Cole Palmer was the creative heartbeat for Chelsea as they beat an out-of-sorts Liverpool to boost their chances of ending the season in a Champions League qualifying spot.
The England playmaker played a part in all three goals as Chelsea moved on to 63 points, level with Newcastle and just one behind third-placed Manchester City.
Enzo Fernandez got the first for the Blues after three minutes with Jarell Quansah’s second-half own goal doubling their advantage. Virgil Van Dijk pulled one back for Liverpool with five minutes to go but the champions conceded again via a Palmer penalty in stoppage time to suffer just their third league defeat of the season.
Fernandez strikes early
Liverpool lacked their usual fluency in the early stages as their much-changed side struggled to gel and it was no surprise when the home side struck with their first attack of note.
Clever play in midfield from Palmer created space down the right for Neto and his cut-back was perfect for Fernandez to control and then fire past Alisson.
Chelsea are ahead inside three minutes! 💢
Enzo Fernandez finesses the ball into the bottom corner 🔵 pic.twitter.com/l6yKV26IhT
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 4, 2025
Noni Madueke could’ve made it 2-0 two minutes later but held on to the ball too long when he had options right and left and the chance was gone.
Liverpool rode their luck again after 10 minutes when Alisson came charging out of his goal and clattered into Nicolas Jackson with the Senegal striker through on goal. The Reds goalkeeper would surely have seen red had it not been for the assistant referee raising his flag for offside.
Liverpool had offered little going the other way but carved out an opportunity after 21 minutes but, following good work from Wataru Endo, Mohamed Salah mis-controlled in the area when a better touch would have given him time to shoot on goal.
Salah was wasteful again two minutes later with the Egyptian allowing the ball to escape his clutches in the area having been played in by Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Neto was causing Kostas Tsimikas problems down Chelsea’s right side and the winger came close after 43 minutes, cutting inside the Greek left-back before firing in a shot that flew into the sidenetting.
Quansah and Van Dijk cause their own problems
Chelsea arguably deserved a second goal and it duly arrived via an unusual source 11 minutes after the restart.
Palmer weaved into the area with his low cross causing confusion. Van Dijk’s hurried clearance crashed straight into Quansah with the ball ricocheting into his own net.
A Jarell Quansah own goal doubles Chelsea’s lead! 🫣 pic.twitter.com/fLCvzxHs2k
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 4, 2025
Liverpool looked all at sea but they did respond well to going two goals behind.
Van Dijk could have redeemed himself but headed a corner over the bar when well placed while substitute Darwin Nunez was denied by some brilliant defending from Levi Colwill when it seemed he was set to halve the deficit.
Slot sends for the big guns
Sensing a shift in momentum, Reds boss Arne Slot sent on regular starters Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai. Salah remained on but Liverpool’s top scorer was having an afternoon to forget and he fluffed another presentable opportunity with 13 minutes to go, heading Tsimikas’ inviting cross wide from close range.
Chelsea were playing on the break but it almost paid dividends with Enzo Maresca’s men twice coming close to adding a third.
First, substitute Jadon Sancho was denied by a smart stop from Alisson before Palmer almost caught out the Brazilian goalkeeper with a piece of wonderful skill.
The former Manchester City forward got to the byline and with Alisson creeping off his line anticipating a cut-back, Palmer clipped one across the goal and off the far post.
“What are they doing?” 😳
Virgil van Dijk rises highest and pulls one back for Liverpool 🔴 pic.twitter.com/Z9bG0wCPzP
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 4, 2025
Van Dijk had caused Chelsea problems from set-pieces all afternoon and the Liverpool captain finally made his aerial dominance count after 85 minutes, powering home Mac Allister’s outswinging corner from the right.
It looked like Liverpool were ready to stage a grandstand finish but it never really materialised and Chelsea capitalised on another error at the back to add a third.
Some sloppy play from Szoboszlai saw the ball go loose in the Liverpool area and Moises Caicedo was first to it only to be tripped by the hapless Quansah. Palmer stepped up and made no mistake, slotting the ball to Alisson’s right and into the corner.
