Champions suffering a mess of the Blues

PALMER PLAYING THE STARRING ROLE AGAIN

- By John Cross

ARNE SLOT’S newly crowned champions were given a guard of honour before kick-off - but that is where the respect ended.

Chelsea were hell-bent on taking advantage of a much-changed Liverpool line-up who were well below their best at Stamford Bridge yesterday.

Liverpool had certainly earned the right to party and celebrate their success after clinching their 20th league title at Anfield last week.

The Reds were handing out gifts all over the pitch with an own goal and a stoppage-time penalty for Cole Palmer to end his 19-game drought.

That probably brought the biggest cheer from the home fans as they rolled over the champions with relative ease.