Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been charged with being abusive to match officials during Wednesday’s stormy Merseyside derby at Everton. Slot was shown a red card after approaching referee Michael Oliver in a heated scene on the pitch at the final whistle after the 2-2 draw. Liverpool were furious that James Tarkowski‘s stoppage-time equaliser was not disallowed because of an alleged push by Toffees striker Beto on Reds defender Ibrahima Konate.

Slot’s assistant Sipke Hulshoff was also dismissed during the row with Oliver in the last Merseyside derby at Goodison Park before Everton move to a new stadium next season.

According to the Football Association, Slot allegedly acted in “an improper manner and/or used insulting and/or abusive words and/or behaviour towards both the match referee and an assistant referee after the match had finished”.

Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones and Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure were also sent off after the final whistle, with Jones angrily pushing Doucoure after he celebrated in front of Reds fans.

Both clubs have also been charged with “their players and/or technical area occupants behaving in an improper and/or provocative way following the final whistle”.

Slot, Hulshoff, Liverpool and Everton have until Wednesday to provide their respective responses, which means the Reds boss will be available to sit on the bench for the Premier League leaders’ game against Wolves at Anfield on Sunday.

Earlier on Friday, Slot accepted he made a mistake with his behaviour because he got caught up in the hostile atmosphere at Goodison Park.

“Emotions got the better of me. If I could do that differently, if I look back I would love to do that differently and I hope to do that differently next time,” he told reporters.

“I should have acted differently after the game but it’s an emotional sport and sometimes individuals make wrong decisions and that’s definitely what I did.”

Everton manager David Moyes said on Friday he had respect for Slot’s fiery actions as he was fighting to protect his team.

“I feel a bit for Arne Slot. When I was a younger manager I was always getting involved in heated things,” he said.

“And it also tells me that he cares a lot about his club and he’s fighting for his players. I think when you get a bit older you stand back and you say, ‘What was I doing there?’

“I’ve had plenty of moments and lots that I’m not proud of. But we all have to fight our own corner.”

James Tarkowski struck in the 98th minute to salvage a 2-2 draw for Everton against Liverpool as four red cards were issued after full-time on a dramatic final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on Wednesday. Liverpool edge seven points clear at the top of the Premier League but were denied a vital win by Tarkowski’s blistering strike after Mohamed Salah put Arne Slot’s men in front. Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure, Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones, Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff were then sent off as tempers flared at the final whistle on a night Liverpool will come to regret if they do not go on to lift a record-equalling 20th English top flight title.

“Very tough,” said Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk. “We saw the celebrations they had in the end so we know how much it meant for them but the fact is it was disappointing for us.”

Everton are set to move to a new 53,000 capacity stadium in Liverpool’s Bramley Moore Dock next season and gave their home since 1892 a night to remember against their local rivals.

“Mental probably sums it up,” said Everton boss David Moyes. “A brilliant finish for us, to finish the last Goodison Merseyside derby and score in the last minute is in a way fitting.”

Liverpool’s quest for a quadruple came unstuck with a shock FA Cup exit to second-tier strugglers Plymouth on Sunday.

Slot made 10 changes as he resorted to his strongest available side with Salah and Van Dijk among those who had been afforded the weekend off.

Everton’s own FA Cup exit to Bournemouth on Saturday had punctured some of their momentum since Moyes’ return for a second spell in charge.

The Toffees had won their previous three Premier League games to pull nine points clear of the relegation zone and got off to a flying start.

Liverpool were caught napping on 11 minutes by a quick free-kick by Jarrad Branthwaite to free Beto, who beat Alisson Becker for his third goal in two league games.

The visitors could have been swept away in the feverish atmosphere early on but the Reds immediate response was the making of champions.

Alexis Mac Allister started and finished the move as the diminutive Argentine midfielder ghosted into the penalty area to head in Salah’s teasing cross.

Salah strikes

Everton then suffered a huge blow as their creative hub Iliman Ndiaye limped off in tears after a long stoppage.

The first half never recovered its flow amid a flurry of fouls and yellow cards as the Premier League fixture with the most red cards in history threatened to boil over once more.

The home crowd briefly erupted once more when Branthwaite fired home only for the celebrations to be cut short by the offside flag.

Slot was growing visibly frustrated with his side’s lack of penetration going forward and turned to his bench for an impact with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jones and Darwin Nunez sent on to find a winner.

The changes worked as Salah delivered what looked like a potential title-clinching moment.

Jones and Nunez exchanged a one-two and when the former’s shot was blocked by Branthwaite, it fell kindly for Salah to prod in his 27th goal of the season.

Only a brilliant save by Jordan Pickford crucially denied Salah a second late on.

And Everton rallied when Liverpool failed to deal with a hopeful ball into the box and it fell to centre-back Tarkowski to fire into the top corner.

