By: Kamusime Barnabas
liverpool got their Premier League trophy-lift party started on the pitch with a thrilling 5-3 win over Chelsea at Anfield, meaning the Blues’ top-four hopes go to the final day.
A draw would have secured Champions League football next season for Chelsea, but they capitulated in the first half as Liverpool got the party started early through Naby Keita’s stunner (23), Trent Alexander-Arnold’s fine free-kick (38) and Gini Wijnaldum’s volley (43).
Chelsea remain in fourth following Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with West Ham earlier on Wednesday, and both Chelsea and United need a point in their final game to secure a Champions League spot. Chelsea host Wolves, and Manchester United go to Leicester, who need to win to secure a top-four spot.
How Liverpool marked coronation in style
Chelsea were handed a major boost before kick-off after Manchester United could only draw 1-1 with West Ham at Old Trafford, meaning Frank Lampard’s side could secure a top-four spot with a draw at Anfield.
But Chelsea’s vibe was anything put positive as they crumbled in the first half. The aggressive Keita robbed the ball in midfield and drove an unstoppable 20-yard effort past Kepa Arrizabalaga and into the top-right corner, his first Premier League Anfield goal since April 2019.
Liverpool soon made it 2-0 in controversial fashion as referee Andre Marriner awarded the champions a free-kick in shooting range, despite Mateo Kovacic getting the ball in a challenge with Sadio Mane, a decision which angered Lampard as he disputed the decision with opposite number Jurgen Klopp. But Alexander-Arnold, the set-piece specialist, cared not, and curled a stunner into the top-right corner from 25 yards, his third free-kick goal of the campaign.
It was 3-0 just five minutes later as Chelsea capitulated defensively; from an Alexander-Arnold corner, Chelsea failed to clear, and despite the ball hitting Jorginho’s arm twice, Wijnaldum took matters into his own hands and slammed home a volley into the roof of the net from 12 yards.
Chelsea were given a lifeline just before the break as Giroud turned home on the line after Willian’s effort was parried by Alisson, but they showed no sign of shoring up in defence after the restart.
After shifting away from Antonio Rudiger, Mo Salah got his finish all wrong when through on goal, poking well wide of the left-hand post, but Liverpool soon regained their three-goal cushion, though, and it was relief for their No 9.
Firmino scored his first Anfield goal of the season in the Premier League, latching onto Alexander-Arnold’s exquisite right-wing delivery to head past Arrizabalaga, meaning the right-back has 13 assists this season, one more than last term.
Chelsea rang the changes, making three substitutions instantly, and two were involved in their second goal as Pulisic made a sublime run through three Liverpool challenges before squaring for Abraham to score.
As fireworks surrounded Anfield from fans outside, the fireworks continued on the pitch. Pulisic injected life into Chelsea, and was at it again moments later as he whistled an effort inches wide of the far post, but he was more accurate to make it 4-3, collecting with his back to goal and driving brilliantly into the top-right corner from 10 yards after Callum Hudson-Odoi’s centre.
Chelsea huffed and puffed, but Liverpool countered to kill off the game; Robertson skipped past Jorginho on the left and crossed far post to Oxlade-Chamberlain, whose first-time finish flew past Arrizabalaga.
Liverpool were ruthless and aggressive, as they have been for the majority of a momentous season, marking their coronation in style, while Chelsea must wait one more game to cap off a season of relative success for Lampard.
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