Chelsea

Phil Cartwright
BBC Sport journalist

Enzo Maresca has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Conference League semi-final second leg against Djurgarden (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Chelsea won the first leg 4-1 in Sweden last week.

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Maresca reported no new injury problems while Marc Guiu is "very close to being back" but the Chelsea boss said his striker may benefit from more training sessions before returning.

• On player of the season Moises Caicedo: "He has done well since day one. He's working very hard. The way he behaves is a good example for his team-mates and for the younger players, even though he is very young."

• Maresca said it is "very important for different reasons" that Chelsea go on to take the Conference League title: "The main one is we want this club winning trophies. It's important personally, but it's more important for the club and the fans. Chelsea can become the first club to win all European competitions so that would be good for the club."

• Maresca was asked about the players in his squad who have not yet won a major prize and whether winning the Conference League will give them hunger for more trophies: "Day by day, you have to build the winning mentality. The competition we're in at the moment is the Conference League and we have to try to win this competition. Hopefully, in the future we can be in different competitions, but at the moment, the reality is the reality."

• On how Blues have dealt with being favourites to win the competition for much of the season: "When you join a competition or you're in a game where you're under pressure to win, it's not the same. You have to do the job and the most important thing is also to convince the players that there are no easy games. Any game can be tricky."

• He said experiences from the previous round when Chelsea won convincingly in Poland against Legia Warsaw but lost the return leg at Stamford Bridge will be handy: "That experience is hopefully going to help all of us. We will try to do our job tomorrow, play a good game, try to win again and continue to build momentum."

Follow all of Wednesday's news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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Chelsea take a 4-1 lead into Thursday's Conference League semi-final second leg against Djurgarden at Stamford Bridge - but goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen has said a spot in the final is not being taken for granted.

"It's full focus," he said. "We will take it as seriously as any other game. At the end of the day, it's the semi-final of a European competition and we want to be in the final.

"I don't think any of us think this is done yet. We have 90 minutes left to play, we're going to give it our all and we want to win this game as well."

Jorgensen was at Spanish club Villarreal when they won the 2021 Europa League and, although he was not in the squad for the final victory over Manchester United, it is an experience he has gained a lot from.

The 23-year-old added: "I saw a lot of things when we won that competition - also emotionally and how every player was so happy to win a trophy. [I thought] I want to be there one day and hopefully we can do it this year."

Pat Nevin
Former Chelsea winger

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Chelsea fans celebrated a rare win against the champions but this was far from a full-fat Liverpool side. In fact, they were a shadow of themselves in those first 65 minutes.

It was no surprise to see Liverpool in limp mode, in that they had little to play for and the entire first-choice midfield had been surgically removed pre-match by Arne Slot.

Is it harsh to suggest Chelsea are still a distance from being serious contenders when they won 3-1 against Liverpool Lite? The answer is still yes - the 22-point gap is the far more relevant statistic.

That said, the return to form of Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke, alongside a brilliant display by Romeo Lavia, means they are coming into form at just the right time for the top five race down the home straight.

Even so, there will be a few new faces at the Bridge next season. There is always continuous change from owners Clearlake, so you never know what might happen. At the end of the weekend, the important thing is that the battle for the top five is closer than ever.

Chelsea visit another bogey club next week in Newcastle United, who are on the same points tally. I suspect Eddie Howe will not leave his entire midfield on the bench at St James' on Sunday, so this will be a much tougher ask for Maresca's men.

Whoever wins that one will almost certainly bag a Champions League berth.

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Will Faulks
Fan writer

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Cole Palmer was superb for Chelsea in Sunday's win over Liverpool, playing a part in the build-up of two goals and then scoring the third. He was the focus of much of the post-game discussion as he spoke to the TV cameras about his recent difficult spell and how he had coped with it.

But also vital in the victory was Romeo Lavia, whose problems have been a lot more severe and frustrating than Palmer's.

While the England international simply had a run without scoring, Lavia has had two full seasons of injury setbacks, which have prevented him playing. That is a far harder psychological battle to fight and it takes a strong character to come through.

