Follow live coverage as Chelsea face Liverpool today in the Premier League. Another top-flight season will be covered in full right here with The Independent, as reigning champions Manchester City look to make it an unprecedented five titles in a row come the end of 2024/25.
The likes of Arsenal and Liverpool will be chasing Pep Guardiola's side, but just as fascinating will be the race for Champions League places, with more teams than ever before having designs on top-four finishes. Chelsea remain big-spending, Manchester United's latest rebuild continues and both Tottenham and Newcastle will expect improvements this year - yet it was Aston Villa who snared fourth last term.
Meanwhile, it's Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town who made it back to the elite after promotion last year and each will have hope they can make it more than a one-year stay. Follow the latest live action from the Premier League below:
Chelsea FC 3 - 1 Liverpool FC
Chelsea vs Liverpool
18:31A goal in either half is enough for Chelsea, who secure their third-straight Premier League victory and stay on the front foot in the race for a Champions League place, Liverpool 3-1 at Stamford Bridge (2.91 to 1.17 on xG). Providing a captain’s example, Fernandez got proceedings under way after just two minutes and 33 seconds to tuck a finish past Alisson from close range following Neto’s service; a lead which the hosts never relinquished. Liverpool only truly became an attacking force after conceding for the second time, with Van Dijk sending his desperate clearance into the chest of Quansah for an own goal 11 minutes after the restart. From there, Van Dijk, Nunez and Salah all had opportunities to score, only for poor finishing and great last-man defending to deny the champions. Van Dijk did manage to pull one back with five minutes to go from a corner and set up a nervy finish, but a late mistake from Szoboszlai led to Quansah conceding a penalty which was converted by Palmer in the sixth minute of additional time. The defeat doesn’t change anything for Liverpool ahead of a game with Arsenal in seven days time, while Chelsea go level with Newcastle United in fourth with the win ahead of their Conference League semi-final with Djurgarden on Thursday, and an all-important meeting with the aforementioned Magpies on Sunday. That concludes our commentary of the Premier League fixture between Chelsea and Liverpool, we hope you’ve enjoyed it!
Chelsea vs Liverpool
18:28FULL-TIME: CHELSEA 3-1 LIVERPOOL
Chelsea vs Liverpool
18:25PENALTY TO CHELSEA! Szoboszlai plays a lax pass back into his own penalty area without looking, which gives Caicedo a chance to regain possession in an attacking area. The Ecuador international gets to the ball just ahead of Quansah, who takes his opponent down with a clip of the heels and gives the hosts a chance to double their advantage late!
Chelsea vs Liverpool
18:24Penalty Goal Cole Jermaine Palmer
Chelsea vs Liverpool
18:22This is Van Dijk’s 232nd Premier League start for Liverpool, which moves him joint-10th for most starts made in the competition for the Reds (level with Steve McManaman).
Chelsea vs Liverpool
18:22Gusto draws Mac Allister into a cynical foul right on the touchline on the left wing, which Chelsea take short in order to keep possession and kill time.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
18:20The fourth official indicates five minutes will be added to the end of the match for stoppages.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
18:17Neto lashes a wild first-time shot from 20 yards away after being set up by good hold-up play from Caicedo, but the ball sails harmlessly high and wide of Alisson’s target.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
18:16Substitution Enzo Jeremías Fernández Reece Lewis James
Chelsea vs Liverpool
18:13Yellow Card Jadon Malik Sancho
Chelsea vs Liverpool
18:13Assist Alexis Mac Allister
Chelsea vs Liverpool
18:13Salah has scored 28 Premier League goals and has a further 18 assists this season and needs one goal or assist to equal the record for goal involvements in one season, held by Andrew Cole in 1993-94 and Alan Shearer in 1994-95 (34 goals, 13 assists in both instances).
Chelsea vs Liverpool
18:11OFF THE INSIDE OF THE POST! Palmer wriggles free of Bradley and makes his move down the byline on the left side before slipping his shot between the post and the oncoming Alisson. The ball evades the goalkeeper but can’t find it’s way over the line, with the effort striking the base of the woodwork on the far side!
Chelsea vs Liverpool
18:10Substitution Konstantinos Tsimikas Federico Chiesa
Chelsea vs Liverpool
18:10GOOD SAVE! Madueke latches onto Palmer’s switch of play out to the right and cuts inside along the edge of the 18-yard box before unleashing a powerful left-footed strike that’s blocked by Quansah. Fernandez gets to the rebound and spreads it out to the left for Sancho, whose first-time effort from a tight angle is smothered by Alisson!
Chelsea vs Liverpool
18:07SALAH NODS IT WIDE! Tsimikas interchanges with Nunez on the left flank before teasing a cross to the far post, where a number of Liverpool players are queuing up in anticipation. Salah is best placed to put his head to it, leaping to make great contact, before sending his chance across the face of goal and behind!
