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By HARRY BAMFORTH and DANIEL DAVIS and OLIVER HOLT AT STAMFORD BRIDGE and KIERAN GILL AT STAMFORD BRIDGE and LEWIS STEELE AT STAMFORD BRIDGE Published: 00: 00 AEST, 5 May 2025 | Updated: 04: 15 AEST, 5 May 2025 367 View comments Relive Mail Sport's live blog for the latest score, team news and updates as Chelsea welcome recently crowned Premier League champions Liverpool to Stamford Bridge.   What a day for Chelsea, eh? The race for the Champions League spots just keeps getting tastier, and tastier, and I absolutely love it. It almost feels like a title race, every game for the five involved feels like it's a must-win - there is no room for slip-ups. Chelsea knew that was the case coming into today, and you could see that they meant business right from minute one. Following a guard of honour for the champions, Liverpool, Chelsea were quick to show them that all respect went out the window at the first whistle. Within three minutes, Enzo Fernandez put the Blues in front, and they just never looked back. The 3-1 win means that Chelsea now sit fifth, three points clear of sixth-placed Nottingham Forest, who play tomorrow. Meanwhile, Liverpool will probably forget this day even happened and get right back to partying. Right, I need to dash now, it's been a long ol' weekend. Thank you or joining me for it; it's been great fun having you along for the ride. I will see you all very soon. I have already taken in a lot of reaction to this game, and everybody seems to be laughing at the Liverpool performance. I mean, it was pretty shocking. Many have said it's what you would 'come to expect' from a team that have just been crowned champions. And well, that's not strictly true. Liverpool are only the fourth team to lose their first league game after they were crowned Premier League champions. They are also one of the other three, as well, getting battered 4-0 by Manchester City in their first game as champions five years ago. I doubt they will be that bad against Arsenal next week, mind. Arne Slot, Liverpool manager, speaking to Sky Sports: On the fringe players starting: Jamie Redknapp, former Liverpool midfielder, speaking to Sky Sports: That win must feel good for a multitude of reasons. There's the obvious reason, the fact that it helps Chelsea in their fight to secure Champions League football. But away from that, it must just be nice for the Blues to get one over Liverpool. The Reds have tormented them these last few years, in both the Premier League and in domestic finals at Wembley. Today was Chelsea's first victory over Liverpool since March 2021, ending a run of 10 games without a win against the Reds in all competitions. About time, eh? Cole Palmer, Chelsea goalscorer, on Sky Sports: It was about time, eh? I bet when Moises Caicedo was taken out by Jarrel Quansah in the last minute, Cole Palmer must have celebrated like he had scored already. He knew he was going to get the chance to. It's weird because in the past, I would always be certain Palmer was going to score a penalty, but with his form recently, I genuinely wasn't sure if he would. Well, he did, and in some style, too. With that penalty, Palmer ended a run of 1, 162 minutes without a goal in the Premier League, with his penalty his first since January against Bournemouth. He had the most shots (5), created the most chances (4), made the joint-most passes ending in the final third (13), and had the joint-most touches in the opposition box (8) of any Chelsea player in today’s win over Liverpool. The Chelsea man was well and truly back to his best today. Roy Keane, former Man United midfielder, on Sky Sports: I wonder what was going through Cole Plamer's mind as he stepped up to that spot. He must have really felt the weight of the three goalless months before this one. It's been a long time since he last found the back fo the net. But you wouldn't be able to tell with this penalty, just look at how he picks his spot and buries it. The cherry on top of the perfect day for Chelsea. It looks like the week-long lash had its effects. You just knew from the moment that Arne Slot made a bunch of changes that today would be tough for Liverpool. They barely caused Chelsea any problems today. yes, they had a lot of the ball, but it took until the 65th minute for them to do anything with it. While many will say the players won't care because they are champions, that's a load of rubbish. That defeat will still hurt. Liverpool won't just want to lose every game before the end of the season, but if they play like that, they might just. I'm sure they will get over