Top-four light still flickers for Chelsea
IN THE END, the exertions of Rome were just too much for Jurgen Klopp’s men. Chelsea had too much vim, too much vigour.
Now the gap between Chelsea and Tottenham is two points, the distance to Jurgen Klopp’s men only three. Goal difference makes it unlikely the Stamford Bridge club will manage to overhaul both teams above them. But stranger things have happened.
Chelsea, thanks to the effervescent Olivier Giroud, who netted his fourth goal in five games, won their fifth game on the bounce. They may not emerge victorious from this chase for Champions League football, but the chase is most definitely on.
Antonio Conte’s team have the bit between their teeth. A quest that once seemed hopeless – they were eight points off fourth place at the beginning of April – now is significantly less so as Spurs and Liverpool wobble.
Liverpool, perhaps still running high on the adrenalin of the second leg of their Champions League semifinal with Roma last Wednesday, started well in the sunshine at Stamford Bridge but gradually ran out of steam. The prize ahead of them on May 26 in Kiev is a huge one, but this defeat may just have planted a seed of worry league-wise.
Conte beamed: “One month ago it was impossible to imagine we’d arrive at the end to fight for a place in the Champions League. Now there is hope.
“We are getting three points in every game, our opponents are dropping points. Our future is not in our hands, but we have to try to keep the pressure on. I was pleased with our will to fight.”
Before yesterday, Chelsea had won only two of nine games against the top six and started tentatively. Roberto Firmino saw his shot stopped by Thibaut Courtois and, as James Milner flattened Eden Hazard with a brutal tackle, Liverpool’s determination seemed unquestionable.
Sadio Mane was dangerous throughout, as he drifted and darted. But he sliced over when Mohamed Salah found him and then Courtois pulled off a superb save from his cracking 25-yard drive.
But Chelsea gradually found their feet, as Marcos Alonso drove straight at Loris Karius, and Tiemoue Bakayoko put a diving header wide. And then they struck. Victor Moses,