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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.

Enzo Fernandez’s early goal set the tone for Enzo Maresca’s side largely to dominate, turning in one of their best displays of the season at just the right moment in the race for the top five, though there was little complaining to be heard from a triumphant away support gathered in the Shed End.

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Virgil van Dijk compensated for his role in the debacle with a header from Alexis Mac Allister’s corner late on, then the roof came off the stadium as Palmer ended his four-month fallow spell, dispatching a penalty in stoppage time after Quansah fouled Moises Caicedo.

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The move began in midfield with Romeo Lavia, starting back to back league games for the first time since November, sweeping a perfect pass to the excellent Palmer who in turn played in Pedro Neto to tear down the right.



Palmer took over, standing up Tsimikas before racing round the outside and pulling the ball back towards Madueke who, arriving at speed, was prevented by Endo from forcing it home.

Jadon Sancho was then denied by a smothering low stop from Alisson after a fine Chelsea move, before Palmer came within inches of a remarkable individual goal when he slalomed through Liverpool and hit the inside of the post from almost on the byline.

Van Dijk set nerves jangling when he headed in from a corner with six minutes to play but Chelsea and Palmer had the last word from the penalty spot, bringing to an end months of frustration.


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