it, though. Maybe they will drown away those sorrows with a few more beers and restart the celebrations. Doesn't sound like the worst idea to me. Boy, did Chelsea need that. With Nottingham Forest dropping points in the week, and Newcastle drawing earlier, the Blues knew they had to win. Now, they may have gotten the luck of facing a Liverpool side who won the league last week, and are on the beach. However, you have to beat what's in front of you. They came out of the traps fast, kept Liverpool largely at bay, and took their chances when they came. Chelsea now sit fifth on the same points as Newcastle in fourth, and just one behind Manchester City in third. The race for Champions League footie is really hotting up. A massive win for Chelsea! It may have been a dead rubber for Liverpool, and you could tell by the way they played, but it was the opposite for the Blues. It was a must-win for Enzo Maresca's side in the race for Champions League football, and they won it at a relative canter. The champions must still have sore heads from all that partying. Cole Palmer finally ends his goal drought! For the first time since January, Palmer wheels away in celebration after scoring a goal. Alisson guesses the right way, but the pace on the penalty is too much for the Brazilian, and the ball nestles in the bottom corner. Boy, did he need that. Jeez, Jarell Quansah really is having a stinker. .. He scored an own goal earlier, and with just a minute to go he hands Chelsea the chance to clinch it. Moises Caicedo catches him napping and nips in front of the centre-back to get to the ball. Quansah takes him out, and the penalty is given. The Liverpool fans are currently rolling out their new chant for manager Arne Slot. It's called the 'Slot bounce'. Do you remember the Dutch fans bouncing about in Euro 2024? Well, it's along to that tune. A banger. Something tells me they aren't bothered about losing. Liverpool have five minutes to find a leveller here. But quite frankly, they don't look like getting one. That goal has sprung Chelsea back into life. If anyone looks like scoring in stoppage time, it's Chelsea. Enzo Maresca has gone defensive again. The man who got this game going, Enzo Fernandez, plods off the pitch as if he has all the time in the world. Reece James then gives him a hug, takes the armband, and replaces him in the middle of the park. You can feel the nerves inside Stamford Bridge now. It's a big five minutes, and then stoppage time, as Liverpool are stepping on the gas. Just as I say that, . Chelsea launch a frightening counter-attack, but it ends with Pedro Neto blazing miles over. It's squeaky bum time. Oh, hello. .. Liverpool have an interest at last, and it's their captain who has come up with the goods. For some reason, Chelsea allow Virgil van Dijk a free run at the ball from a corner, and he just nonchalantly heads home. The celebrations are quite funny, there are almost ironic cheers from the away end, and Van Dijk just gives a cheeky smile. This game isn't over just yet. Federico Chiesa will get his Premier League winners' medal after all. Arne Slot mentioned it before the match, and now he has, in fact, brought the Italian on for his fifth appearance of the season. That's enough to get a medal. Kostas Tsimikas is the player who makes way for the tricky winger. Can he make an impact? Oh, Cole Palmer. .. You can't get any closer to scoring a goal than that, and it's so nearly a stunning solo strike. Palmer elegantly drifts around red bodies down the left and to the byline before hitting the post from the tightest of angles. Will he ever score again? That's a brilliant save from Alisson. For what feels like the first time since their goal, Chelsea find a way to carve the Liverpool defence open. The ball is shifted all the way over to Jadon Sancho, who looks set to score, but Alisson rushes to and thwarts his effort. And that is why he is the best goalkeeper in the world. Enzo Maresca is trying to shore things up now. Romneo Lavia has been the best player on the pitch today, I'd argue. He has run the midfield battle. And now Maresca decides to take him off, with Stamford Bridge giving him a standing ovation. Some performance. It just isn't Liverpool's day! That is by far their best chance of the match as Kostas Tsimikas picks out Mohamed Salah at the back post. The winger gets his head to the ball and tries to send it back where it came from, but it flashes wide. Close, but not close enough. It's all Liverpool now, but I'd still say Chelsea look the likelier of the two to score next. Every time the Reds make a mistake, the Blues are on them in a flash and get on the counter. Liverpool could play another 75 minutes and not score. Now it's Chelsea's turn to make a change. It has not been Nicolas Jackson's best day by any stretch of the imagination; he has been a little off it. And well, now he is being taken off as Jadon Sancho is on to replace him. That's a brilliant tackle from Trevoh Chalobah! Liverpool are really knocking at the door now, and Darwin Nunez looks as if he is through. The striker tries to shrug off XChalobah as he enters the area, but the Chelsea man does well to kick the ball onto the striker and Robert Sanchez can collect. Great defending. Here come the big guns. Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have had their rest, and now they have been summoned. Wataru Endo has put in a decent shift, but his first start of the season comes to a close. Harvey Elliott is also hooked. Oh, Darwin Nunez. .. you have to score there. It's an absolute shocker from the striker, to be honest, how he doesn't even get an effort on target there, I will never know. Mohamed Salah whips in a teasing cross, and the Uruguayan has a free header six yards out. But he skews it miles wide. Romeo Lavia thinks he is playing rugby for a second. He puts in a beautiful tackle on Mohamed Salah, wrapping his arms around the winger before taking him down. Great technique. The problem is, he is playing football, and you can't do that. Liverpool now have a free-kick in Trent Alexander-Arnold territory. But oh wait, he's not on the pitch and Harvey Elliott's effort is pants. Well, they have had a shot now. Virgil van Dijk is allowed a free header from a corner, but he doesn't make the most of it. There are soon Ironic cheers from the home fans as the ball plops over the bar. Not his finest header. My goodness, it's almost like Liverpool have forgotten how to play football. They mess about with the ball at the back again, and Nicolas Jackson is allowed to have a crack. Alisson is equal to it, but the Reds need to be careful, or they will get battered here. I can't remember the last time they had a shot. Arne Slot has had enough now; he is switching things up. Conor Bradley and Darwin Nunez enter the action, while Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota make way. Meanwhile, Jarell Quansah's day gets worse as he goes into the book. What the hell just happened there? It's an absolute calamity at the back for Liverpool, and it ends with Jarell Quansah scoring an own goal. Cole Palmer rinses Kostas Tsimikas down the right and puts the ball into the danger zone. It then gets a bit chaotic before Virgil van Dijk canons a clearance off of Quansah, and it bounces into the net. As ugly a goal as you will ever see. Like London buses, they say? The yellow card is back out for the second time in a matter of minutes, this time in the direction of Trevoh Chalobah. He gets done by Curtis Jones and just decides to hang onto his shirt, rather than let him go. Always a booking, so I have no idea why he is now moaning. We have our first yellow card of the game. It's not often you see Virgil van Dijk go into the referee's book, but he does here for a challenge on Romeo Lavia. It's a 50/50 challenge as they both rush toward the ball, but Lavia reacts slightly quicker. Van Dijk leaves a rather nasty one on him. Oh my word, he's done it again. Noni Madueke drops his shoulder and absolutely rinses Trent Alexander-Arnold on the left flank. The less said about his pass at the end of the dribble, though, the better. Noni Madueke should apply for Strictly Come Dancing. Honestly, the way he just danced through the Liverpool side there was quite divine. I'd give it an eight, maybe even a nine. The finish from Nicolas Jackson, though, was not worthy of the run that preceded it. It's just more of the same in the second half, so far. Liverpool are knocking the ball about but with no real intent; it's just far too pedestrian. While the Champions may have all of the ball, they don't look likely to cause any problems at all. Again, it's not very fun to watch. I wonder what Arne Slot said in the break there? I wonder if they all had a chuckle and a beer while they enjoy their first game as champions. Or did Slot give them a rollicking for not turning up? To be honest, it was probably neither of those things. If it were the first, though, that would be funny. Anyway, the teams are back out and we are back underway. Daniel Sturridge, former Chelsea and Liverpool striker, on Sky Sports: Chelsea don't often start fast. The Blues are usually like s slow cooker, they take a while to get going, but when they do, they play some great stuff. Well, today it only took