Chelsea vs Liverpool
18:06Substitution Roméo Lavia Malo Arthur Gusto
Chelsea vs Liverpool
18:06Tsimikas plays the ensuing corner into the penalty area but Chalobah attacks the delivery with the most intent, sticking his neck out to repel the service.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
18:05Salah cuts inside before playing a disguised pass out to the byline for Bradley, whose attempted first-time cross is blocked behind for a corner by a sliding Fernandez.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
18:03Tsimikas’ latest inswinging corner is missed at the near post by Gakpo, who lets the ball fall to Caicedo. Reacting quickly in front of Quansah, the Ecuador international swings his boot at it, which takes it fortunately towards Fernandez, who dribbles clear of danger.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
18:00Gakpo attempts to thread a pass through the lines for the run of Nunez just ahead of Sanchez, but Chalobah times his slide to perfection and knocks the ball harmlessly into the path of his goalkeeper.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
18:00Substitution Nicolas Jackson Jadon Malik Sancho
Chelsea vs Liverpool
17:57Substitution Harvey Daniel James Elliott Dominik Szoboszlai
Chelsea vs Liverpool
17:57Substitution Wataru Endō Alexis Mac Allister
Chelsea vs Liverpool
17:56VITAL CLEARANCE! Gakpo curls a right-footed cross into the six-yard box for the lurking Nunez, who is beaten to the ball and denied an almost-certain goal by a diving Colwill, who heads it back across his own net and behind for a corner!
Chelsea vs Liverpool
17:55With Gakpo and Salah also standing over the deadball it’s Bradley who gets a go, sending his free-kick into the wall, which protects Sanchez from being called into action.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
17:54Lavia bundles into Salah clumsily, bringing the winger down for a free-kick 20 yards from goal, just to the right of centre.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
17:53A CHANCE COMES TO NOTHING! Tsimikas’ inswinging corner from the right finds the unmarked head of Van Dijk, who makes great contact with his free header on the penalty spot, only to send the ball up and over the crossbar!
Chelsea vs Liverpool
17:51Quansah misplays the ball near his own 18-yard box, letting it roll following Fernandez’s pass towards the corner-flag, which allows Jackson to win it back. Without a team-mate in support, the striker hits his shot from by the byline without a second thought - forcing Alisson into a save.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
17:50Chelsea are winless in their last 10 meetings with Liverpool in all competitions (seven draws and three losses), only once before going longer without a win over the Reds (11 from 1985 to 1990).
Chelsea vs Liverpool
17:46Yellow Card Jarell Amorin Quansah
Chelsea vs Liverpool
17:45Substitution Diogo José Teixeira da Silva Darwin Gabriel Núñez Ribeiro
Chelsea vs Liverpool
17:45Substitution Trent John Alexander-Arnold Conor Bradley
Chelsea vs Liverpool
17:44Own goal Jarell Amorin Quansah
Chelsea vs Liverpool
17:41Yellow Card Trevoh Thomas Chalobah
Chelsea vs Liverpool
17:41Jackson fails to hold his line and is a bit too eager to get on the end of Madueke’s pass with the outside of his boot, drawing the linesman’s flag for offside to end the promising move.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
17:40Jones drops deep to pick up possession between the Liverpool centre-backs before spraying a pass long in search of Gakpo. The winger looks to get on the end of it, only for Caicedo to take up a great position and nod it back to Sanchez despite the height difference.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
17:38Yellow Card Virgil van Dijk
Chelsea vs Liverpool
17:37Madueke again shows off his dribbling ability, exposing the gap between Alexander-Arnold and Elliott to break into the 18-yard box and supply Jackson with a square pass, but the striker’s first-time shot is easily dealt with by Alisson.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
17:36Gakpo receives Jones’ pass in midfield and looks to ride the challenge of Fernandez and cut inside, but he’s hauled down by the Chelsea captain which breaks up play.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
17:34Chelsea get the match restarted from the kick-off!
