an early breakthrough for the Blues at a rocking Stamford Bridge
Virgil van Dijk crashed home a header from a corner but his effort proved a mere consolation
CHELSEA (4-2-3-1)
by KIERAN GILL
Robert Sanchez – 6.5
Overcame a knock to start for Chelsea. Was mainly reliant on Nunez, Salah and Co failing to finish what were good chances until Van Dijk simply nodded in a corner to set up a nervy finale.
Moises Caicedo – 7.5
Inverted from right back seamlessly. Won Chelsea their stoppage-time penalty when he had moved into midfield for the last section of the game and was fouled by Quansah. Instincts are second to none.
Trevoh Chalobah – 7
Celebration Police may issue an arrest warrant after the way he responded to some of his own interceptions, but then he did well in killing the odd Liverpool attack here, showing leadership at the back.
Levi Colwill – 6.5
Went roaming a few times which left him out of position in the first half, but Liverpool never truly capitalised on that. Have to question Chelsea’s marking for the corner they conceded from, mind.
Marc Cucurella – 7
Tasked with tying down Salah, who was booed by Chelsea fans and subdued in the first half. Did well overall as he more than played his part in securing this big win for the Blues.
Moises Caicedo inverted seamlessly from right back and his instincts are second to none
Trevoh Chalobah did well to break up several attacks and showed leadership at the back
Romeo Lavia makes such a difference when available and his pass led to the Blues’ first goal
Romeo Lavia – 8
A rare second successive start in the Premier League for Lavia, who makes such a difference when available. It was his line-breaking pass which kickstarted the move for Fernandez’s goal.
Enzo Fernandez – 7.5
Maresca has been urging Fernandez to make late charges into the box all season. We saw why after three minutes when he opened the scoring. Never stopped until his late substitution.
Pedro Neto – 7
Good ball cut back for Fernandez to score. Fooled a fair few fans into thinking he had got a goal for himself when he struck the side-netting. Went up top when Jackson was substituted.
Cole Palmer – 7.5
At last. He had gone 18 games without a goal. But not 19. He was involved in the build-up to Chelsea’s first, created their second using sheer will, and then scored their third. That will be huge for his confidence.
Noni Madueke – 7.5
Madueke was extremely positive in this match, forever looking to take on men and create chances. Scored but the goal was disallowed for Jackson being offside in the build-up.
Nicolas Jackson – 5.5
Offside way too often. His inability to stay on meant Madueke had a goal disallowed, and Alisson also avoided a red card due to him being off, too. He was miffed when subbed, but then he had not played particularly well.
Fernandez made a late charge into the box for his goal and never stopped until being rested
Palmer had gone 18 games without a goal and his penalty will be huge for his confidence
Nicolas Jackson was offside far too often and was miffed after being substituted
SUBS
Jadon Sancho (for Jackson, 72) – 6
Should have given Chelsea another goal after 79 minutes but was denied by Alisson.
Malo Gusto (for Lavia, 78) – N/A
Reece James (for Fernandez, 88) – N/A
SUBS NOT USED
Filip Jorgensen
Tosin Adarabioyo
Benoit Badiashile
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
Reece James
Tyrique George
Josh Acheampong
MANAGER
Enzo Maresca – 7
Fair play to Maresca. While many will say Liverpool were still drunk from their title celebrations, Chelsea made sure they were the better team here. The Champions League might be on.
LIVERPOOL (4-2-3-1)
by LEWIS STEELE
Alisson – 6
Could do little about Chelsea’s early opener but was saved by an offside flag when he wiped out Jackson – and almost certainly would have been sent off.
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 6
Madueke gave him a tough afternoon off the ball and he struggled to have an impact in an attacking sense.
Jarell Quansah – 6.5 (Booked)
Headlines are that he conceded an own goal and gave away a penalty but neither were his fault – unlucky to be stitched up for both. Had a pleasing performance otherwise and made some vital tackles and interceptions.
Virgil van Dijk – 7 (Booked)
A nasty challenge on Lavia saw him get needlessly booked and the captain had to mop up as Chelsea continuously got in behind. Thunderous header for 2-1.
Kostas Tsimikas – 5.5
Was ran past too easily for Chelsea’s second goal and did not contribute enough at the other end.
Jarell Quansah scored an own goal and gave away a penalty – but he was stitched up for both
Kostas Tsimikas was ran past too easily and did not contribute enough at the other end
Curtis Jones had some nice touches but could not impact the game how he sometimes does
Wataru Endo – 7
First start of the season for the cult hero and he was probably the most accomplished of the lesser-seen players to get some minutes. Put in some meaty and well-needed challenges.
Curtis Jones – 6.5
Had some nice touches but could not impact the game how he sometimes does. Liverpool’s midfield felt overrun at times.
Mohamed Salah – 6.5
Kept plugging away and came close a couple of times but perhaps did not have the service he craved.
Harvey Elliott – 6
It has been a frustrating season for Elliott to say the least – with injuries a big factor in that – but he has a chance to prove why he should play a bigger role next year. An OK performance here.
Cody Gakpo – 6.5
Looked the most likely to create something out of any Reds player with him often popping up in nice positions but just could not find the final ball.
Diogo Jota – 5
Often got bullied by Colwill and Chalobah when he had his back to goal. Has had a quiet few months and is not dangerous enough in front of goal.
Mohamed Salah kept plugging away but perhaps did not have the service he craved
Harvey Elliott has a chance to prove why he should play a bigger role next year
Diogo Jota has had a quiet few months and is not dangerous enough in front of goal
Substitutes
Conor Bradley (for Alexander-Arnold, 57min) – 6
Darwin Nunez (for Jota, 57min) – 6
Dominik Szoboszlai (for Elliott, 69min) – 6
Alexis Mac Allister (for Endo, 69min) – 6
Federico Chiesa (for Tsimikas, 82min)
Not used: Caoimhin Kelleher, Ibrahima Konate, Luis Diaz, Andy Robertson
