Liverpool missed the chance to all but secure Champions League football next season after a 1-1 draw against a wounded Chelsea on Saturday.
The Blues had lost six consecutive Premier League games to fall out of contention for a top-five finish.
Ryan Gravenberch’s sweet strike gave Liverpool the perfect start, but Chelsea hit back to salvage a point when Enzo Fernandez’s free-kick evaded everyone in the middle to find the bottom corner.
Boos at full-time reflected the mood around Anfield after another lacklustre performance from the defending champions.
But they are inching closer to Champions League qualification with a seven-point lead over sixth-placed Bournemouth, who have just three games left to play.
Chelsea can no longer mathematically finish in the top five and remain in ninth.
But there were some shoots of recovery for interim boss Calum McFarlane to take into next weekend’s FA Cup final against Manchester City.
Chelsea were humbled by a second-string Nottingham Forest at home on Monday and looked set for another long afternoon after conceding just six minutes in.
Rio Ngumoha picked out Gravenberch on the edge of the box and the Dutch international curled perfectly into the top corner.
Liverpool’s forward line was decimated by injuries with Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike absent, while Alexander Isak was only fit enough for a place on the bench.
A lack of attacking impetus showed as Liverpool allowed the beleaguered Blues to gain a foothold in the game and slowly regain some confidence.