Chelsea vs Liverpool
17:24Slot will be looking to make as many changes as he’s allowed after the restart as he looks to shuffle his side and provide different players with opportunities to impress. Behind by a goal having not generated much in the way of attacking output in the opening period, the likes of Diaz and Nunez could possibly be introduced, as well as the rarely used Chiesa. Chelsea, on the other hand, will be desperate to do whatever is necessary to take all three points and move three points ahead of both Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa. James may be called upon to help solidify the defensive line, while Sancho is an option should Maresca want to shake up his attack.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
17:21The hosts take the advantage into the half-time interval courtesy of a goal within three minutes of the opening kick-off, as Chelsea lead Liverpool 1-0 at Stamford Bridge. Perhaps still a bit tired after their championship celebrations, Liverpool conceded the first time the Blues ventured forward, with Fernandez popping up on the end of Neto’s cross to finish past Alisson from the penalty spot and give the side with something to play for the advantage. From there, Maresca’s team sat back and ceded possession to their opponents, looking to hit on the counter-attack for a bit of insurance. Despite managing just one shot on target and an xG of 0.33 (compared to Chelsea’s 0.96), the Reds could have been more threatening if not for a number of poor touches - especially from Salah - at the crucial moment. Neto came closest to finding the back of the net again with a minute to go before half-time, but he dragged his finish into the side-netting, keeping the difference at one.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
17:18HALF-TIME: CHELSEA 1-0 LIVERPOOL
Chelsea vs Liverpool
17:17The fourth official indicates one minute will be added to the end of the half for stoppages.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
17:15SO CLOSE! Palmer plays the ball forward from the halfway line, giving Neto a chance to take on Tsimikas en-route towards the 18-yard box. The winger then cuts inside and shifts the ball onto his left foot to pull a low shot towards the near post, hoping to put it just out of Alisson’s range, but he hits the side-netting instead!
Chelsea vs Liverpool
17:13Salah’s first time cross towards Gakpo is won by Caicedo, who heads the ball towards the far touchline, where a bit of hard work from Neto secures Chelsea a throw-in.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
17:09Liverpool haven’t lost any of their last 20 Premier League matches in the month of May (16 wins and four draws), though their last defeat was at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea in 2018.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
17:08Alexander-Arnold sends his ensuing corner-kick a bit too high over the head of a leaping Van Dijk, which allows Sanchez to palm the ball away from danger.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
17:07Alexander-Arnold curls a cross to the far post from a standing position, with Sanchez choosing to stay at home. Taking no risks, Neto gets on the end of the delivery and turns it behind with his head, giving Liverpool a corner.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
17:06Liverpool are dominating the possession statistics in the opening half-hour, seeing 71 per cent of the ball as they search for a way back into the game. Chelsea are in a comfortable position after securing the early goal but may be relying too heavily on the counter-attack to find a second, with Slot’s team consistently finding spaces to exploit in the build up.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
17:05Despite completing just three passes, Neto has created two chances and provided an assist in the opening 33 minutes of the game.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
17:03The captain delivers a corner as Fernandez sends his inswinging delivery towards the near post, where Tsimikas fails to connect cleanly with his header. The ball drops to Neto, who lashes a volley from close range towards goal, only for Quansah to put in a block and turn it behind again.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
17:00Alexander-Arnold lets fly on a right-footed shot from 16 yards out but he fails to open space ahead of Cucurella, who puts in a key block.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
16:58Gakpo plays a one-two pass with Endo on the edge of the 18-yard box and appears likely to break through the Chelsea defensive line, if not for quick thinking from Chalobah, who intercepts the connection.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
16:57Tsimikas’ left-footed delivery causes a bit of a scramble inside the penalty area with neither team able to lay claim to the loose ball, but Lavia emerges from the chaos and puts in a clearing touch.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
16:57Caicedo sticks out a leg and catches Gakpo, bringing the winger down to give Liverpool a free-kick in the left channel just over 25 yards from goal.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
16:56Jones lays the ball back for Alexander-Arnold, who hits it low and at the first time of asking into the feet of Salah inside the penalty area. Looking to take a touch, the winger once again miscontrols a pass and lets it run - this time to concede a goal-kick.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
16:53Palmer goes long from inside his own half, looking to put the ball into the path of Jackson, but Alisson anticipates the service and steps to the edge of his 18-yard box to get there first.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
16:52Elliott and Endo interchange neatly in the middle of the pitch 30 yards from goal, which provides the Japan international with just enough space to pick out Salah. Isolated against Cucurella one-against-one, the winger’s first touch lets him down and allows the Chelsea full-back to poke it away.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
16:51A win today would guarantee Chelsea European football ahead of next season, with 10 points separating them in fifth (temporarily) and Bournemouth in eighth. They could qualify for the Europa League next season should they manage to win the Conference League, but they’ll be hoping to secure a spot in the Champions League with a top-five finish.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
16:49Play is temporarily stopped for Neto, who has gone down inside the Liverpool penalty after an innocuous tangle of legs with Tsimikas but he gets up after taking a moment to gather himself - with the medical staff not required.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
16:48Neto puts the ball onto his left foot and scoops a cross to the edge of the six-yard box for Fernandez, who does well to get on the end of it despite close marking from Quansah. He’s unable to test Alisson and double his tally though, sending his header up and over the crossbar.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
16:45Gakpo tries to pick out Salah with a cross to the far post after Endo’s switch of play to the left flank finds the Netherlands international in space, but despite stretching, the number 11 is unable to keep the ball in play.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
16:43Fernandez's goal (2:47) is Chelsea's earliest Premier League strike at Stamford Bridge since Antonio Rediger against Stoke in December 2017 (2:33).
