Eight Goals at Empty Anfield, Liverpool Beats Chelsea, 5-3

Liverpool won its last match at home this season, defeating Chelsea with 5-3. It was one of the most interesting games of the campaign, with the Reds having the edge all the time, and their rivals trying to catch up the lead.

This was a very important game for the visitors who need just one point to get their spot in the Champions League next year. After Manchester United played 1-1 against West Ham at home, this possibility opened for Frank Lampard’s guys, but they didn’t use it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJ9zKMRu7UU

Liverpool was up 3-0 after 43 minutes, netting all three scores in the span of 20 minutes. It was Naby Keita who broke the ice with a rocket from outside the box, which deflected off the bar and entered the goal.

Alexander-Arnold once again demonstrated his free-kick abilities adding one more goal to his tally. Eventually, Wijnaldum hit the back of the net for 3-0 two minutes before the end of the first half.

Olivier Giroud reacted well in the Reds’ box and gave a breath of fresh air to his team in the third minute of the stoppage time to make it 3-1.

But shortly after the start of the second half, Firmino scored the fourth goal for the hosts.

Lampard decided the bring in Christian Pulisic, which was the right thing to do, with the American changing everything on the court. He would assist Tammy Abraham for a goal 120 seconds following his substitution, and execute superbly from inside the box a little bit later. Those were the moments when Chelsea held everything in its hands, indicating that they might reach the hosts.

Yet, Oxlade-Chamberlain was the one who rebuffed the Blues’ surge, scoring the fifth goal for the home team and putting an end on this contest.

Liverpool travels to Newcastle in the last round, while Chelsea hosts Wolverhampton. This is the match of the season for the team from London, who needs just one point to be among the top four places, regardless of all the other outcomes. The other two rivals for the UCL spot, Leicester City and Manchester United, clash with one another at King Power stadium.