them a matter of minutes to find their groove. Enzo Fernandez's strike was the first time Chelsea have scored within the opening three minutes of a Premier League game at Stamford Bridge since December 2017 against Stoke via Antonio Rüdiger. Off to a flyer. If anybody wanted to know whether Liverpool would be in good shape for this game or not, well, we got our answer inside three minutes. Cole Palmer carved them open like a bread knife through a baguette, with Curtis Jones getting sent for a hot dog in the process. The build-up was lovely, the cross was lovely, and the finish was lovely. It was all lovely. The only real bit of quality we have seen today. And there is the whistle. .. The champions are behind at Stamford |Bridge after Enzo Fernandez's early strike. Other than that goal, very little has happened in west London; it was a very forgettable 45 minutes. Let's hope for better after the break. I am surprised they even managed to muster one minute of stoppage time, I can't lie. Just blow the whistle, ref. Noni Madueke has the ball in the net, but the flag is up. The winger is so far offside that he is practically in another postcode when the ball comes his way. He may even be in Craven Cottage. Madueke does round Alisson beautifully before tapping home, but even he knows he is well off. Finally, a chance I can write about. About blooming time. Pedro Neto decides he is bored with all the passing and just decides to drive at the Liverpool defence. He takes Kostas Tsimikas on, makes his way to the edge of the box, and then drills the ball toward the bottom corner. But his effort hits the side-netting. Come on guys, do something. I feel like I am watching a training session here, like some passing drills or something. Chelsea are doing nothing. Liverpool are doing nothing. That's all this is, nothing. It can only get better, surely. This isn't the best game of footie, it has to be said. Chelsea may be winning, but they haven't exactly been that good. They're just lucky Liverpool haven't been either. The chances are really few and far between in this one, and I'm getting a little bored. Oh well, half-time isn't far away. Noni Madueke is rinsing the Liverpool backline, my word He seems to have them all on toast, and he dances around them with the help of Marc Cucurella before having an effort blocked. The ball then bounces to Moises Caicedo, and you think the danger is gone, but he somehow digs out a cross, and it hits the bar. What a goal that would have been. Chelsea finally manage to get of their own half. Liverpool lose the ball high up the pitch, and suddenly Cole Palmer is driving down the left flank. Jarell Quansah follows him all the way into the penalty box before putting the ball behind for a corner. It just shows how dangerous Chelsea are on the counter. Harvey Elliott looks miles off it today, I have to say. This is a chance for him to prove to Arne Slot that he should start more, but he is doing quite the opposite. His touch has been dreadful, and he very nearly mucks up a very nice attacking move from Liverpool. Elliott needs to sharpen up here. Liverpool are starting to ramp up the pressure. They are even managing to knit together some nice moves and they work the ball really well to Wataru Endo in the box. But the Japanese midfielder just can't get the ball across the area once he gets to it. Good footie, though. Oh, Mohamed Salah. .. It's not often you see the Egyptian King take a poor touch in the penalty box, is it? Well, Trent Alexander-Arnold hammers a ball to his feet, but Salah can't keep it under, and the ball cannons off his boot and goes for a goal kick. All Salah can do is smile. It doesn't feel as though the Liverpool fans give a single care about the fact they are losing. The away end are rattling through their songbook like no tomorrow, while the home crowd is practically silent. I guess, when you have won the league, nothing else matters. OK, Liverpool's spell of pressure was just fleeting. Chelsea have wrestled full control of this game now, and are knocking it about with confidence. They do look like they have their swagger back now, compared to when I have watched them play recently. That early goal has helped a lot. Chelsea are getting a lot of joy down that right. Pedro Neto is causing all sorts of problems when he gets on the ball, and yet again, he plays a lovely ball into the box. Enzo Maresca looks to run onto it again, but his header plops quite comfortably over the bar. Liverpool have most definitely woken up. You know when you are feeling groggy after a night out, but slowly, after a few waters, you feel better. That's what