Chelsea fell to a 3-0 defeat at Everton, missing a chance to climb into the Premier League’s top four as they chase a Champions League place for next season. The result also keeps them outside the cutoff, despite other results elsewhere.
Liverpool, in contrast, lost 2-1 at Brighton, extending a disappointing run that has left them vulnerable in the title race and struggling in league play after their recent Champions League success.
The setback for Chelsea comes as several clubs below them, including Everton, Brentford, and Fulham, gain renewed momentum in the pursuit of European qualification.
The Premier League’s top five remains heavily favored to secure Champions League spots due to the strength of English teams in European competition, with Arsenal leading the title charge and Manchester City maintaining a substantial gap above Manchester United, who sit fourth ahead of Aston Villa.
Liverpool had arrived off a 4-1 aggregate win over Galatasaray in the Champions League, but their league fortunes worsened in a quick turnaround, with injuries and squad rotation cited as factors in the defeat at Brighton. Forward Hugo Ekitike was among the players to miss or struggle with fitness, contributing to a heavy loss for the champions.
Everton’s win, featuring two goals from Beto and a strike by Iliman Ndiaye, closed the gap to Liverpool and set up a Merseyside derby next month, intensifying pressure on Chelsea’s management as they continue to chase a season with trophies after last season’s successes.
Chelsea, who also faced a heavy exit in the Champions League, now face the challenge of revitalizing a squad under new leadership and finding a path back to form in the remaining fixtures.
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