Blues Defy Hyped Reds

Chelsea have kept alive their slim hopes of qualification for next season's Champions League when they deservedly defeated an impotent Liverfools team. The Blues have now strung together five wins, whilst Liverpoo and Tottenham Trophy Dodgers appear to be doing their level best to drop out of the top four, having shipped several points in recent weeks. The whole drama of the race for a top four finish is further proof that the league is a marathon and not a sprint. Consequently, teams that are sitting pretty at Easter and looking poised for success would do well to nail down their objectives rather than dwell upon probabilities. In the event, Chelsea still need snookers in order to penetrate the top four, but they clearly have the momentum while the two clubs above them are evidently staggering towards next Sunday's chequered flag.

Nevertheless, Liverpoo need only defeat Brighton at Shamfield, or failing that they can qualify for next season's Champions League by winning this year's. Meanwhile Tottenham Trophy Dodgers require four points from their last two home matches against mid-table Newcastle United and Leicester City. Chelsea for their part just have to keep on winning and hope that their nervous rivals choke in the final furlong of the league race.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, the Blues can be highly commended for nullifying the much-vaunted threat of Salah and associates. In fact, the Egyptian ace was so stifled by a resilient Chelsea defence that he had to resort to a blatant dive which rightly resulted in a yellow card. One-goal Chelsea really ought to have put the contest to bed much sooner, but regrettably sulky Conte prefers to select Bakayoko ahead of Willian which is staggeringly stupid. Hopefully the latter might return for the visit of struggling Huddersfield. This last home fixture looks a lot like a three-points opportunity, but we thought along similar lines when Bournemouth were due to drop by for a Wednesday fixture too.

CHELSEA 1 Liverpool 0; half time: 1-0

CHELSEA goal scorer: Giroud

CHELSEA: Courtois; Cahill; Rudiger; Azpilicueta; Kante; Alonso; Fabregas; Moses; Bakayoko; Hazard; Giroud. Used substitutes: Willian; Zappacosta; Pedro

CHELSEA leading scorers:

Hazard sixteen

Morata fifteen

Willian thirteen

Batshuayi ten

Alonso seven

Pedro seven

Giroud five