It is a real sign of Enzo Maresca's faith in the Belgian that he puts the midfielder into his starting XI as soon as he is able. There is no need for him to prove his fitness and earn his place; as soon as he has the green light, Maresca restores him to the heart of his team.

It is easy to see why. After the win over Everton the week before, the coach praised Lavia's balance of attacking and defensive contributions, and on Sunday both sides of his game were in evidence.

He is excellent at winning the ball, keeping the ball, and using the ball. No matter what the state of the game or what his team need to do at that moment, he is capable of helping out to a very high level.

His presence in the team also allows Maresca to deploy Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo in even more effective ways.

This win did not mean the race for the Champions League is over - Chelsea still need some huge results in their final three league games.

But with Lavia back and playing well, their chances have improved significantly

Find more from Will Faulks at Chelsea News, external

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Chelsea have learned how to get by without midfielder Romeo Lavia but, against Liverpool, they were also reminded that they are better with him.

The 21-year-old did not misplace any of his 23 passes during his 78 minutes on the pitch in the 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

When Lavia came off, the away supporters chanted "you could have won the league" and "you could have signed for the champions".

It was perhaps a sign of respect from a fanbase to be critical of the £53m former Southampton man they missed out on in 2023.

The Belgian proved press resistant and is handy at picking up the ball from defenders and shuffling it through the lines.

His sheer presence seems to have given Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernandez a lift since he returned against Everton last weekend. It also took some of the pressure off Chelsea's newly crowned player of the season, Moises Caicedo.

The only issue with Lavia - and everyone knows it - is his fitness. His inability to play two matches a week has led to him not be registered for the Conference League.

However, even here there is light at the end of the tunnel as he has played 741 minutes this season, well above the 32 he managed in 2023-24 - but without completing a full match during his two years at Chelsea.

Lavia will be carefully managed but Enzo Maresca is understood to be optimistic that the midfielder's fitness record will continue to improve.

As for the jibes by Liverpool fans, Lavia appeared to lap them up because, as a kid who grew up supporting Chelsea, he enjoys being part of this newly rebuilt squad.

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Former Nottingham Forest striker Robert Earnshaw says the Reds could be shaping up for "a cup final on the final day against Chelsea".

Nuno Espirito Santo's side are in sixth, two points behind Enzo Maresca's fifth-placed Blues, after Monday's 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace.

Forest host Leicester next weekend and then go to West Ham, before Chelsea visit the City Ground on 25 May. Meanwhile, the Blues travel to Newcastle and then face Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.

"Ideally, you want to probably get two wins before that and that would put big pressure on Chelsea," Earnshaw told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast on Tuesday. "Then you might only need a draw because I think seven points will do it.

"That could be a cup final [against Chelsea at the City Ground] - whoever wins goes to the Champions League. On that final day, it could be an absolute cruncher of a game."

• Not a Forest or Chelsea fan? Find and follow your team on BBC Sport here

Coincidentally, Forest played Chelsea in their final home game of last season, and it proved to be a humdinger.

The two sides were locked at 1-1 going into the final 15 minutes, before Callum Hudson-Odoi put the hosts ahead.

However, Chelsea countered with two goals in two minutes from Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Jackson to claim all three points in a 3-2 win.

Reds fans will be hoping history will not be repeated...

Manchester United have told Chelsea they will have to pay £65m to sign 20-year-old Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho this summer. (Star), external

Meanwhile, the Blues are set to hold talks with midfielder Moises Caicedo over a new contract this summer, as reward for his impressive performances this season. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Want more transfer news? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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Chelsea gaining "momentum" at this stage of the season is "impressive" as "every game is a final" now, says fan and YouTuber Nina Hristova.

The Blues took three crucial points in their 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge over newly-crowned Premier League champions Liverpool on Sunday.

It leaves Enzo Maresca's side sitting fifth in the table, on the same points as Newcastle and three ahead of Nottingham Forest - both teams they face in the final three games of the campaign.

"When we have been so up and down, so inconsistent this season, to gain this momentum at this point has been so impressive. Credit to Maresca for setting us up the way he did," Hristova told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.

"Yes, some might say it wasn't very 'Premier League champions' of Liverpool the way they played but, ultimately, I think Chelsea deserve a lot more credit. From defence, to midfield, to attack, we were very, very impressive.

