Soccer

ON THE BEACH Liverpool were beaten comprehensively by Enzo Maresca’s tricky Blues as the home side picked up a huge three points in the race for Champions League football. Before joining Chelsea, it was Liverpool who were rumoured to be interested in the Blues’ midfield trio of Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia AND Enzo Fernandez, ending up with none of them – today, it was easy to see why. Chelsea kept up the heat in the Champions League race with a 3-1 win over LiverpoolCredit: ReutersCole Palmer was among the star performers for the hostsCredit: GettyWith changes coming in for Liverpool, the three of them were on top of their game in a confident win against the champions who are usually dominant in the middle of the park. It took only three minutes for Chelsea to establish control, with Enzo Fernandez caressing the ball into the bottom corner. It was then Cole Palmer causing chaos for the goal that put the Blues two to the good, with a mazy run and low cross leading to a Van Dijk clearance cannoning in off of Jarell Quansah’s face. The Reds made it tight with Van Dijk header with five minutes to go, but it was the Stamford Bridge outfit who took home all three points after a Cole Palmer penalty sealed the deal for the SW6 outfit. READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHere’s how SunSport’s Lloyd Canfield rated the players…Robert Sanchez – 7Had one of his best games in a Chelsea shirt last week in the win against Everton, and it looked as though in that game his confidence improved massively. Fans were hopeful it would be the same Robert Sanchez that showed up today, and it was. BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSHe was confident coming out to meet the ball, didn’t spill any shots back to oncoming Liverpool attackers, and came up big for his team when required – ending up unfortunate not to get a clean sheet. Most read in FootballDeserves credit for something of a remontada on a personal level, which Chelsea fans will be hoping he can continue. Join SUN CLUB for the Chelsea Files every Tuesday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Stamford BridgeMoises Caicedo – 9M.C. That can stand for Moises Caicedo or Mr. Consistent, take your pick. The Ecuadorian started at right back again today, as he did against Everton, and he is that good he might just displace club captain Reece James in that spot, if Romeo Lavia can stay fit or with the arrival of Andrey Santos next season. Stepped into midfield every time it was required of him, and didn’t give Cody Gakpo or Diogo Jota an inch on Liverpool’s left. Another fantastic, dominant, display rounded off by winning the penalty that saw Cole Palmer end his 18-match goal-barren run. Trevoh Chalobah – 6A largely good performance up against a dangerous Liverpool attack was let down by being beaten in the air at a corner by Virgil Van Dijk when the Reds equalised. Aside from that he was pretty solid, putting in some clutch challenges and notably clearing the ball well when required to get the ball away from danger. Trevoh Chalobah was solid on the pitchCredit: APLevi Colwill – 6Similar to his counterpart in the centre of defence, Levi did what was asked of him for large parts of the game, and was perhaps unfortunate not to walk away with a clean sheet today. Was good in the air and along the ground, although has admittedly had busier days this season. Has a great relationship with Cucurella on the left side of Chelsea’s defence, one which is expected to blossom as the BlueCo project does so in the next few seasons. Marc Cucurella – 8I have said numerous times this season that Marc Cucurella is the best left-back in the Premier League, and it feels like every time I watch him he proves me right. Playing up against Mo Salah is no easy task in the slightest, but Cucu handled it well. With that threat up against him, it nullified his prominent attacking threat a bit, but that allowed Moises Caicedo to invert into midfield on the opposite side, which suits him. Marc Cucurella was impressive at left-backCredit: ReutersRomeo Lavia – 8Romeo Lavia was heavily fancied by Liverpool before joining Chelsea from Southampton, and was last week praised by Enzo Maresca who said he could be one of the best midfielders in the WORLD if he can stay fit. That’s an opinion of the Italian’s that I share, as he started a second successive league game at Stamford Bridge and was fantastic again. He is without doubt a part of Enzo Maresca’s favourite XI, and it’s easy to see why when he is so good on the half turn and able to break the lines with confident passes forward. A transitional machine who didn’t misplace a single pass either. Enzo Fernandez – 9Having his most productive season to date, it took the Argentine midfielder just THREE minutes to settle inside the box and roll the ball past Alisson into the bottom corner. Not only that, he was combative in midfield in his own box and composed in the middle of the park on the ball. His passion and energy is unmatched in this Chelsea squad, and was evident today again as he seems to share the joy of those supporters that have been coming to the Bridge for years – a man of the match display. Pedro Neto – 7Bagged an assist inside three minutes with a run down the right wing before his low cross found the feet of Enzo Fernandez in the box. Came close with a shot in the first half that hit the side netting and remained a threat throughout the opening 45. He was a handful for Kostas Tsimikas to deal with and put in a few good crosses which saw him a bit unfortunate not to get on the assist sheet again. Cole Palmer – 9’Palmer again, Ole, Ole’ chanted the fans as he ended his goal drought. He’s back.After arguably his least impactful game in a Chelsea shirt against the Blue half of Merseyside last time out in the Premier League, Cole Palmer looked like he had a spring in his step today. The attacking midfielder was instrumental in both of the Blues’ goals, breaking Curtis Jones’ ankles in the build up to the first and completing a mazey dribble followed by a dangerous ball into the middle that caused chaos for Liverpool’s defence and ended up with Quansah directing it into his own goal. Finally ended his goal drought with a killer blow at the death from the penalty spot. Noni Madueke – 7Starting on the left again after a great performance against Everton in that position, we might be starting to see a new rendition of Noni Madueke at Stamford Bridge. We know his game on the right, stand up the fullback, beat him, and get a shot off. But on the left he seems a different player, more exciting, with the same pace and power he combined well with Marc Cucurella and tracked back to do his defensive due diligence. Nicolas Jackson – 4If the offside rule didn’t