Chelsea vs Liverpool
16:42Tsimikas receives Alexander-Arnold’s pass forward and holds the ball up ahead of Caicedo before laying it off to Gakpo. With only one thing on his mind, the winger puts the ball onto his right foot and hits a powerful strike towards goal that’s caught cleanly by the Chelsea goalkeeper.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
16:41Alisson comes flying out of his penalty area to try and stop a Chelsea break and mistimes his sliding tackle, sending Jackson up into the air before crashing to the ground. A certain booking that may have seen the goalkeeper sent off, the Liverpool player is saved by the linesman, who raises his flag for offside.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
16:40Gakpo’s cross from the left takes a deflection off Lavia but still manages to find its way to Jota, who attempts a difficult backheel volley. It’s a decent try, but the trick doesn’t come off, and leads to a Sanchez goal-kick.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
16:39Jackson looks to thread a pass through the lines for the overlapping run of Madueke, but Quansah sticks his foot in and redirects the ball into the path of Alisson.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
16:37Elliott gives away possession inside the centre-circle, allowing Madueke to lead a Chelsea counter-attack the other way, but he holds onto the ball a bit too long and drags his eventual shot wide of the far post through a crowd of Liverpool defenders.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
16:34Assist Pedro Lomba Neto
Chelsea vs Liverpool
16:33EARLY CHANCE! Salah dribbles with close control into the penalty area, drawing both Cucurella and Madueke towards him before playing a pass between the pair for Jones, who promptly returns it to the Egypt international. From the byline, Salah attempts to centre a pass into the six-yard box by Sanchez dives off his line and claims the ball with one hand!
Chelsea vs Liverpool
16:32Liverpool get the match under way from the kick-off!
Chelsea vs Liverpool
16:18Off the back of guaranteeing the Premier League title, Liverpool make six alterations from the side that beat Tottenham 5-1 last weekend. Tsimikas replaces Robertson at left-back, while Quansah takes over from Konate in the middle of the defence. A new-look midfield sees Jones, Endo and Elliott come in from the start instead of Mac Allister, the uninvolved Ryan Gravenberch and Szoboszlai, and Jota leads the line in attack instead of Diaz.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
16:18Chelsea name an unchanged XI from the side that beat Everton 1-0 on April 26. Sanchez starts between the posts behind a four-man defence of Cucurella, Colwill, Chalobah and Caicedo. Fernandez and Lavia pair in midfield, while Neto, Palmer and Madueke will be looking to supply Jackson in attack.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
16:18LIVERPOOL SUBS: Caoimhin Kelleher, Andrew Robertson, Conor Bradley, Ibrahima Konate, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Darwin Nunez, Federico Chiesa, Luis Diaz.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
16:18LIVERPOOL XI (4-3-3): Alisson Becker; Kostas Tsimikas, Virgil Van Dijk, Jarell Quansah, Trent Alexander-Arnold; Curtis Jones, Wataru Endo, Harvey Elliott; Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota, Mohamed Salah.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
16:18CHELSEA SUBS: Filip Jorgensen, Benoit Badiashile, Josh Acheampong, Malo Gusto, Reece James, Tosin Adarabioyo, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Jadon Sancho, Tyrique George.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
16:18CHELSEA XI (4-2-3-1): Robert Sanchez; Marc Cucurella, Levi Colwill, Trevoh Chalobah, Moises Caicedo; Enzo Fernandez, Romeo Lavia; Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke; Nicolas Jackson.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
16:18With 15 minutes to go before kick-off, let’s take a look at how the two sides are lining up - starting with our hosts!
Chelsea vs Liverpool
16:03Liverpool’s 5-1 hammering of Tottenham at Anfield last week was their 25th win of the season, and the result that mathematically secured their 20th league title in club history; their second in the Premier League era. With nothing left to play for except pride, it remains to be seen whether Arne Slot will use the full extent of his squad and make sweeping changes in his final fixtures - giving rotational players a chance with one eye on next season. Should the Reds continue their impressive form and see out the rest of the campaign with four victories, they’d reach a maximum tally of 94, which is just five shy of their total in 2019-20.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
16:03Chelsea welcome the newly crowned Premier League champions to Stamford Bridge, with their fate anything but decided with four games to go. Sitting in fifth place, which is good enough for Champions League qualification come the end of the season, Enzo Maresca’s team are first among a trio of teams level on 60 points - alongside Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa - by virtue of a superior goal difference. A third-successive league win for the Blues would see them move up into a tie with Newcastle United in fourth after their earlier draw with Brighton, and close the space with Manchester City to just one point.
Chelsea vs Liverpool
16:03Hello and welcome to our LIVE commentary of the Premier League fixture between Chelsea and Liverpool!
Chelsea vs Liverpool
14:30Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…
