Chelsea: Fernandez 3’, Quansah (OG) 56’, Palmer 90+5’
Liverpool: Van Dijk 84’
Pre-Match
The Champions are back.Liverpool have traveled down to Stamford Bridge for their first of four guards of honor to celebrate securing their 20th league title. Seeing players that have turned us down in the past having to clap our entrance will be a treat. Slot also wasn’t lying when he said there would be some heavy rotation in these final matches of the season, with Harvey Elliott (!!) and Wataru Endo (!!!) getting starts, joining more recent starters Diogo Jota and Kostas Tsimikas. Here’s hoping the Sunday parties have well worn off but the focus doesn’t shift now that the hard work is done.
Just because we’re now champions doesn’t mean we don’t want to keep winning.
First Half
Nothing like hearing “Campione” ring out around Stamford Bridge from the away fans before the match even starts! The guard of honor left a little to be desired (the child mascots clapped more than the players did) but we get underway and the Reds take control early on, getting an opportunity to shoot before the minute mark, but Salah’s effort is easily saved. It doesn’t take long for Liverpool to lose focus and Chelsea score within the third minute after the Reds just give the hosts too much space. (It’s fine, we’re still champions).
Things get a little spicy as Cody Gakpo fires a rocket that is unfortunately well caught by the Chelsea ‘keeper and the Blues get into a good counterattack. Alisson comes out of his box to handle an oncoming Chelsea player, makes the tackle but it looks a little suspect. Thankfully, our Brazilian is saved by the offside flag and play continues. Tsimikas gets himself tangled with Pedro Neto at one point and Neto goes down like a ragdoll because it happens to be in the box. There are penalty shouts once again but there was nothing in the foul and play continues. (It’s fine, we’re still champions).
As things settle in and both teams relax into the match, the away fans start bringing out all the songs they know from the legendary songbook, including those for players on the bench like Darwin Núñez and Luis Diaz, and retired players like Luis Garcia (noted Chelsea menace). Chelsea win a corner in the 30th minute and those same away fans work on antagonizing Enzo before going back to their thorough review of our chants. Honestly, though, we may be a little hungover but it’s fine, we’re still champions.
Chelsea are able to take a little more control as Liverpool work through their party fatigue, with a chance finding the back of the net but the flag goes down quickly to rule it out and the match goes into halftime 1-0.
It’s fine, we’re still champions.
Second Half
We get back underway with no changes, and now attacking towards the traveling Kop. It feels very much like the squad is taking the same position as I am, that things are fine, we’re still champions. Chelsea are trying harder to score than we are, but we’re saved by their uncanny ability to not know when they’re offside. I guess Darwin spent time training with them this week.
To their credit, Liverpool have more possession in this second half so an equalizer is likely, at some point. Naturally, shortly after writing this Chelsea get a second after some miscommunication in the box leads to an own goal from young Jarrell Quansah and the hosts’ lead doubles. Slot makes two changes in response, bringing on Conor Bradley for Trent Alexander-Arnold and Darwin Núñez for Diogo Jota. It’s fine, we’re still champions. (If the away fans are unrattled, why should we be?)
Quansah is unfortunately not making a very good case for starting in the future, although some of the blame could be laid on Slot for throwing a young player into an emotional fixture like Chelsea after not playing in a number of weeks. Liverpool win a corner in the 62nd minute and Tsimikas’ lofted ball finds the capable head of Virgil van Dijk, but the ball disappointingly goes over the top of goal. It’s fine, we’re still champions.
Endo and Elliott make way for Dominik Sozboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister, after Liverpool have a couple more chances not find the net. Darwin is doing his best to find a goal to at least get Liverpool on the scoresheet, and with twenty minutes left there’s still plenty of time to make something happen. We’ve also been slightly better defensively now that our normal midfield is on the pitch and Quansah has probably gotten his head screwed on a little better, but really, it’s fine, we’re still champions.
It’s so fine that Slot brings on Federico Chiesa for Kostas Tsimikas, just to ensure that the Italian can get a medal (this being his fifth Premier League appearance all season). A GOAL FINALLY COMES FOR THE REDS! VIRGIL WITH A HEADER FROM A CORNER, NATURALLY! And it’s 2-1! Let’s at least get a point out of these losers!
There are five minutes of added time, so plenty of chances to find that equalizer but again, it’s fine, we’re still champions. (Quansah giving away a penalty at the last gasp of the match is not great, to be honest). Palmer puts it away and it’s 3-1 but (say it with me) we’re still champions.
Final Thoughts
You know what, Liverpool didn’t do the thing but it’s honestly okay. It doesn’t negate the fact that we’re the Premier League Champions and they’re not. Credit to the traveling Kop for constantly reminding them of that.