exist, Nicolas Jackson would’ve had a huge impact on this game – unfortunately it does. After just a few minutes he rounded Alisson and would’ve seen the keeper sent off had he not been beyond the last defender. Jackson ran the channels well, and you can criticise his efforts, but was offside too frequently and made the wrong decisions when he received the ball in a good position, namely nutmegging Quansah and taking a shot from an impossible angle rather than squaring it for Neto. Was replaced by Sancho as the first change. SUBS: Jadon Sancho (Nicolas Jackson, 72) – 5Wasn’t able to impact the game in the same way he has lately, in what has been a good run of form for the tricky winger. Didn’t have an awful lot of time to make a meaningful impact, but wasn’t bad by any means. Malo Gusto (Romeo Lavia, 78) – 5Did his part in seeing out the game for Chelsea, making tackles and clearances when needed as Liverpool pushed for an equaliser. Read More on The SunReece James (Enzo Fernandez, 88) – 5Much the same as Gusto, did what was asked of him in limited minutes.  More

CHELSEA welcomed Liverpool onto the pitch as tradition demands with a guard of honour.The champions of England returned the compliment by opening up their defence for Enzo Fernandez to stroll through and score within three minutes.Cole Palmer nets from the penalty spotCredit: ReutersPalmer is congratulated for ending his goal droughtCredit: ReutersAnd they granted the Premier League’s most frustrated forward in Cole Palmer the opportunity to end his 18 game dry run with the last kick of the game.So nice to see two of the Premier League’s modern giants getting on so well.With medals around their necks and absolutely nothing to play for except contractual obligations, Liverpool stepped aside and allowed Champions League chasing Chelsea to record an important victory with relative ease.You could even argue they actively helped them in the cause with the embarrassing, bungling nature of the second goal from which there was no way back. READ MORE IN FOOTBALLEnzo Maresca’s team is the first to beat Liverpool since they clinched a 20th league title last Sunday. But don’t read too much into it.Maresca’s players remain fifth and still in a scrap for the fifth and final qualifying place for the top level of European competition next season.Liverpool are gone on this evidence. Boots packed away for a summer of self-congratulation with sandals at the ready. They’ll put more effort into the trophy parade in three weeks’ time.It wasn’t a fair contest even if Chelsea can take heart from their first Premier League win at home against this mob in seven years.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSFernandez, 24, celebrates his early openerCredit: GettyEnzo Fernandez strokes Chelsea into an early leadCredit: RexAnd it should have been more than 3-1. A lot more. Palmer looked energised and played a key role in the opening goal. But having hit the inside of the post from an impossibly tight angle there looked no happy ending for Chelsea’s most naturally gifted player.’This guy is stupid’ – Moment Cole Palmer gets annoyed as Chelsea stars try to settle ‘100 men vs gorilla’ debateHe can now celebrate personal success after converting a penalty with the last kick of the game in a fitting finale to a lop-sided match. His first goal since January 14.And were it not for Nicolas Jackson’s three offside offences, the ending to the game would have been even more comfortable for The Blues.The contrast between Liverpool of last weekend and this was worth the entry price alone. Last weekend they went behind to Tottenham, only to fire up and hit five in response. That was never going to happen here with a team entirely switched off from the task in front of them.So much so that the formidable defence which has played such a part in this record-equalling title triumph self-combusted with a goal would not have looked out of place had it been conceded by hungover Sunday park players.Virgil van Dijk’s industrial clearance attempt from a yard off his line struck Jarell Quansah just a yard away and rebounded back over the line. Red faces all round to match the colours of the away team’s shirts. When Van Dijk grabbed a consolation in the dying stages from a corner there was a sense of personal redemption about it, because the game had gone from Liverpool by then.Chelsea double their lead courtesy of an own goalCredit: GettyMo Salah was barely given a sniff against his former clubCredit: GettyThe result for Chelsea is one of psychological benefit as much as numerical in the hunt for the top five.They went ahead through the kind of lightning strike counter attack that all fans love to see. Even more so here though with manager Enzo Maresca coming in for criticism over his sometimes slow and steady style of play.Romeo Lavia played a pass through the lines to Cole Palmer, who switched feet to feed Pedro Neto to his right.The Portuguese winger did not break stride as he dashed to the by line and spotted his skipper completely unmarked on the edge of the box.A deft cut back and Fernandez took a step forward and drilled a low shot into the bottom corner.It was a sweeping passage of play from a team that has much to chase in the last weeks of the campaign.Chelsea are going to be fighting right to the last game of the season to earn their place back in the Champions League. Liverpool were given a guard of honour by Chelsea ahead of kick offCredit: ReutersVirgil van Dijk headed Liverpool back into the contest late onCredit: GettyLiverpool are the first and so far only Premier League team guaranteed their place in it next year.And already assured of the title, it must be almost impossible to motivate the players beyond their professional duty to turn up and roll a ball about for the cameras.It must be said that Arne Slot’s team does have a problem with Chelsea. Back in October they snatched a 2-1 victory over Maresca’s team at the same point of the weekend.But it was widely agreed they got away with it that day and found Maresca’s tactics and players particularly awkward to overcome before coming away with three points.That’s got to be a positive going forwards for a young Chelsea team that has found the consistency needed to achieve the things Liverpool have this season hard to come by.This win, however wonky it is, is the fourth in a row for Maresca. Of them all, the one at Fulham when they fought back in injury time, is the most significant.Read More on The SunThis win was nowhere near the toughest either. With European rivals Newcastle and Nottingham Forest still to come in the final three Premier League games, both are away, there will be sterner tests than facing the team metaphorically drunk on success. Van Dijk celebrates his late goalCredit: Getty More