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Liverpool head to Stamford Bridge on Sunday for their first match since being crowned Premier League champions, with hosts Chelsea desperate to secure a victory to bolster their Champions League qualification hopes.

The Blues are expected to honor the champions with a guard of honor before kickoff, but pleasantries will quickly give way to a competitive encounter as Arne Slot’s side looks to maintain their high standards despite having already secured the title.

For Chelsea, the stakes are considerably higher.

Enzo Maresca’s team currently occupies fifth place with 60 points from 34 games, putting them in contention for Champions League qualification.

However, with Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa in close pursuit, the Blues cannot afford to slip up in their remaining fixtures.

A defeat could see them drop out of the European places altogether, adding significant pressure to this high-profile clash.

Speaking in his pre-Chelsea press conference, the Dutchman revealed that Reds fans should expect some changes for the clash:

“It’s four games we are trying to win, what we always want,” he said.

“Everyone one with a LFC shirt should aim for.

I would look at the amount of points now to teams to who won it with four games to go before.”

“My lineups will be different to what we’ve had the last 10 months, won’t change everyone but there will be some rotation?

Not to say we will lose, we have a lot of trust in those players but it would be more honest to judge points total now to the ones in the past with four games to go.”

“I think some of the players deserved to play earlier because they have trained so well and are good enough but I mainly chose the same players, so I see where they are looking ahead to next season a bit but also because they deserve to play this season.”

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