this performance seems like. The visitors are seeing a lot of the ball, but you do worry about them at the back today. Chelsea always look a threat when running at them. Ohhhhhhh. .. Alisson, you lucky, lucky boy. The Brazilian goalkeeper comes flying out of his box as Nicolas Jackosn races through one-on-one, and then spectacularly mistimes his tackle. It's a straight red if I have ever seen one, but Jackson is offside, so Alisson gets away with one. What was he thinking, though? Now, that's more like it from the visitors. Cody Gakpo is in down the left and you know exactly what he is going to do. He does his classic cut inside before being the ball toward the far corner, but Robert Sanchez is equal to it. A decent chance, that. Liverpool are just trying to calm things down now. I bet flashing through some of the players' heads is the time they got thumped 4-0 by Manchester City five years ago after winning the league. They won't want a repeat of that here. You may be the champions, but you have to show why you are the champions until the very end. My word, Liverpool need to be really careful they don't get battered here. Chelsea are really in the mood; they have the Reds worried every time they attack. Harvey Elliott loses the ball in the middle of the park, and all of a sudden Noni Madueke has Liverpool backpedalling. The winger then tries to roll the ball past Alisson, but it goes just past the post. The Blues have their tails up. OK, maybe they are hungover! That is a thing of beauty from Chelsea to carve open the newly-crowned champions. Cole Palmer gets the move underway, slides the ball over to Pedro Neto, and the winger spots Enzo Fernandez charging in. The midfielder sprints onto the ball and calmly slides the ball into the bottom corner. What a start for the Blues! This does not look like a hungover Liverpool, going by this start. The visitors come flying out of the blocks and work the ball all the way over to Mohamed Salah. The former Chelsea man tries to flash the ball across the six-yard box and cause chaos, but Robert Sanchez deals with it. A bright start from the visitors. Those boos are long gone, the Chelsea fans are now having a right old sing-song before kick-off. There is then a huge roar from all four stands as Liverpool get this crunch match underway. I have no idea how this will finish. Do you? Boos echo around Stamford Bridge, these Chelsea fans are not happy one bit. Why is that? Well, Chelsea show their respect to the newly-crowned Premier League champions by giving them a guard of honour as they enter the turf. The Blues fans are not happy with the fact they are doing it, and boo at the top of their lungs. I mean, is it really that deep? Oh, am I excited for this? It's just five minutes to go until kick-off, and I have no idea how this one is going to go. Due to the fact that Liverpool have been partying all week, and have made so many changes, it's hard to see past Chelsea. But you just never know which Blues side you are going to get. By Dan Davis Right, folks. With kick-off just a few minutes away, I'm handing over the reins to the always brilliant Harry Bamforth. Enjoy the game! By Dan Davis I've just had a look at Chelsea's remaining fixtures this season and made a slight 'ooooof' sound. Thankfully I'm by myself. After today, they face a tricky trip to Newcastle before welcoming Manchester United to Stamford Bridge. They will then round off the campaign at Nottingham Forest. That's two top-five chasers in three games - and a poor United outfit. How many points do you see them picking up? By Dan Davis It does look like the pressure has been lifted for those Liverpool players after they wrapped up the title in style last weekend. They partied and enjoyed the moment before locking back in and returning to training during the week. Arne Slot won't allow them to drop their levels - he'll want as many points as possible - but the Reds have enjoyed their warm-up. There were plenty of smiles as they were put through their paces. By Dan Davis LEWIS STEELE: Arne Slot allowed himself a few bottles of beer to celebrate Liverpool winning the Premier League last Sunday – but had to restrain from an old-fashioned knees-up as he needed to be in tip-top shape Monday morning. The reason? It was his wife Mirjam's birthday. He could not be hungover for that as he was taking her and the kids, Joep and Isa, out for lunch before they all headed back to their home in Zwolle. Slot Jrs were back to school on Tuesday and, in many ways, the Liverpool manager was also back to business. Officially it was another day off but he took a trip to Anfield to pick up his