Chelsea dealt Liverpool a 3-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge just days after the Reds celebrated clinching the Premier League title. Although Liverpool’s status as champions remains unaffected, the result brought them back down to earth following the high of sealing their second league title in five years—and their first under new manager Arne Slot.
Understandably, there appeared to be something of a title hangover in Liverpool’s performance. The team only began to show their usual intensity well into the second half, by which point Chelsea had already taken control. It should be noted that Liverpool were missing several key first-team players, including Ryan Gravenberch, which likely contributed to their sluggish start.
Despite the disappointing result for the champions, Chelsea deserved credit for their performance, particularly in how they approached the match with urgency and belief. Cole Palmer was central to that effort, delivering a standout performance capped by a confidently taken penalty in stoppage time to secure the final scoreline. Speaking after the game, Palmer was quick to acknowledge Liverpool’s quality while also highlighting Chelsea’s resilience and determination.
“They’re champions for a reason but we showed good fight and desire,” Palmer told *Sky Sports*, showing respect to the opposition even after inflicting their first loss since securing the title.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca echoed Palmer’s sentiments in his own post-match interview. He praised Liverpool as a top team and admitted that they forced Chelsea into a more defensive game than originally planned. “We didn’t plan to wait and defend deep,” Maresca said, “but they forced us to do this. This showed why they won the Premier League, because they are a top side.”
The reactions from both Palmer and Maresca were gracious, highlighting the mutual respect between the two teams. It’s clear that while Chelsea were eager for the points to boost their Champions League hopes, they didn’t underestimate the task of beating the newly crowned champions.
From Liverpool’s perspective, while the defeat might sting, especially given how flat the team looked for large spells, it doesn’t detract from what has been a phenomenal season. Under Arne Slot’s leadership, they have secured the title with three games still to play, accumulating 82 points from 35 matches. Although a 94-point finish is no longer possible, there’s still every reason for the team to push toward a 90-point campaign—a strong statement to round off a successful year.
With remaining fixtures ahead, including a potentially high-profile match against Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, Liverpool can refocus and aim to end their campaign on a high. The defeat at Chelsea may serve as a timely reminder that champions must always maintain high standards, even after the tit
le is secured.
