Chelsea’s intensity never wavered, and it paid off again early in the second half. A dangerous cross into Liverpool’s box led to chaos, and in a cruel twist of fate, Virgil van Dijk’s attempted clearance rebounded off Jarell Quansah into his own net, doubling Chelsea’s advantage. The visitors, who were visibly affected by their post-title celebrations and a rotated squad, struggled to keep up with Chelsea’s pace and pressure.
Despite the two-goal deficit, Liverpool showed brief signs of revival late in the match. Captain Virgil van Dijk made amends for the earlier mishap by powering home a header in the 85th minute, setting up a tense finale. But any hopes of a comeback were crushed in stoppage time when Quansah brought down Moisés Caicedo inside the box. Cole Palmer stepped up and coolly converted the penalty, ending his personal four-month scoring drought and sealing Chelsea’s memorable win.
Palmer’s goal capped a standout performance from the young forward, who played a central role in Chelsea’s attacking movements all afternoon. The likes of Marc Cucurella, Romeo Lavia, and Noni Madueke also impressed, contributing with sharp defending and creative link-up play. The result lifts Chelsea to 63 points, putting them level with Newcastle United in the race for a top-four finish. It also marked their first win over Liverpool since 2021, ending a frustrating run of results against the Reds.
For Liverpool, the match was a sobering reminder of the challenges that come with balancing celebrations and performance. With the title already secured, their rotated lineup lacked rhythm and cohesion, unable to match the hunger of a Chelsea side with everything still to play for.
No comments:
Post a Comment