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

Cole Palmer wrapped up Chelsea’s win (Getty Images)

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:

Chelsea vs Liverpool LIVE

• Chelsea defeat newly crowned champions Liverpool in the Premier League
• 90+5' GOAL! Cole Palmer wraps up excellent performance with late penalty (CHE 3-1 LIV)
• 85' GOAL! Van Dijk powers in header to set up nervy ending for Chelsea (CHE 2-1 LIV)
• 57' OWN GOAL! Van Dijk clears into Quansah as Chelsea double lead (CHE 2-0 LIV)
• 3' GOAL! Fernandez fires Chelsea in front after lovely move (CHE 1-0 LIV)

[4 May 2025 18:02 · Jamie Braidwood]

Chelsea 2-0 Liverpool

74 mins: Liverpool have been on top since the second goal but they still have not tested Sanchez since early on.

Getting just one back would make it interesting...

[4 May 2025 17:59 · Jamie Braidwood]

Chelsea 2-0 Liverpool

71 mins: Another opportunity for Nunez, not as clear as the previous one, but Chalobah gets back well and cuts out the danger.

[4 May 2025 17:56 · Jamie Braidwood]

Chelsea 2-0 Liverpool

68 mins: Liverpool are building the pressure.... Salah sets up Nunez with a wonderful cross but the header is woeful and well wide.

Time for two more changes. Here come Mac Allister and Szoboszlai for Endo and Elliott.

[4 May 2025 17:53 · Jamie Braidwood]

Chelsea 2-0 Liverpool

65 mins: Chance for Liverpool from the free-kick, but Elliott smacks it low into the wall and Chelsea can clear.

And then Gakpo flashes in a cross but Colwill does well to clear ahead of Nunez.

[4 May 2025 17:51 · Jamie Braidwood]

Chelsea 2-0 Liverpool

64 mins: An excellent recovery challenge from Curtis Jones stops Palmer getting on the end of a Neto pass into the box.

[4 May 2025 17:50 · Jamie Braidwood]

Chelsea 2-0 Liverpool

62 mins: Bradley has made a lively start. He beats Cucurella in the box but his cross is cut out by Chalobah.

Van Djik then heads over.

[4 May 2025 17:47 · Jamie Braidwood]

Chelsea 2-0 Liverpool

59 mins: Arne Slot responds by taking off Alexander-Arnold and Jota, replacing them with Bradley and Nunez.

[4 May 2025 17:43 · Jamie Braidwood]

GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 Liverpool (QUANSAH OG 56')

CALAMITY IN THE LIVERPOOL DEFENCE AND CHELSEA DOUBLE THEIR LEAD!

It’s excellent from Palmer to begin with, beating Tsimikas with ease. He squares and it should be a simple clearance for Van Dijk to make, but he boost the ball straight at Quansah and the ball rebounds in off the defender.

A huge mix-up and Chelsea will be very confident of getting a massive win now.

(REUTERS)

[4 May 2025 17:40 · Jamie Braidwood]

Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool

52 mins: A few groans around Stamford Bridge as Madueke plays Jackson through but he is offside again.

Quite a scrappy start to the second half, this.

[4 May 2025 17:38 · Jamie Braidwood]

Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool

50 mins: Salah is stopped by Cucurella in the box. Lavia beats Van Dijk to the ball and the Liverpool captain is late. He catches the Chelsea man and is booked.