Olivier Giroud Goal Keeps Chelsea's Champions League Hopes Alive vs. Liverpool

Chelsea beat Liverpool 1-0 at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Sunday, thanks to a first-half header from Olivier Giroud, to keep their hopes of qualifying for next season's UEFA Champions League alive.

The Blues are now just three points behind Liverpool but have played a game less. Chelsea have also cut the gap on Tottenham Hotspur in fourth to just two points.

Giroud More Important than Alvaro Morata

Alvaro Morata has struggled with injury and poor form for a while, but Giroud is making Chelsea forget about the difficulties of their club-record signing.

The towering Frenchman may not have been the striker Chelsea originally wanted, but he is the focal point up top this team needs. The former Arsenal man continued his brilliant scoring run by heading the Blues in front on 32 minutes.

BT Sport host Gary Lineker applauded Giroud's knack for coming alive where it matters most:

ESPN FC's Liam Twomey summed up the growing importance of the man who scored in the FA Cup semi-final win over Southampton:

Morata got Chelsea's other goal against Saints, but the man who cost £60 million last summer is being shown up by Giroud. The latter is leading the line brilliantly, using physical power and determination to bully defenders, as well as showing off the technique to combine effortlessly with midfield runners Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas.

Giroud is doing the things manager Antonio Conte wants. While he's playing this well, who needs Morata?

Dive Shame Sums Up Quiet Day for Mohamed Salah

Not many teams keep Liverpool's dynamic forward Mohamed Salah as quiet as the Blues did. The former Chelsea man was more than a little subdued on his return to the Bridge, becoming frustrated enough to get booked for simulation.

Salah's yellow card came when he was judged to have dived after an altercation with Gary Cahill. Paddy Power was unimpressed by Salah's attempts to win a foul:

The incident summed up Salah's miserable day. Despite his free-scoring form, the Egypt international couldn't escape the attentions of Chelsea centre-back Antonio Rudiger, per Goal's Nizaar Kinsella:

Using statistics from OptaJoe, Kinsella also noted how little Salah was involved during the opening 45 minutes:

Salah remains Liverpool's marquee danger man, but the rigours of reaching the Champions League final, as well as the chase to win the golden boot as the division's top scorer, may be getting to the 25-year-old.

Bakayoko Surprises Many with Rare Outstanding Performance

If there was an award for worst signing of the season, Tiemoue Bakayoko would surely be in the running. The France international has struggled mightily since his summer switch from AS Monaco to Chelsea at a cost of £40 million.

However, Bakayoko looked worth every penny as he bossed Liverpool's midfield. In the process, the 23-year-old surprised more than a few of his detractors.

Among them, Simon Johnson of the London Evening Standard was the first to be shocked by Bakayoko's rare display of tenacity and skill:

Almost carried away by the pleasant surprise, Johnson even made a light-hearted attempt to reassess Bakayoko's status:

Johnson wasn't the only one caught between disbelief and joy at seeing Bakayoko finally boss a match. Eurosport UK's Dan Levene didn't want to tempt fate, nor the wrath of Chelsea fans used to criticising the midfielder:

Ultimately, Bakayoko answered his critics in the best way possible, with a commanding performance in Chelsea's most important game this season.

What's Next?

Chelsea will host Huddersfield Town in their game in hand on Wednesday, hoping Newcastle United can take points off Spurs at Wembley Stadium. Meanwhile, Liverpool will welcome Brighton & Hove Albion to Anfield on the last day but will surely be more focused on the upcoming Champions League final against Real Madrid.