Cole Palmer ends barren run to fire Chelsea a step closer to the Champions League

By Alessandro Schiavone at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea 3-1 FC Liverpool

Goals: Enzo 3', Quansah own-goal 56', Palmer 90+6' (penalty) (C) Van Dijk 85' (L)

Chelsea made a giant step towards Champions League qualification thanks to a convincing victory 3-1 win over champions Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.

With Newcastle held to a 1-1 draw at Brighton hours earlier, Chelsea cashed in to pull level with the Tynesiders in fourth.

At Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon, the Londoners showed their intentions early on and raced into the lead with Argentine Enzo Fernandez slotting past Brazil goalkeeper after less than three minutes on the clock.

Jarrell Quansah’s own-goal after teammate Virgil van Dijk’s unfortunate clearance cannoned off him before looping in made it 2-0.

The Dutch defender then made amends for it with a well-taken header to give the Reds a lifeline five minutes from time.

But Quansah’s horror show was completed after he conceded a late penalty for tripping Moises Caicedo after Dominik Szoboszlai’s poor pass.

Cool, calm and collected Cole Palmer dispatched it to seal the three points and end a personal 18-game scoreless streak and the club’s seven-year wait for a win over Liverpool at home.

And maybe, just maybe end a two-year wait to feature in Europe’s most prestigious competition.

Yet for that to happen they have to first negotiate meetings with fellow-Champions League chasing Newcastle and Nottingham Forest sandwiched by a home clash with Manchester United.

Given their inconsistencies this term, nothing can be taken for granted.

But if they play like today they are more than capable of getting the points they need to get over the line.

When all is said and done, the 3-1 win does not do justice to the Blues who could have scored a couple more.

Ecuador international Caicedo smacked the crossbar before Pedro Neto’s effort after an incisive move hit the side-netting. In the second period substiture Jadon Sancho was denied by Alisson while Palmer was thwarted by the post after an incisive run.

It was only three but it could have been six or seven.

But Chelsea take that as they can hear the Champions League anthem returning to Fulham Road.