Cole Palmer once again proved to be Chelsea’s shining light as the Blues secured a crucial 3-1 victory over Premier League champions Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, keeping their UEFA Champions League qualification hopes alive.

The victory means Chelsea have now lost just one of their past nine league games and moved three points ahead of Nottingham Forest, having played a game more. The result also demonstrated the hunger and intensity with which Enzo Maresca’s men are approaching the final stretch of the season.

Palmer, who pulled the strings throughout the match, was instrumental from the first whistle. He was involved in the incisive build-up that led to Enzo Fernández’s third-minute opener, linking up brilliantly with Pedro Neto before the Argentine calmly slotted home.

The 22-year-old’s influence didn’t stop there. His creativity and composure sparked Chelsea’s second goal in the second half. After outsmarting Kostas Tsimikas on the right, Palmer sent in a dangerous cross that caused chaos in Liverpool’s defence, eventually resulting in a comical own goal after Virgil van Dijk’s clearance ricocheted off Jarrell Quansah into the net.

Despite a late Liverpool rally—capped by a van Dijk header from a corner—Chelsea held firm. Palmer came close to scoring himself, striking the post and seeing another effort saved by Alisson after Jadon Sancho’s low shot was denied. But the reward finally came in stoppage time when a foul on Moisés Caicedo gave Chelsea a penalty. Palmer confidently dispatched it to seal all three points, netting his first goal since January.

The young forward’s technical brilliance, vision, and calm under pressure earned him the Man of the Match award in a display that once again underlined why he’s one of Chelsea’s most important players.

With three games remaining, Chelsea now prepare for another crucial clash against Newcastle United as they Blues aim to secure a top-five finish and a place in next season’s Champions League.