The Blues got off to a great start when Enzo Fernandez put us in front after just three minutes and we never looked like surrendering our lead.

An own-goal from Jarrell Quansah early in the second period was just reward for Chelsea and despite Virgil Van Dijk setting up a nervy finish with a header five minutes from time, Cole Palmer rounded off a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon at the Bridge from the penalty spot deep into injury-time.

Familiar feel

Enzo Maresca reverted to the same XI that beat Everton in the Premier League last weekend, with eight alterations to the side that defeated Djurgarden on Thursday night.

Robert Sanchez's return to fitness meant he started and Moises Caicedo was at right-back once more, alongside Trevoh Chalobah, Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella.

Romeo Lavia was in the XI again, alongside Fernandez, with Palmer in the more advanced role, Pedro Neto on the right and Noni Madueke on the left. Nicolas Jackson, fresh from making it three goals in two games midweek, leads the line once more.

Early opener

Both sides came out the blocks quickly, as Sanchez had to dive to claim an early cross, but it was Chelsea who scored the game's opening goal after just three minutes.

Palmer released Neto on the right flank and after driving past Kostas Tsimikas, his low cross was well controlled by Fernandez close to the penalty area and he coolly slotted into the bottom right corner for 1-0.

Chelsea were attacking with pace and Madueke saw a low shot go wide of the post after a dangerous counter, while at the other end Sanchez did well to hold on to Cody Gakpo's curled shot.

There were several nearly moments for the Blues, before Neto had a blocked volley from close range, following Liverpool's failure to clear a Fernandez corner.

Then from the resulting corners, good skill from Madueke saw him play a one-two with Cucurella deep inside the Reds' box and the winger's toe-poke towards goal was accidentally blocked by Jackson. The ball fell to Caicedo and his cross from the byline bounced off the top of the crossbar.

Some of the Chelsea fans inside Stamford Bridge thought we had a second goal shortly before half-time when a counter-attack ended with Neto cutting inside and hitting the side-netting with a low drive towards the near post.

Madueke did have the ball inside the net a minute later after being slipped through by Jackson and rounding Alisson but the striker had strayed offside in the build-up.

Chelsea started the second half brightly, with Jackson having a relatively tame shot saved, and we extended our advantage 11 minutes into the second half.

Good dribbling from Palmer on the right flank saw him get to the byline and square across the six-yard box. Madueke's sliding effort was blocked by the diving defender but when Virgil Van Dijk attempted to clear, the ball rebounded off Quansah and into the net for 2-0.

Jackson's work rate then created a chance but his shot from a tight angle was easily saved before the visitors enjoyed a period of pressure, without truly troubling Sanchez in our goal. Van Dijk and Salah did head over and wide respectively though.

The Blues continued to carry a threat on the counter-attack, though. Alisson needed to make a good save from substitute Jadon Sancho after Madueke had a goal-bound effort blocked.

It wasn't long until Palmer beat his man wide left and hit a shot from a tight angle which struck the far post and rebounded across the face of goal.

Liverpool set up a nervy finish by pulling a goal back with five minutes of normal time remaining, as Van Dijk headed in from a corner.

But it was Chelsea who looked most like scoring another. Palmer had a shot saved, Neto fired over following good build-up play and we guaranteed the win deep into injury-time.

Jackson was bundled over in the penalty area, leaving Palmer to step up and score his first goal since mid-January.

What it means

With Newcastle United drawing to Brighton earlier in the day, Arsenal slipping up at Bournemouth, plus Aston Villa and Man City winning in recent days, it means just seven points separate Nottingham Forest and Villa in sixth and seventh and the Gunners in third.

Chelsea are currently in fifth position, three points above Nottingham Forest who play Crystal Palace tomorrow in their game in hand but they have an inferior goal difference. We are level on points - and goal difference - with Newcastle United above us and only one point below Manchester City in third. We are now just four points off Arsenal in second.

What's next

The Blues' focus now turns to Thursday's Conference League semi-final second leg against Djurgarden, with us enjoying a 4-1 lead heading into the game at Stamford Bridge. We will then be back in Premier League action next Sunday, this time on the road at Newcastle United.

Chelsea starting XI: Sanchez; Caicedo, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Lavia (Sancho 78), Fernandez (c) (James 88); Neto, Palmer, Madueke; Jackson (Sancho 72)
Substitutes not used: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Badiashile, Tosin, Dewsbury-Hall, George
Goals: Fernandez 3, Quansah (og) 56
Bookings: Chalobah 54

Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold (Bradley 57), Van Dijk, Quansah, Tsimikas (Chiesa 82); Endo (Mac Allister 69) Jones, Elliott (Szoboszlai 69); Salah, Jota (Nunez 57), Gakpo
Substitutes not used: Kelleher, Konate, Diaz, Robertson
Bookings: Van Dijk 51, Quansah 58

Referee: Simon Hooper
Attendance: 39,829