Chelsea Defeats Liverpool, Boosts Champions League Hopes

Chelsea secured a crucial 3-1 victory over newly crowned Premier League champions Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, boosting their Champions League qualification chances. Cole Palmer, who had gone 19 games without scoring, played a pivotal role in all three Chelsea goals and sealed the win with a stoppage-time penalty after Jarell Quansah fouled Moises Caicedo. Enzo Fernandez opened the scoring early before a Quansah own goal doubled Chelsea's lead, and Virgil van Dijk pulled one back for Liverpool late on. Liverpool, fielding a heavily rotated lineup after winning the title, struggled to match Chelsea's intensity. The win brings Chelsea level on points with Newcastle in fourth place, intensifying the race for Champions League spots. After the match, Palmer said the criticism of his goal drought motivated him to improve and help the team.