"Cole Palmer was exceptional. It was the Palmer we have been missing in the last 18, 19 games of his goal drought. Palmer brings so much more than goals and assists in this team and he showed that yesterday.

"Even if he hadn't scored that penalty, I think we still would have all walked away and said Cole Palmer was perhaps the deserved player of the match because he was so crucial in the build-up. His through-balls, his vision, he is really, really like no other. A great boost of confidence for him.

"St James' Park anytime of the year is a difficult place to go, but every game is a final. We are competing with Nottingham Forest and Newcastle, so we can definitely go there with a bit of confidence."

Listen back on BBC Sounds

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We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Chelsea and Liverpool.

Here are some of your comments:

Richard: Excellent from Chelsea. The chips were down, but they came up with a performance. Enzo Fernandez is now more of an attacking threat from midfield, Romeo Lavia's return has added to the team, and Cole Palmer is on song again. Very encouraging that our fate is in our own hands with key trips to Newcastle and Nottingham Forest yet to come. Hang on in there!

Jeremy: I've criticised Enzo Maresca multiple times, so it's only right I praise him for the way the team shaped up and played. We completely played the champions off the park, and it arguably could have been more. A massive win for our top-five dreams.

Sam: That's the Chelsea I know. The best performance of the season when we needed it the most. Another three more performances like that in the league and we can look forward to the Champions League.

Nick: Great to see Chelsea continuing with their more aggressive and attacking style again, which worked well against Fulham and Everton. A very good team display and excellent performances from (among others) Palmer, Noni Madueke, Lavia, Marc Cucurella and the - much underrated - Trevoh Chalobah. Still need three wins to achieve a top five spot, however.

Cuthbert: Impressive and decisive performance from Chelsea. It is hard to believe that it has been the same team that has struggled since the start of 2025. However, Latia is the answer and as a Chelsea fan, I wish him full fitness forever. With the arrival of Andre Santos, Chelsea should just prioritise the striker, central defender and goalkeeper for the future.

Tom: There has been a lot of anti-Maresca sentiment from the fanbase - at times rightly so - however, we have a home league record to be proud of and in the past five to six games, we have shown that when the pressure is on, we can respond. That is a testament to the players and the management. We need experience. Maresca has said as much but if we finish in a Champions League spot and with a trophy, he has earned the right to have a second crack at building a team for our future.

Derireed: To all those hypercritical Chelsea fans who are blind to the bigger picture, you can start to eat your humble pie. That talented squad is still learning, including Maresca. I hope he gets to continue to work with the same lads next season. We don't need any new players!

Former England midfielder Danny Murphy says Cole Palmer's great performance in Chelsea's win over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge broke a "bad spell" for the midfielder.

"Cole Palmer was absolutely outstanding," Murphy said on Match of the Day 2. "What a player. I love watching him play. He's just got such football intelligence and bravery.

"I know he's had a tough time and a bit of criticism but you wouldn't know it with this performance because he was the cataylst for everything.

"He doesn't mind trying things - and someone in the team has to take responsibility and take risks.

"I think Palmer really benefited from having Romeo Lavia in the team, because he looks to play forward often rather than safe and sideways.

"The more he got on the ball, the more he grew and more things started happening for him. He was even better in the second half than the first.

"Of course he is young and he is going to have bad spells. Even when you are not young you have bad spells, but he's a confident lad and I like that about him"

"I think he would get into any team in the Premier League and probably Europe too. He's just a wonderful player to watch.

Catch up on Match of the Day 2 here

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Former Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker remains unconvinced by Chelsea, despite the Blues seeing off champions Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast he is not yet ready to say Chelsea will qualify for next season's Champions League.

"You would have to say they are still in it but there are still a lot more questions about this Chelsea team," Reo-Coker said. "Just on the game against Liverpool, they took 45 minutes to get going and then they missed some real good chances.

"Whether it is the Premier League celebration hangover. Chelsea were let off the hook in this game. It's going to come down to Newcastle v Chelsea next [weekend] when they play each other.

