Chelsea secured a vital 3-1 victory over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, with Cole Palmer playing a pivotal role in their success. Arne Slot's decision to rotate his squad, having just won the Premier League title, allowed Palmer to exploit an unfamiliar Liverpool midfield, assisting Enzo Fernandez's early goal. Despite Liverpool's attempts to fight back, including a goal from Virgil van Dijk, the game was effectively sealed when Jarell Quansah scored an own goal, followed by Palmer converting a late penalty. The win places Chelsea level on points with fourth-placed Newcastle, intensifying their bid for UEFA Champions League qualification. Liverpool, having already secured the Premier League title, appeared less concerned with the defeat, focusing more on their celebratory end-of-season schedule.

Chelsea capitalized on a rotated Liverpool squad to secure a crucial 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge, crucial for their aspirations of a top-five Premier League finish and Champions League qualification.

Cole Palmer was instrumental for Chelsea, setting up Enzo Fernandez for the opening goal and later converting a penalty to ensure victory, marking his first goal since mid-January.

Liverpool's Jarell Quansah had a difficult match, inadvertently scoring an own goal after a clearance by Virgil van Dijk deflected off him into the net, putting Chelsea ahead.

Despite a late surge from Liverpool, including a goal from Virgil van Dijk, Chelsea's defense held firm, and Palmer's penalty in stoppage time confirmed the win.

Chelsea's victory puts them level on points with Newcastle, intensifying the competition for Champions League spots, with their superior goal difference potentially being decisive.

Liverpool, having already secured the league title, fielded a less familiar lineup, focusing more on celebrations and less on the match outcome.

The match was marked by an end-to-end flow, with both teams having opportunities, but Chelsea's clinical finish and strategic play secured the three points.

Chelsea took advantage of a heavily rotated Liverpool to claim a vital 3-1 win in their bid for a top-five place and UEFA Champions League qualification.

Arne Slot made six changes to his freshly crowned Premier League champions for the trip to Stamford Bridge, and Cole Palmer cut through an unfamiliar midfield before Pedro Neto set up Enzo Fernandez's third-minute opener.

Palmer was superb throughout and at the heart of a slapstick second goal before sealing the points with a penalty deep into stoppage time — his first goal since mid-January.

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Chelsea vs. Liverpool score

Venue: Stamford Bridge, London
Referee: Simon Hooper

Keep track of every game and every goal via SN's live Premier League scoreboard

Lineups:

Chelsea (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. Robert Sanchez (GK) — 25. Moises Caicedo, 23. Trevoh Chalobah, 6. Levi Colwill, 3. Marc Cucurella — 8. Enzo Fernandez (24. Reece James), 45. Romeo Lavia (27. Malo Gusto) — 7. Pedro Neto, 20. Cole Palmer, 11. Noni Madueke — 15. Nico Jackson

Liverpool (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. Alisson (GK) — 66. Trent Alexander-Arnold (84. Conor Bradley), 78. Jarell Quansah, 4. Virgil van Dijk, 21. Kostas Tsimikas (14. Federico Chiesa) — 3. Wataru Endo (10. Alexis Mac Allister), 17. Curtis Jones— 11. Mohamed Salah, 19. Harvey Elliott (8. Dominik Szoboszlai), 18. Cody Gakpo — 20. Diogo Jota (9. Darwin Nunez)

MORE: Liverpool Premier League title 2024/25: 7 key moments

The England international glided into the Liverpool box from the right early in the second half and cut a teasing ball back from the byline. Wataru Endo made a fantastic challenge to deny Noni Madueke, only to see Virgil van Dijk clatter a clearance that ricocheted into his own net off the unfortunate Jarell Quansah.

Liverpool continued to push throughout a pleasingly end-to-end encounter, with Mohamed Salah and substitute Darwin Nunez each going close.

Chelsea's set-piece defending was a worry during the second period and Van Dijk partially atoned for his earlier mishap by powering home an 85th-minute corner. Quansah's miserable afternoon continued, though, as he brought down Moises Caicedo for Palmer to garnish the win.

The win moves Enzo Maresca's side level on 63 points with fourth-placed Newcastle and one behind Manchester City in third. A vastly superior goal difference to both Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa in sixth and seventh could also prove crucial in the final analysis.

Chelsea vs Liverpool stats

Chelsea vs. Liverpool

It's all over. A deserved win for Chelsea and a delightful performance from Cole Palmer. Chelsea are level on points with Newcastle in fourth and three ahead of Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa with a huge goal difference cushion over both. Liverpool lose their third Premier League game of the season and really should not care at all. Thanks for joining us.

90+6 mins: GOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLL!!!!! Cole Palmer!!!!!

Alisson guesses correctly but Palmer arrows it into the bottom left corner for his first goal since mid-January. 

90+5 mins: PENALTY TO CHELSEA! Quansah wraps up a wretched afternoon with a clumsy foul on Caicedo and Palmer can wrap things up.

90+4 mins: Chelsea running the clock down well now and Bradley's temper spills over a little as he clashes with Cucurella.

90 mins: Five minutes to be added on here.

