Chelsea were too charitable as Anfield title party guests. Before collecting the League trophy, Liverpool won 5-3 to prevent Chelsea from sealing a Champions League spot.
It leaves two of the four spots in Europe’s elite competition still up for grabs in Sunday’s final round of games.
Chelsea just need a point against Europa League-chasing Wolverhampton to seal a top-four finish. And there
will be a Champions League qualification showdown between Manchester United and Leicester.
For the first time since September, United are back in the top four and Leicester have dropped out after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side drew 1-1 with West Ham on Wednesday.
Liverpool as champions and second-place Manchester City have already qualified for the Champions League.
The title sealed last month, all that was at stake for Liverpool against Chelsea was preserving their unbeaten record in the league at home this season. It’s now 18 wins out of 19. The only dropped points were from a draw against Burnley in the previous home game.
Naby Keïta’s thunderbolt of a shot, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s stunning dipping free kick and Gini Wijnaldum’s close-range strike sent Liverpool into a 3-0 led. Olivier Giroud was able to pull one back before half-time after goalkeeper Alisson parried Willian’s shot into the striker’s path.
But Roberto Firmino waited until the final home game of the season for a league goal at Anfield this campaign, heading in from Alexander-Arnold’s cross. Chelsea threatened a comeback when Christian Pulisic set up Tammy Abraham’s goal and got on the scoresheet himself, swivelling before striking into the net.
But Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain completed the job for Liverpool with a fifth goal in front of the Kop where the players later collected the trophy.
Promotion
On the final day of the Championship season, West Bromwich secured a return to the Premier League after a two-year absence by drawing 2-2 with Queens Park Rangers. The central England team joined champion Leeds in claiming the second automatic promotion spot ahead of Brentford.
Brentford still have a route into the Premier League for the first time via the play-offs where the west London team will play Swansea in the semis over two legs. Cardiff or Fulham will await in the final at the Wembley next month.
