Chelsea vs. Liverpool: Score, Report and Reaction from Premier League

Liverpool's top-four hopes are all but finished following a 1-1 draw at champions Chelsea on Sunday in the Premier League.

John Terry put the hosts ahead with a fifth-minute header before Steven Gerrard drew Liverpool level with a header of his own one minute before half-time. Needing another goal to keep their UEFA Champions League hopes realistically alive, the Reds started the second half well but were unable to find a winner.

The result leaves Liverpool in fifth place on 62 points with two matches remaining. Brendan Rodgers' men can still finish level with Manchester United, who are six points ahead, but the Red Devils have a far superior goal differential and thus would finish higher barring a major catastrophe.

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What is more likely is that Liverpool will finish fifth—they sit four points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur—and enter next season's Europa League. For some clubs, taking part in such a European competition would mean 2014-15 was a successful season, but after finishing second in the Premier League last term, Liverpool were hoping for much more this time around.

Following the departure of striker Luis Suarez to Barcelona last summer, however, the Reds were unable to find an adequate replacement in the front line. And despite a surge in form early in 2015, Liverpool never truly reached the heights of last season, when they came so close to winning the league.

Chelsea, on the other hand, have already claimed the title, clinching the trophy with three games to spare. And further success seems likely, with the Blues also having claimed a second consecutive FA Youth Cup this season. As if to underline the point, Jose Mourinho included Ruben Loftus-Cheek in his starting XI against Liverpool, and the 19-year-old rewarded his manager with a fine performance in midfield.

Up next, Chelsea play at West Brom on May 18. Liverpool host Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Liverpool gave Chelsea the guard of honor as the champions emerged onto the pitch from the tunnel. Last week, Mourinho's side clinched their first title in five years with a 1-0 victory at home to Crystal Palace, prompting Sunday's celebratory atmosphere.

The match started with a contentious moment as Chelsea's Cesc Fabregas drew a yellow card for a nasty challenge on Raheem Sterling in the first minute. The Spaniard might have been slightly fortunate not to see red, but it didn't matter four minutes later as he curled in a corner that led to the opening goal.

Rising highest in the middle of the box, Terry placed a bullet header past Simon Mignolet and into the net for a quick 1-0 Chelsea lead.

It was a poor start for Liverpool, who were guilty of poor marking on the set piece. The visitors gradually began to grow into the game, however, with Philippe Coutinho recording his side's first shot on target in the 14th minute. Sterling then dragged an effort wide of the target two minutes later after finding space in the middle of the park.

Chelsea came close in the 28th minute, with Fabregas trying a shot from a tight angle, but Mignolet saved to keep his side within one goal.

The hosts had to make a substitution in the 35th minute, when Kurt Zouma limped off with an injury. Gary Cahill came on as his replacement in Chelsea's defense.

Chelsea had looked comfortable for most of the half, but Liverpool pulled level one minute before half-time, scoring via a set piece much like the Blues before them.

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Jordan Henderson played the role of provider, curling a free-kick to the back post from a position deep on the left flank. Gerrard, who had slipped away from his marker, planted a downward header into the bottom corner to make it 1-1 at the interval.

The visitors started brightly in the second half, with Adam Lallana dragging a shot across the face of goal in the 47th minute. Coutinho then rifled wide of the near post two minutes later following good work by Sterling down the left flank.

At the other end, Willian flashed a drive narrowly wide of the far post in the 55th minute. Willian saw another effort deflected off target two minutes later, again from a tight angle on the right.

As full-time approached, much of the drama seemed to be drained from the match. In the 79th minute, Liverpool withdrew Gerrard for Lucas Leiva, prompting large sections of the home supporters—and Mourinho—to applaud the Reds' skipper on his final appearance at Stamford Bridge. 

Liverpool threatened again in the 81st minute, when Sterling's low cross deflected on target, but Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois pushed the ball away for a corner, which came to nothing.

Courtois had to be alert again in the 89th minute as a Coutinho shot deflected off Cahill and trickled toward the target. After initially being wrong-footed, Courtois quickly adjusted and made the save.

Reaction

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, via BBC Sport:

"

It was a good performance if you understand the circumstances. When a team is always playing at the limits to be champions, a team that is champions last weekend, it is normal that you lose a bit of intensity.

But we worked hard. We had players at a positive level and we were competing for a result. We were very good in the first half. Physically we went down in the second half.

It was important for us to show that we are champions and we have the dignity of trying to get a result. Ruben Loftus-Cheek, I took him off because I could imagine him suffering in the final 30 minutes. He came off at the right moment; he understood what the Premier League is and it couldn't be better.

To get an ovation at Stamford Bridge is special for Steven Gerrard; we have lots of respect for the top guys. I will miss him.

"

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, via BBC Sport:

"

I think now this team's got to prepare for next year. We wanted to make a statement with our performance today. Unfortunately we didn't win the game but we've shown that with a few additions we can compete next year.

…

It's not nice, (giving) the guard of honour, but Chelsea have won the league. They deserved it, but it wasn't nice doing it.

We've shown we've come up a bit short. I think it's important the lads get some rest, (and that) the owners try and dig deep and help Brendan out. There's a great core of players here. This league is getting more and more difficult every year. We lost Suarez, we haven't had Daniel Sturridge, it's been tough.

"

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