"Whoever wins that will be the one who makes it [into the Champions League positions]. I would put my money more so on Newcastle. From their performances and from the way they look. They have won the League Cup this year and they have got tunnel vision.

"With Chelsea, there are still quite a few questions. I don't think they are strong enough defensively."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Mark Chapman presents highlights and analysis from Sunday's four Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.

If you missed Match of the Day 2, catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

And you can watch Saturday's Match of the Day here.

Listen back to the weekend's full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Brentford 4-3 Manchester United

• Brighton 1-1 Newcastle United

• Chelsea 3-1 Liverpool

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter, at Stamford Bridge

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Liverpool manager Arne Slot admitted his surprise at the 22-point gap between his champions and Chelsea before kick-off.

It had been a two-point gap in December and Chelsea looked like challengers, even if manager Enzo Maresca kept playing it down, even after an impressive performance at Anfield in October which they were, again in Slot's words, unfortunate to lose.

Maresca was ultimately proven right as Chelsea plummeted down the table after a disappointing start to 2025.

For many at Liverpool, Chelsea will not have been on their radar and they have rightly been celebrating a historic 20th title.

However, this could be a pivotal moment for the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital ownership, who have failed to qualify for the Champions League since buying the club for £2.5bn in 2022.

It will also boost their rebuild around Maresca and allow them the stability of sticking with a coach, who can boast support from the fans having praised them for creating their "best environment" season at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

This squad, which is the youngest in the Premier League, will be one year older and Chelsea will be able to fill gaps in attack and in central defence with signings, upon an improved financial position with the double windfalls of around £100m for Champions League and Club World Cup participation.

Interestingly, Chelsea and Liverpool are also among the clubs battling to sign Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen this summer.

That full picture makes Chelsea a threat to Liverpool's hopes of retaining the title and failing to put them away in early May, 2025, could look like a mistake come 2026.

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Enzo Maresca spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Chelsea's victory against Liverpool: "Very important [win] at this stage of the season.The way they deal with different plans, we didn't plan the game to defend it, we plan always to be high aggressive, high press and aggressive.

"They forced us to defend for moments in the game and the players dealt very well with that."

On Romeo Lavia: "Unfortunately he has been injured for most part of the season. You can see that the team with Romeo in is a better team. Hopefully we can now keep him fit until the end [of the season]."

On Chelsea's future: "For me, Chelsea because of the squad the future is bright for the club."

On Champions League qualification: "The win has been important, but it is not done. We need to play three games and go game by game."

"Now on Thursday we haver the second leg - we need to be focused on that and try to reach the European final."

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Only Liverpool (44) and Manchester City (39) have won more Premier League points at home this season than Chelsea (38), who have won seven of their last eight league games at Stamford Bridge.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Chelsea's performance

What did you make of Liverpool's display?

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies.

Intro referencing day, competition and number of matches.

• Brentford v Manchester United

• Brighton v Newcastle - BBC Radio 5 Live

• West Ham v Tottenham

• Chelsea v Liverpool (16:30) - BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 14:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

I would usually be asking which Chelsea side will turn up, but that applies to Liverpool too this week.

Arne Slot's side could have been out all week celebrating their title win and we don't know how that will affect them.

You often play at your best when you have been on the lash in a scenario like theirs. For example, some of my best games for Celtic came after nights out where we had won something and were allowed to have a couple of beers, but I don't know what to expect here.

Chelsea have nicked a couple of results recently, to stay in the race for the top five, but their performances have not been too convincing and their fans still don't seem to have taken to Enzo Maresca's playing style.

This is not the test for them that it would be if Liverpool were trying to close out the title but I don't think Slot is the type to let anyone take their foot off the gas. He will put out a strong team and even if they play with more freedom, I still think Liverpool will leave with the points.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

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Chelsea are winless in their past 10 meetings with Liverpool in all competitions (drawn seven, lost three). Only once before have they gone longer without a win over the Reds (11 from 1985 to 1990).

Mohamed Salah, 32, has 28 Premier League goals for Liverpool this season and needs one more goal to equal the record for goals by a player aged 30 or older in a campaign, held by Didier Drogba for Chelsea in the 2009-10 season (29).