I've watched Chelsea struggle all season, but TODAY... wow. Maresca's men absolutely schooled Liverpool at the Bridge. And I'm not just saying that because I've been a Chelsea supporter since I was 7 (though my Liverpool-supporting brother won't stop texting me angry face emojis right now).

That Midfield Trio Liverpool Wanted? They Got Schooled By Them

Remember last summer when Liverpool were sniffing around Caicedo, Lavia AND Fernandez? Ended up with none of them. Bet they're kicking themselves now after watching that masterclass.

Fernandez needed just three minutes to make his mark, caressing that ball into the bottom corner like he was playing in his backyard. The look on Klopp's face... priceless. I spilled coffee all over my new rug celebrating that one.

Then came that second goal - Palmer weaving through Liverpool's defense before his low cross pinballed off Van Dijk and smacked poor Quansah right in the face before going in. Not exactly how they draw it up in training, but I'll take it!

Sanchez: From Zero to Hero?

Let's talk about our keeper for a sec. After months of giving Chelsea fans heart attacks, Sanchez actually looked... competent? Confident even? Following last week's solid performance against Everton, he came out for crosses, didn't spill anything stupid, and generally looked like the keeper we thought we were signing.

That Van Dijk header was unstoppable. No blame there.

Caicedo - The £115 Million Man Finally Looking Worth It

M.C. - Mr. Consistent.

Filling in at right back again, Caicedo was absolutely phenomenal. Gakpo couldn't get a sniff. Jota was in his pocket all afternoon. The way he steps into midfield when needed then drops back to defend... it's like having two players in one.

And winning that penalty that finally ended Palmer's 18-match goal drought? Chef's kiss. Worth every penny of that transfer fee today.

Cucurella Silencing the Haters (Again)

I've been saying it all season - Cucurella is teh best left-back in the Premier League. Facing Salah is usually a death sentence for defenders, but Cucu handled him brilliantly. Limited his own attacking runs to focus on defensive duties, which allowed Caicedo to invert on the other side.

My mate who supports Arsenal texted during the game: "Fine, you were right about Cucurella." Vindication feels sweet after all the abuse he took last season.

Lavia - The One That Almost Got Away

Back in 2023, I thought we'd lost Lavia to Liverpool. Thank god we didn't. Two consecutive starts now, and he's showing exactly why Maresca said he could become one of the world's best midfielders.

Did you see him on the half-turn? Breaking lines with those forward passes? Not a single misplaced pass all game. The kid is special.

If he can just stay fit... God. That's the million-dollar question, isn't it?

What About Our Defenders?

Chalobah and Colwill were solid for most of the match, though Trevoh will be disappointed to lose Van Dijk at that corner. Still, they handled Liverpool's attack well enough. Not their busiest day at the office, but they did what was needed.

I've watched this partnership develop all season, and there's something there. Not perfect yet, but promising.

Palmer's Penalty - Finally!

18 matches without a goal. EIGHTEEN. I was starting to wonder if Palmer had forgotten how to score. The relief on his face when that penalty hit the net was something else.

My neighbor (who doesn't even like football) heard me screaming when he scored. Came over to check if everything was ok. Slightly embarrassing.

Champions League football next season? It's looking more likely now. Four points off 4th with a game in hand. I'm not counting chickens, but I'm definitely browsing flight prices to European destinations for next season...

The Stamford Bridge faithful went home happy today. And so did I - straight to the pub to celebrate with a round I definitely couldn't afford. Worth it though.