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Michael Owen explains how Chelsea ‘got lucky’ against Liverpool

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Michael Owen believes Chelsea benefited from perfect timing in their Premier League showdown against Liverpool, who had already secured the title before their trip to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea took a major step toward Champions League qualification with a convincing 3-1 victory over the newly crowned champions on Sunday.

Enzo Fernandez opened the scoring inside three minutes, and the Blues doubled their lead when Virgil van Dijk’s clearance deflected off Jarell Quansah for an unfortunate own goal.

Liverpool managed to respond with a goal from Van Dijk himself, but Chelsea sealed the win when Cole Palmer calmly slotted home a stoppage-time penalty after another strong showing.

While Owen acknowledged that Chelsea earned the result on the day, he pointed out that the timing of the fixture gave the hosts an edge.

With Liverpool having clinched their record-equalling 20th English league title the previous weekend, their intensity wasn’t at the level it might have been if the title were still on the line.

“Liverpool played quite well,” Owen said on Premier League Productions. “They made a good game of the second half after going 2-0 down. They brought the big guns off the bench and they were pushing for an equaliser.

“Chelsea got lucky that they were playing Liverpool the game after they won the league. Chelsea deserved to win but Liverpool put up a performance, you can see they’re champions through their attitude today. Cole Palmer was very good today, he deserved to be on the winning side.”

The Reds, already champions with four games remaining, made several changes for the trip to west London. Manager Arne Slot rested key players including Ibrahima Konate, Alexis Mac Allister, and Luis Diaz, giving Chelsea a slight advantage.

Former Chelsea midfielder Andy Townsend praised the Blues for their display and highlighted the importance of Palmer returning to form. “Chelsea have deserved it today. They started the game really well and they finish it with a big moment, as Chelsea need Cole Palmer back among the goals. He’s played really well today and it’s the big thing for Chelsea to have him scoring again, because they’ve got some big games still to go.”

Now sitting fifth in the Premier League table with three matches remaining, Chelsea hold a narrow three-point lead over Nottingham Forest, who have a game in hand. Above them, Newcastle United, Manchester City, Arsenal, and Liverpool round out the top four.

Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin weighed in on the club’s top-five hopes during an appearance on BBC Radio 5 Live. “It was a good performance from various players. Madueke was brilliant, the two central defenders were fabulous but you have to caveat it slightly – this was not Liverpool at their very best. It was low power Liverpool until 70 minutes, and then you saw the real Liverpool turning up.

“Chelsea had a difficult time around Christmas and New Year, they fell away from it, got themselves on a good run and now have got it absolutely in their own hands. If they get just as good as this out of Cole Palmer, more from Nicolas Jackson, also from Lavia, who was magnificent today, Chelsea will look strong. If they can get to the Champions League, get the money from that they can look forward to next season. But everything relies on that top five.”

With three crucial games left, Chelsea’s Champions League hopes hang in the balance, but Sunday’s performance suggests they have the momentum to finish strong.

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‘We want him’ – Club chief confirms he wants to sign Man Utd outcast in permanent transfer

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‘We want him’ – Club chief confirms he wants to sign Man Utd outcast in permanent transfer

Andre Onana could remain in Turkey beyond his loan spell, with Trabzonspor keen to secure him on a permanent deal.

The 30-year-old moved to Trabzonspor after falling out of favour at Manchester United, who brought in Senne Lammens last summer. Since then, Lammens has established himself as the club’s first-choice keeper, paving the way for Onana’s temporary switch.

In Turkey, however, Onana has rediscovered his form and quickly become a key figure. He recently grabbed attention with a standout performance in the Turkish Cup, saving three consecutive penalties to help his side overcome Samsunspor and reach the semi-finals.

The moment sparked widespread reactions online, especially from United supporters recalling their earlier penalty shootout defeat to Grimsby Town, where Onana managed just one save.

Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan has openly expressed the club’s desire to keep the goalkeeper. He indicated that while Onana has his own career plans, the club would be eager to make the move permanent if the circumstances align, leaving the final decision in the player’s hands.

Back in England, United are expected to consider selling Onana, particularly with Lammens now firmly established as their number one. The club will likely aim to recover a significant portion of the £47.5 million they paid to sign him from Inter Milan in 2023, with two years still remaining on his contract.

Beyond his cup heroics, Onana has been a consistent presence in the league, starting every match for Trabzonspor and playing a vital role in their push for the title. His performances have earned strong praise in Turkey, with the club currently sitting third in the table, just six points behind leaders Galatasaray.

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Man City place Arsenal ‘bottles’ for sale outside Etihad Stadium before 2025/26 Premier League decider

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Man City place Arsenal 'bottles' for sale outside Etihad Stadium before 2025/26 Premier League decider

Manchester City appear to have kicked off the psychological battle ahead of their Premier League showdown with Arsenal.

In the build-up to the match, bottles branded with the Arsenal logo were reportedly being sold outside the stadium, priced cheaply and seemingly intended as a tongue-in-cheek way for home fans to mock the visiting supporters.

The stunt draws inspiration from a recent viral moment at Stamford Bridge, where a City fan was seen jokingly “drinking Arsenal tears” during their emphatic 3-0 win over Chelsea—a clip that quickly spread across social media.

With tensions already high given the importance of the fixture, the gesture adds another layer to the rivalry between the two sides. Arsenal, meanwhile, will be focused on responding where it matters most—on the pitch—as they aim to silence critics and deliver a strong result in what could be a defining game in the title race.

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Bruno Fernandes responds to Manchester United star’s dig at Chelsea flop Alejandro Garnacho

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Bruno Fernandes responds to Manchester United star’s dig at Chelsea flop Alejandro Garnacho

Alejandro Garnacho faced criticism from his former Manchester United teammates following Chelsea’s latest Premier League setback.

A first-half goal from Matheus Cunha secured a narrow but important win for United, strengthening the position of Michael Carrick’s side in the race for Champions League qualification. Chelsea, meanwhile, continue to struggle, with the defeat marking their fourth consecutive league loss without finding the net.

Pressure is mounting on head coach Liam Rosenior, who only took charge a few months ago after replacing Enzo Maresca. While the club has not publicly wavered in its support, questions are beginning to emerge over several players, including Garnacho, whose performances have failed to meet expectations since his £40 million move from Old Trafford.

Reports suggest Chelsea could be open to offers for the 21-year-old after a difficult start to life at Stamford Bridge. He had an early opportunity to impress against his former side after coming on for the injured Estevao, but once again struggled to make an impact, finding it hard to break through a United defence that was missing several first-choice centre-backs.

Garnacho also received a hostile reception from United supporters during the match, and the reaction appeared to carry over beyond the pitch. After the game, Luke Shaw shared an image on social media showing himself standing over Garnacho following a challenge. Bruno Fernandes responded with a playful but pointed comment, while former teammate Alex Telles also joined in with reactions.

Chelsea’s broader struggles are becoming increasingly concerning. They now sit four points behind Liverpool in the race for fifth place, despite having played an extra game. The current run—four straight league defeats without scoring—is their worst in nearly three decades, with an even longer drought not seen since 1912.

Across all competitions, the form is equally worrying, with six losses in their last seven matches and 16 goals conceded during that stretch. A significant portion of their recent goals have come in a single outing against Port Vale, highlighting their lack of consistency in front of goal.

After the match, Rosenior admitted uncertainty about what failing to qualify for the Champions League could mean for his future. He acknowledged the result was difficult to take, especially given that Chelsea created numerous chances but failed to convert them. He pointed out that United capitalised on a limited opportunity, while his side were unable to make their attacking pressure count.

Despite the frustration, Rosenior emphasized the need for continued effort and improvement, insisting that the team must find a way to turn their form around before the situation worsens further.

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