Chelsea move level with Newcastle in race for Champions League qualification as Brentford humble Man United 4-3

Chelsea secured a statement win at Stamford Bridge, beating newly crowned Premier League champions Liverpool 3-1 to boost their hopes of a top-four finish.

Enzo Maresca’s side began the afternoon by paying tribute to the champions with a guard of honour, but there was little charity once the match began.

In a match reported by The Independent, the Blues made a lightning start, with Enzo Fernandez finishing off a slick move inside three minutes, sparked by the electric Cole Palmer.

Chelsea doubled their lead in bizarre fashion when Virgil van Dijk’s clearance cannoned off teammate Jarell Quansah and into the net.

Van Dijk made amends with a powerful header to pull one back, but Palmer sealed the win from the penalty spot, ending his goal drought and Liverpool’s hopes of a late comeback.

The win was Chelsea’s first over Liverpool in 11 meetings and moves them level on points with fourth-placed Newcastle, who they face next week.

The defeat was just Liverpool’s third of the league season, as Arne Slot’s heavily rotated side lacked their usual intensity.

Elsewhere:

Brentford edge seven~goal thriller to shock Manchester United

Brentford 4-3 Manchester United: Late fightback not enough as United suffer 16th league defeat.

Brentford held off a late surge from Manchester United to win a chaotic 4-3 clash at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Three days after their Europa League heroics in Bilbao, United fielded their youngest-ever Premier League starting XI.

Mason Mount opened the scoring early, but Brentford took control with a deflected equaliser off Luke Shaw, followed by a Kevin Schade header and a second-half brace that put the hosts 4-1 up.

Late strikes from Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo threatened an unlikely comeback, but Brentford held on for a thrilling win that keeps their faint European hopes alive. United, meanwhile, will now refocus on Thursday’s Europa League second leg.

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