88 mins: James coming on for Fernandez as Chelsea try to see this one out.

87 mins: Good opportunity on the break here for Chelsea. Sancho and Caicedo combine before Neto clatters over.

86 mins: Palmer one of the few players who hasn't been gripped by nerves. He drives effortlessly inside and fires just off target. Sancho then gets himself booked for delaying the restart.

85 mins: GOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLL!!!!! Virgil van Dijk

The goal Chelsea have seemingly been trying to give Van Dijk arrives. The big Dutchman strides in unattended and plants a downward header past Sanchez from Mac Allister's delivery.

84 mins: The end-to-end flow continues as Salah wins a corner. 

83 mins: Chiesa on for Liverpool. It's his fifth appearance in the Premier League this season, so he'll get a medal. That's nice.

80 mins: Chelsea work an attack over to Sancho on the left but it feels like Alisson is always in control of the situation as he gets his angles right, dashes out and smothers the shot.

78 mins: Salah arrives at the far post to power a header just wide. He's definitely hungry for more goals. Gusto on for Lavia, who gets a warm ovation from the Chelsea fans.

72 mins: Jackson coming off, doesn't look too pleased about it, and Sancho gets a run out. Madueke switches over to the right wing to accommodate him, with Neto going to centre-forward.

71 mins: Nunez looking to get through on goal but that's a fantastic show of strength from Chalobah, who sticks with the big Uruguayan before getting a telling foot in.

69 mins: Chance for Nunez, who gets up above the Chelsea defenders but effectively makes the clearance on their behalf. Szoboszlai and Mac Allister on for Elliott and Endo.

68 mins: Madueke blocks a shot from Elliott, Endo wins the second ball. Liverpool come again but Sanchez is out to claim the ball. The champions' best spell of the match.

67 mins: Liverpool ramping up a bit of pressure. Set pieces are a threat from Tsimikas, but Chelsea deal with this latest outswinger.

64 mins: Palmer has given Jones a bit of a runaround today and he gets goal side again to get on the end of Neto's pass. But his England team-mate gets back to make a vital challenge. 

63 mins:: Liverpool corner from the right by Tsimikas. Ohhh, and Van Dijk has far too much room there. He heads over but that's very slack from Chelsea.

61 mins: Jackson catches Bradley napping and thumps goalwards from an angle. Alisson's positioning is on-point.

58 mins: Not a great couple of minutes for Quansah, who lunges in on Fernandez and is booked.

57 mins: Double change for Liverpool, with Nunez and Bradley on for Jota and Alexander Arnold.

56 mins: GOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!!!! Jarell Quansah (OG)!!!!!

Oh dear, oh dear! Palamer has Liverpool scrambling as he glides down the right, intro the box and to the byline. Endo makes a brilliant sliding challenge to deny Madueke but Van Dijk smashes the loose ball against his centre-back Quansah and it bounces into the net.

52 mins: Madueke slips a ball in behind for Jackson, who's charged way offside. No need.

50 mins: Van Dijk gets there second to Lavia and the Chelsea man wears some studs on the ankle. The Liverpool skipper gets a deserved yellow card. VAR quickly checks and concludes it's not worth anything more.

48 mins: Encouraging start to the half for Chelsea but they could do with sharpening up their end product. Jackson looking to turn and shoot but Fernandez takes it off his toe.

Kickoff: 2nd Half

We're back underway. Can Chelsea close out a huge three points in the top-five race?

Halftime

Chelsea good value for their lead against the much-changed champions in a fun game. Enzo Fernandez's early goal remains the difference, Cole Palmer has had a splendid Sunday so far.

44 mins: Maresca gathers the ball on the touchline, attempting to get it to one of his players for a quick throw-in but Alexander-Arnold blunders into him. Everyone sees the funny side.

43 mins: Madueke walks the ball into the net but Jackson, who set him up, was offside.

42 mins: Neto gets the ball on the right, Palmer again pulling the strings. He drills a low shot that ripples the side netting at the near post.

34 mins: Palmer has taken up so many good positions between the Liverpool midfield and defence. Here he is again, but he can't nail the pass through to Madueke.

32 mins: Good spell this from Chelsea, who win the ball back high up. Cucurella into the box, where Van Dijk blocks from Madueke. The ball breaks to Caicedo, whose cross lands on the top of the crossbar.

31 mins: Tsimikas heads his attempted clearance into the turf at the near post. Netos's shot is deflected behind. Fernandez's next corner is even worse and Tsimikas boots clear.

30 mins: Palmer marauds into the Liverpool box, Qunasah sticks to his task and slides in to concede the first corner of the match.

29 mins: A Liverpool attack is half-cleared, Elliott prods back towards goal and Chalobah smashes a clearance away.

25 mins: Chelsea take care of the danger. Liverpool are playing pretty well aside from the fact they've gone behind and were an offside flag away from their goalkeeper being sent off. Yes, I know that sounds stupid.

24 mins: Caicedo looking really not very much like a right-back at all as he clumps into Gakpo while going away from goal. Free-kick in a decent position for Liverpool on the left.

