With just four more matches remaining this season, the chances of Chelsea catching Liverpool in the Premier League looks increasingly unlikely – however, fifth place is still not secure
21:57, 21 Apr 2026Updated 22:26, 21 Apr 2026
As the Premier League season enters its final stretch, it’s becoming increasingly clear that Chelsea is no longer Liverpool’s greatest threat in the race for the Champions League spots.
The Blues have been embroiled in the top-five race for several months, along with Liverpool, Manchester United and Aston Villa. But with the last league games of April this weekend, Chelsea‘s hopes seem all but dead, while its rivals’ places look ever-more secure.
Liam Rosenior’s side fell to a fifth consecutive league defeat without scoring on Tuesday, courtesy of a 3-0 loss at Brighton. It’s a result that sees the Seagulls move ahead of the reigning world champions in the Premier League table.
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Brighton now sits sixth, five points behind Liverpool having played a game more.
And while Chelsea’s results have plummeted, Brighton has established itself as the league’s most in-form side, just a months after serious questions were asked about Fabian Hurzeler’s credentials.
Six wins in eight has seen faint belief of Champions League participation blossom, and few of those victories have been more comfortable than the routine three points earned against a disjointed Chelsea side.
Rosenior is under increasing pressure following five straight defeats
It took just three minutes for Ferdi Kadioglu to net the game’s opening goal, when he struck powerfully beyond ex-Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
The visitors were lucky to head in at half-time trailing by just one goal, having mustered just one shot compared to Brighton’s seven. A change of shape at the break led to an improved performance in the opening stages of the second period, but when Jack Hinshelwood finished off a free-flowing move in the 56th minute, any hopes of securing a victory were snuffed out.
Danny Welbeck added a third in injury-time to underline the one-sided nature of the contest and raise serious questions about Rosenior’s future.
Welbeck’s late third rubbed salt in the wounds for Chelsea
The Blues didn’t even manage a shot on target at the Amex, and have now lost five league games without scoring for the first time in 114 years.
Champions League qualification is verging on impossible. A European place of any description is under threat with four games remaining.
Seven clubs could overtake Chelsea by time it plays next in the Premier League.
But for Liverpool, it’s closest rivals faltering a major boost. It knows that a win on Saturday over Crystal Palace could open up an eight-point advantage to sixth place. That gap could prove insurmountable for the chasing pack.