Chelsea, adhering to tradition, formed a guard of honour for the newly crowned champions, Liverpool, as they entered the pitch.
However, the respect shown off the pitch didn`t extend to the game itself. The champions` defense was quickly breached, allowing Enzo Fernandez to easily navigate through and open the scoring within the first three minutes.
Adding to their generosity, Liverpool then provided Premier League`s most frustrated forward, Cole Palmer, the chance to end his 18-game goal drought with the final kick, converting a penalty.
It was a display of remarkable amicability between two of the Premier League`s leading clubs. With their league title secured and little else to play for, Liverpool seemed to step aside, enabling Champions League-chasing Chelsea to comfortably secure a vital win.
One could argue Liverpool actively contributed to Chelsea`s cause, particularly with the embarrassing and clumsy nature of the second goal, which left them with no real chance of recovery.
Enzo Maresca`s side became the first team to defeat Liverpool since they clinched their 20th league title the previous Sunday. But this result shouldn`t be overstated.
Maresca`s team remains in fifth place, still battling hard for the fifth and potentially final qualifying spot for Europe`s top competition next season.
Liverpool, based on this performance, appeared mentally checked out. Their metaphorical boots packed away, ready for a summer break and trophy parade. They likely put more energy into anticipating the celebrations in a few weeks.
The contest felt uneven, even though Chelsea can be encouraged by their first home Premier League victory against this opponent in seven years.
The win should have been by a larger margin than 3-1. Cole Palmer looked sharp and was instrumental in the first goal, though his earlier shot hitting the inside of the post suggested his goal drought might continue, despite his clear talent.
He finally found personal success by scoring from the spot with the match`s last touch, a fitting conclusion to a one-sided affair. It was his first goal since January 14.
The game could have ended even more comfortably for Chelsea had Nicolas Jackson not been caught offside three times.
The stark contrast between Liverpool`s performance last weekend and this one was remarkable. Against Tottenham last week, they conceded first but responded powerfully, scoring five goals. That resilience was completely absent here; the team seemed entirely disengaged.
Their usually formidable defense, a cornerstone of their record-equalling title win, comically imploded for the second goal. It was the kind of mistake you`d expect from amateur Sunday league players, not champions.
Virgil van Dijk`s attempt to clear the ball from near his own goal line ricocheted off Jarell Quansah just a yard away and bounced into the net. A moment of pure embarrassment matching their red shirts.
When Van Dijk scored a consolation header from a corner in the final minutes, it felt like a small personal redemption, but the game was already well out of Liverpool`s reach.
For Chelsea, the result offers significant psychological advantage alongside the points in their pursuit of a top-five finish.
Their opening goal was the result of a classic, rapid counter-attack – the kind of play that excites fans and counters criticism of manager Enzo Maresca`s sometimes slower, more deliberate approach.
Romeo Lavia delivered a precise pass through the lines to Cole Palmer. Palmer expertly shifted the ball to his right, finding Pedro Neto.
The Portuguese winger, without breaking his stride, raced to the byline and cut the ball back perfectly to his unmarked captain just outside the penalty area. Fernandez took a touch and drilled a low shot into the bottom corner.
It was a fluid and effective passage of play from a team with substantial goals to achieve in the remaining weeks of the season.
Chelsea will need to fight until the very last game to secure their return to the Champions League.
Liverpool are the only Premier League team currently guaranteed a spot in next year`s competition. Having already won the title, it`s perhaps understandable that motivating the players beyond their basic professional duty to participate and play was challenging.
However, it must be noted that Arne Slot`s team does seem to have issues against Chelsea. In October, they narrowly beat Maresca`s side 2-1, though it was widely agreed they were fortunate on that occasion and found Chelsea`s tactics and players difficult to handle despite getting the three points.
This factor should be a positive takeaway for this young Chelsea squad, which has struggled to find the consistent form that Liverpool demonstrated throughout the season.
This win, however it was achieved, marks Chelsea`s fourth consecutive victory under Maresca. Among these recent wins, the comeback victory at Fulham in injury time is arguably the most significant.