16 mins: Lavia and Palmer again play through Liverpool wonderfully. Neto into the Liverpool box from the right but he's muscled off the ball by Tsimikas when a cross to Palmer might have been the better call.

13 mins: Gakpo decides to cross this time and a sliding Salah can't quite get there at the back post.

10 mins: Ohhhhhh, Alisson is a lucky man. Jackson surges through and is wiped out by the Liverpool goalkeeper. It's a clear foul and possible red card but the offside flag is up.

9 mins: Gakpo into the Chelsea area from the left, shoots and Sanchez holds on. He might have had better options inside.

5 mins: The hosts are in the mood here. Madueke dribbling towards a backpedalling defence. He elects to shoot when the pass to Jackson was on and it dribbles wide.

3 mins: GOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL!!!!! Enzo Fernandez!!!!

Chelsea have an early lead and it's a lovely goal. Lavia slips a pass to Palmer, whose run leaves Jones on his backside. The England attacker finds Neto, whose pullback is on the money for Fernandez to take a touch and slot home.

Kickoff: 1st Half

Off we go and it's a sharp start from this much-changed Liverpool. Salah and Elliott exchange passes and the Premier League top scorer drills into the six-yard box. Sanchez deals with the danger.

4 mins before kickoff: Here come the teams, with Chelsea out first to welcome the champions. A decent amount of the home fans boo the guard of honour!

20 mins before kickoff: Newcastle's game at Brighton finished 1-1, which should be all the encouragement Chelsea need to be on the money here. Their boss Maresca has confirmed his players will give Liverpool a guard of honour, as is traditional for teams who have won the league before the final game of the season.

40 mins before kickoff: Liverpool are obviously keen to enjoy their victory lap, but this is a big one for Chelsea. With Newcastle currently being held to a draw at Brighton, Enzo Maresca know his side can move level on point switch Eddie Howe's team in fourth. Remember, the top five this season will qualify for the Champions League. Chelsea, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa are all currently on 60 points, with Villa having played a game more.

1 hour before kickoff: Here's the Liverpool XI, with Wataru Endo and Curtis Jones in among six changes. Still no starts for Darwin Nunez and Federico Chiesa.

The champions to take on Chelsea ✨🔴 #CHELIV

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 4, 2025

1 hr 15 mins before kickoff: Here are the teams. Sanchez has made it for Chelsea. Romeo Lavia, a transfer target for Liverpool a couple of years ago, is fit to start in midfield.

Here’s your #CHELIV team news! 🗞️

🇪🇸 Rob is fit to start from the off.
🇧🇪 Romeo anchors the midfield.
🇸🇳 Nico leads the line. #CFC pic.twitter.com/nvMqSN3Nm9

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 4, 2025

1 hr 30 mins before kickoff: Team news will be with us shortly. Chelsea's main concern is goalkeeper Robert Sanchez after a knock ruled him out of the Conference League semifinal win over Djurgarden.

2 hours before kickoff. Hello and welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage of Chelsea vs. Liverpool. Enzo Maresca's men will give the freshly crowned Premier League champions a guard of honour when they enter the field today but they need that to be the end of the pleasantries, with key points in the top-five race up for grabs.

Chelsea vs. Liverpool

The Premier League match kicks off in London at 4:30 p.m. local time.

Here's how that time translates across some of the major territories:

Chelsea vs. Liverpool

Maresca made wholesale changes for the Conference League match in Sweden and will revert to his strongest lineup here, especially given they now hold a comfortable aggregate lead in that European tie ahead of next Thursday's second leg.

Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson, Trevoh Chalobah, Levi Colwill, Pedro Neto and Moises Caicedo all return to the lineup. Caicedo does so at right-back with Malo Gusto only fit enough for a place on the bench. Romeo Lavia starts in midfield.

Wesley Fofana and Omari Kellyman will not play again until next season, while Mykhailo Mudryk remains suspended after failing a doping test.

Chelsea lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Sanchez (GK) — Caicedo, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella — Fernandez, Lavia — Madueke, Palmer, Neto — Jackson

Chelsea subs: Jorgensen (GK), Adarabioyo, Basiashile, Dewsbury-Hall, James, Gusto, George, Acheampong

MORE: Liverpool battle Man City to sign 'ideal' Trent Alexander-Arnold replacement

Liverpool begin their celebratory schedule with a largely clean bill of health, although Joe Gomez is not expected back for another couple of weeks.

Conor Bradley returns to the bench after a knock, with Trent Alexander-Arnold starting at right-back, Although there are six changes, including starts for Curtis Jones, Wataru Endo and Harvey Elliott.

Many Reds fans are hoping to see a guard of honour from the Chelsea players and staff before kickoff, particularly given Mohamed Salah's struggles in his short time at Stamford Bridge are now nothing but a distant memory.

Liverpool lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Alisson (GK) — Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson — Gravenberch, Mac Allister — Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo — Diaz

Liverpool subs: Kelleher (GK), Konate, Diaz, Szoboszlai, Nunez, Mac Allister, Chiesa, Robertson, Bradley

Chelsea vs. Liverpool

Here's how to watch this Premier League match across selected areas of the world's major regions: