Liverpool suffered defeat in their first game since being crowned Premier League champions as Cole Palmer ended his Chelsea scoring drought to round off a 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge and boost the Blues’ Champions League ambitions.
Enzo Fernandez’s early goal set the tone for Enzo Maresca’s side largely to dominate, turning in one of their best displays of the season at just the right moment in the race for the top five, though there was little complaining to be heard from a triumphant away support gathered in the Shed End.
Victory pulls Chelsea level on points with fourth-placed Newcastle and moves them three clear of Nottingham Forest in sixth.
Arne Slot made six changes to the team that thrashed Tottenham to seal the title last weekend, handing Wataru Endo and Harvey Elliott their first league starts while there was just a third start in defence for Quansah.
Maresca began with the same side that beat Everton a week ago and they caught Liverpool out with a goal inside three minutes.
Liverpool appeared overawed in the opening minutes as Chelsea barrelled through holes in their midfield.
Chelsea had been rampant and after 56 minutes they deservedly doubled their lead.
It began with a slip by Curtis Jones costing Liverpool possession. Palmer took over, standing up Tsimikas before racing round the outside and pulling the ball back towards Madueke who, arriving at speed, was prevented by Endo from forcing it home.
Instead, Liverpool did it for him, Van Dijk whacking the ball against Quansah who watched helplessly as it rebounded into the net.
Darwin Nunez came off the bench and headed hopelessly wide when unmarked six yards out as a badly-blunted Liverpool struggled for answers.
Van Dijk set nerves jangling when he headed in from a corner with six minutes to play but Chelsea and Palmer had the last word from the penalty spot, bringing to an end months of frustration.
