Chelsea vs Liverpool LIVE: Cole Palmer ends goal drought to wrap up win over Premier League champions
Chelsea 3-1 Liverpool: The Blues moved level on points with Newcastle in the race for the Champions League after claiming a massive win
Chelsea claimed a huge victory over newly crowned Premier League champions Liverpool to take a step closer to returning to the Champions League next season.
Enzo Maresca’s side rolled out a guard of honour for Liverpool at Stamford Bridge but the Reds, who were crowned champions last weekend, lacked their usual sharpness after Arne Slot made six changes.
Chelsea took the lead after just three minutes when Enzo Fernandez finished off an excellent move that was sparked by the brilliant Cole Palmer, who ended his goal drought by converting a late penalty.
The Blues were handed a gift of a second when Virgil van Dijk cleared into Jarell Quansah and the ball ricocheted into the back of the net. Van Dijk pulled one back with a towering header, but Chelsea managed to hold.
The victory, which was Chelsea’s first over Liverpool in 11 attempts, moves Maresca’s side level on points with fourth-placed Newcastle, who they visit next week. Defeat for Liverpool was only their third of the Premier League campaign.
Follow all of the action from Stamford Bridge with our live blog below:
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Unique Cole Palmer gives the world another reason to keep watching
Having been forced to watch the new champions walk on, Cole Palmer then made everyone look at his own footwork. The playmaker’s performance in Chelsea’s 3-1 win over Liverpool was a timely reminder of his quality - and that was long before he scored his first goal in almost four months to clinch it.
“I felt like myself,” as he put it afterwards. “I felt confident.” Palmer has now also ensured Chelsea felt the satisfaction of a victory that was genuinely important, both for himself and the club.It greatly improves his club’s prospects of Champions League football with three games to go, two of them away to rivals for the places in Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest.
Palmer knows that is the sort of stage he should be on. Chelsea know they have to keep getting there to ward off any potential agitation, or suitors.
Unique Cole Palmer gives the world another reason to keep watching
Chelsea beat lacklustre Liverpool to boost Champions League hopes
Liverpool suffered defeat in their first game since being crowned Premier League champions as Cole Palmer ended his Chelsea scoring drought to round off a 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge and boost the Blues’ Champions League ambitions.
Chelsea beat lacklustre Liverpool to boost Champions League hopes
The race for the Champions League: Who has the best run-in?
The race for the top-five is going down to the wires but Chelsea took a huge step forward today with victory over Liverpool.
Up next, Chelsea will go to Newcastle in what promises to be a crucial test.
The race for the Champions League: Who has the best run-in?
Emotional Cole Palmer hits out at ‘idiots on social media’
Cole Palmer fired back at “idiots and trolls” on social media after ending his scoring drought in Chelsea’s 3-1 win over Liverpool.
The 22-year-old had gone 18 games without scoring for club and country after a scintillating start to the season and admitted that the past three months had been tough.
His performance was excellent as Chelsea faced newly crowned champions Liverpool at Stamford Bridge and he was handed the chance to end his barren spell from the penalty spot when Moises Caicedo was fouled.
The England international said he did not feel under pressure and was “normal” when standing over the penalty but was clearly emotional afterwards as he opened up on the criticism he had received.
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Emotional Cole Palmer hits out at ‘idiots on social media’ after ending goal drought
Cole Palmer speaks to Sky Sports
An emotional Cole Palmer, speaking to Sky Sports, after Chelsea’s win.
“We played very well as a team. They are champions for a reason but we showed fight and we hurt them at times.”
On his goal drought. “I felt normal taking the penalty. Sh** happens, you know what I mean? I went three months without scoring but it gives me more motivation, more fight to do well. Social media now a days, it’s full of idiots, full of trolls, I don’t pay no attention to that. To score today, I’m happy with that. I’ve got to keep improving and finding new levels.”
A tough couple of months? “For anyone. Getting chances and not scoring... you're letting your team down at the end of the day.
"I feel like I'm mentally strong anyway so whatever people say, it doesn't bother me. I've had it all my life growing up.
"I feel pride in helping the team and if I'm not doing that, I'm not happy.
"Today, I felt like myself. I felt confident, I was trying things, first time passes, playing forward, playing free and when you have him [Moises Caicedo] next to you, it's a dream."
Chelsea end winless run against Liverpool
Chelsea’s last win over Liverpool came at an empty Anfield in March 2021.
Their last win over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge came toward the end of the 2018 season.
It’s been a long time coming, but after 10 games without a win against the Reds, Chelsea can celebrate again.
FULL TIME! Chelsea 3-1 Liverpool
Cole Palmer’s injury-time penalty was his first for Chelsea since a 2-2 draw against Bournemouth on 14 January.
He had gone 18 games without scoring but the 22-year-old got everyone talking once again with his performance against Liverpool.
FULL TIME! Chelsea 3-1 Liverpool
And that’s it. Palmer puts the icing on a triumphant afternoon for Chelsea, with victory over the champions.
It was always a bigger game for Chelsea than Liverpool, and that’s how it proved. Their first win over Liverpool since 2021, and a big one in the race for the top five!
GOAL! Chelsea 3-1 Liverpool (PALMER PEN 95')
THE COLD CELEBRATION IS BACK! Cole Palmer wraps up a brilliant performance by putting the penalty past Alisson - stunning spot-kick, right into the corner to beat the goalkeeper, who went the right way!
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