Chelsea 3-1 Liverpool: Cole Palmer ends long goal drought as Blues get huge win over champions | OneFootball

Last-gasp penalty settles late Stamford Bridge nerves as Enzo Maresca’s side move level with Newcastle in fierce fight for Champions League qualification

Your matchday briefing on Chelsea, featuring team news and expert analysis from Malik Ouzia

Sign up

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

The England star was inspirational throughout before scoring for the first time since the 2-2 home draw with Bournemouth on January 14, leading resurgent Chelsea to a fourth successive victory across all competitions that keeps them fifth behind fourth-place Newcastle on goals scored only with their points tallies and goal difference now both identical after the Carabao Cup winners needed a late penalty of their own from Alexander Isak to claim a lively draw at Brighton earlier on Sunday.

Sixth-place Nottingham Forest would join Newcastle and Chelsea on 63 points with just three games to go if they win away at FA Cup finalists Crystal Palace on Monday night. Aston Villa are currently also on 60 points in seventh after beating Fulham on Saturday.

Chelsea reverted back to the same team that narrowly defeated Everton at home last weekend as Nicolas Jackson scored for the first time since December, Enzo Maresca reversing all eight changes he made for Thursday’s 4-1 win over Djurgarden in their Conference League semi-final first-leg tie.

Robert Sanchez was fit to return in goal after missing the trip to Sweden with a knock, though the likes of Christopher Nkunku remained sidelined through injury.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot, meanwhile, was true to his word in terms of committing to a policy of squad rotation with the title sealed with four games to spare against Tottenham at Anfield last weekend, bringing in Quansah, Kostas Tsimikas, Wataru Endo, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott and Diogo Jota as Ibrahima Konate, Andy Robertson, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Luis Diaz all dropped to the bench.

It was their first league starts of the season in midfield for both Endo and Elliott.

After receiving a much-discussed and traditional guard of honour from their hosts, Liverpool lacked intensity early on and paid the price after only three minutes when Fernandez finished off a sweeping Chelsea move involving Romeo Lavia, Palmer and Pedro Neto to score the earliest Premier League goal at Stamford Bridge since 2017.

Noni Madueke quickly had the chance to double their lead but bobbled a low shot wide before Liverpool tried to respond through Jota and Cody Gakpo.

Alisson was relieved to see the offside flag raised after racing out of his box and wiping out Jackson, with Mohamed Salah narrowly missing a cross to the back post and Fernandez heading over at the other end before Neto’s penalty appeals were waved away after a tussle with Tsimikas.

Liverpool responded to that early setback but found Chelsea’s defence in resolute mood, particularly the impressive Trevoh Chalobah as Marc Cucurella also blocked from Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Neto volleyed against a defender from a corner and Madueke had an effort blocked by Van Dijk before Moises Caicedo’s awkward cross from the byline bounced off the crossbar.

Chelsea were certainly the better team and finished the first half in the ascendancy again as Neto lashed low into the side netting before Madueke walked the ball in after being found by Jackson, who was promptly flagged offside.

Maresca’s men began the second half in the ascendancy once more and deservedly doubled their advantage before the hour when Endo denied Madueke after great work from Palmer, only for Van Dijk’s attempted clearance to clatter in off the unsuspecting Quansah.

Liverpool dominated possession after falling behind 2-0 as Chelsea eased their foot off the accelerator, with Slot sending on the likes of the fit-again Conor Bradley, Darwin Nunez, Mac Allister and Szoboszlai.

Nunez and Van Dijk both sent free headers over the crossbar, with Chalobah also thwarting the Uruguayan with a fine last-ditch challenge.

However, Van Dijk eventually powered home from Mac Allister’s corner five minutes from time to set up a very nervy finish at the Bridge after Salah had gone close with his own header, only for Palmer - who had earlier hit the post from a tough angle - to fire past Alisson from the spot after Quansah brought down Caicedo with only seconds remaining.