Fresh off clinching the Premier League title last week, Liverpool rolled into Stamford Bridge with the pressure off-but Chelsea had no intention of giving the newly crowned champions an easy ride. A dominant attacking display from the Blues earned them a 3-1 win, powered by clinical finishing and relentless pressure.

Key Stats Tell the Tale

Despite Liverpool’s superior possession, Chelsea created double the shots, tripled the xG, and landed six shots on target to Liverpool’s two. Chelsea’s midfield not only won the territorial battle but pushed numbers forward-35 touches inside the Liverpool box underscored the home side’s attacking intent. For Liverpool, the numbers reflect a flat performance: only nine box entries and a lack of sustained penetration despite dominating the ball.

Momentum and Missed Chances

The momentum graph paints Chelsea’s growing dominance after an early opener from Enzo Fernández in the third minute. Liverpool’s attacks were sporadic and never quite wrestled the initiative back. Even with 63% possession, Liverpool couldn’t translate control into threat, with their xG per shot just 0.088. Chelsea, meanwhile, carved open Liverpool’s backline with direct runs and clever combination play, highlighted by Palmer and Madueke’s involvement across the front.

A Tale of Two xGs

The shot maps tell the story: Chelsea peppered Alisson’s goal with 17 attempts, creating high-quality chances from inside the box. The Blues converted three of those, each goal coming from close range, including Cole Palmer’s tidy finish in stoppage time to seal it.

Liverpool managed just eight shots all game. Chelsea’s victory was underpinned by a huge expected goals advantage, clocking 3.03 xG compared to Liverpool’s 0.71.

Passing Patterns: Patience vs Penetration

The pass maps reveal contrasting approaches. Liverpool built methodically from deep, with Alisson and van Dijk initiating moves, but struggled to progress effectively through Chelsea’s midfield block. Curtis Jones and Wataru Endo saw plenty of the ball but lacked vertical connections into Jota and Salah.

Chelsea’s pass network, on the other hand, was tighter and more aggressive around the half-spaces. Fernández, Lavia, and Palmer formed a triangle that consistently fed the wide players and created overloads, ultimately overwhelming Liverpool’s defensive shape.

In the End…

This was Chelsea at their sharpest, reminding the league they still have the quality to challenge on big occasions. For Liverpool, it’s a minor blemish on an otherwise title-winning season, their energy perhaps dulled after sealing the trophy last week. But for Chelsea, it’s three points wrapped in a statement performance-and a potential springboard heading into the final stretch.