car with his right-hand man Sipke Hulshoff and took a picture of the new-look ‘20’ sign in the tunnel. He was also on the phone. Talking to famous faces like Jurgen Klopp and old pals back in Holland – Slot is now one of the very elite coaches in world football but is a humble chap who never forgets his roots and replied to every congratulatory message he received. You can read the full Mail+ piece via the link below. By Dan Davis Ouch. Enzo Maresca didn't hold back in an interview with Sky Sports. He claimed his Chelsea side are currently 'not good enough' to play a transitional style, saying the approach has led to their 'worst moments'. Here are his full comments. What do you make of them? By Dan Davis Big goal. Big, big, big goal. Newcastle drew level late on to take a point at Brighton, and that has huge ramifications for Chelsea and this game at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea would need to win by three goals or more to move into fourth. This Champions League race is really hotting up. My word. By Dan Davis Gary Neville believes Chelsea should avoid sacking Enzo Maresca if they miss out on the top five - and says he's done a good job. Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: By Dan Davis As it stands, Newcastle are losing 1-0 to Brighton, so a win for Chelsea would push them up into fourth place, one point ahead of the Magpies. Liverpool, of course, have already romped home to the title but three points for them would increase the gap to Arsenal to 18 points. That would be an absolute chasm. By Dan Davis Somewhat surprisingly, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk have both kept their places at Stamford Bridge despite the title being wrapped up. It's a statement of intent from Arne Slot. He wants more wins. Expect Salah to be at the races, by the way. He's just one goal or assist from equalling the record for the most goal involvements in a Premier League season. By Dan Davis Arne Slot said he would rotate - and boy was he true to his word. He has made no less than six changes from the side that beat Tottenham and secured the Premier League title last time out. Kostas Tsimikas and Jarrel Quansah are in at the back with Ibrahima Konate and Andy Robertson both on the bench. It's an entirely different midfield three. Wataru Endo, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott have all been recalled. Up top, Diogo Jota replaces Luis Diaz. By Dan Davis Chelsea have named the same side that beat Everton last week. Robert Sanchez picked up a knock and missed the win against Djurgarden in mid-week, but he is back between the sticks today. Christopher Nkunku has missed out on the squad altogether after suffering a minor issue during a training session. Can Cole Palmer finally end that lengthy goal drought? By Dan Davis The signs are certainly good for the champions. Liverpool are unbeaten in their last six league visits to Stamford Bridge and have lost just one of their 10 games there in the top-flight. Enzo Maresca will hope that solid run comes to an end today. As you can see, the Reds are in town nice and early ahead of kick-off. By Dan Davis Enzo Maresca confirmed Chelsea will give Liverpool a guard of honour when they walk out of the tunnel ahead of kick-off this evening. But he also challenged his players to close the gap on the champions. 'I think the gap is there, you can see it clearly, ' he said. 'My feeling is that we are in the right direction and hopefully this gap can be closed. 'The difference has been probably that they have been consistent compared to us. 'Also in terms of experience, players that know how to win games, I think they have something more compared to us. 'I don't think we need that to understand how good it is to win the Premier League. We know that it's something very nice. 'But for sure when you are there, probably in their mind (the players) are thinking "I would like one day to be there". ' By Dan Davis That's all she wrote, folks. The Premier League title is done and dusted with Liverpool deservedly crowned champions after ripping apart Tottenham last week. They've been superb this season and can look forward to that trophy lift at a packed Anfield later this month. But they're not done yet. There are still four more games to go until they can sign off, starting at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea desperately need all three points to keep hold of a Champions League spot - and to quiet the grumbles from the stands. We'll have all the team news and updates right here - so stay tuned. United lost again

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