A lengthy VAR check followed for offside and Everton fans had to be cleared off the pitch before the game could restart.

When it did there was more fireworks as Doucoure and Jones were both shown sent off clashing after the Everton midfielder celebrated in front of the travelling Liverpool support.

Slot and Hulshoff also saw reds for taking their protests towards referee Michael Oliver too far after the game.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have reportedly been beaten to the acquisition of a team in England’s The Hundred franchise league by Chelsea Football Club co-owner Todd Boehly. Real estate firm Cain International – which was co-founded by Boehly and Chelsea director Jonathan Goldstein – have acquired a 49 per cent stake of The Hundred side Trent Rockets. As per a report, Trent Rockets was acquired by Boehly and co. for a fee of around 39 million Great British Pounds (approx. Rs 420 crore). A Cricbuzz report added that the franchise’s valuation was GBP 79 million. The report also states that Indian investor Amit Jain was in the running in conjunction with Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

As per a report by ESPNcricinfo, KKR and Amit Jain were beaten to the stake by Cain International, who were earlier in the race for the acquisition of fellow Hundred side London Spirit.

KKR are owned by Red Chillies Entertainment, a conglomerate established by actor Shah Rukh Khan, as well as by businessman Jay Mehta and actor Juhi Chawla.

Had KKR won the bid for Trent Rockets, it would’ve added to the likes of KKR, Trinbago Knight Riders, LA Knight Riders and Abu Dhabi Knight Riders under the same ownership.

The Hundred has already seen IPL ownership take over two of the franchises. Mumbai Indians’ owners, Reliance Industries, bought a 49 per cent stake in Oval Invincibles with a valuation reported at around 60 million GBP. Lucknow Super Giants owners RPSG Group bought a similar stake in Manchester Originals, whose valuation is reported at around 116 million GBP.

Delhi Capitals co-owners GMR Group are also likely to acquire a stake in Southern Brave, the report states.

However, KKR will not be joining them, as it stands.

Cain International will become one of four non-IPL owners with stakes in a Hundred team.

Based in Nottingham, Trent Rockets represent the counties of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire. The men’s team of Trent Rockets won The Hundred tournament in 2022, while also finishing third the year before. The women’s team have a best finish of third, also in 2022.

The Rockets featured some well known cricket stars such as Joe Root, Alex Hales and Rovman Powell in the 2024 season. The likes of Ashleigh Gardner and Nat Sciver-Brunt star for the women’s team.

The investment further extends Boehly’s empire in the world of sports. The 51-year-old American billionaire led a consortium named BlueCo that took over Chelsea in 2022 from Ukrainian businessman Roman Abramovich. BlueCo have since also taken over French Ligue 1 side RC Strasbourg.

Chelsea sit fourth in the ongoing 2024-25 Premier League season, while Strasbourg are ninth in Ligue 1.

Boehly also co-owns Major League Baseball (MLB) team Los Angeles Dodgers.

Arsenal kept alive their Premier League title challenge with a 5-1 demolition of dismal Manchester City on Sunday as the troubled champions endured another humiliation in their season from hell. Mikel Arteta‘s side had no margin for error in the title race after leaders Liverpool won 2-0 at Bournemouth on Saturday to move nine points clear of the Gunners. They rose to the occasion with a blistering performance inspired by Martin Odegaard‘s opener after 103 seconds at the Emirates Stadium. Erling Haaland hauled City level soon after half-time with his 25th goal in all competitions this season.

But the careless mistakes that have hampered City throughout a dismal campaign proved decisive when Thomas Partey capitalised on Phil Foden‘s poor pass to restore Arsenal’s lead.

Myles Lewis-Skelly’s first Arsenal goal and late strikes from Kai Havertz and Ethan Nwaneri put the seal on a masterful display as the Gunners closed within six points of Liverpool.

Liverpool’s game in hand keeps them firmly in control of the title race, but Arsenal’s vibrant performance extended their unbeaten run to 14 games and underlined their desire to push the Reds to the finish line.

City have now failed to win any of their last four league meetings with Arsenal as their six-game undefeated run in the top-flight came to a brutal end.

With a fifth successive title long erased from City’s ambitions after their wretched season, Pep Guardiola’s fourth placed side are focused on qualifying for the Champions League.

But even that could be beyond them — let alone getting past Real Madrid in this season’s play-off round — unless Guardiola can fix the gaping holes in his defence and the lack of energy in midfield.

Guardiola had opted to bring in John Stones for former Lens defender Abdukodir Khusanov, who endured an error-strewn debut against Chelsea last weekend.

But Stones was involved in the calamitous defending that gifted Arsenal the lead in the second minute.

It was Stones’ pass to the marked Manuel Akanji that put his fellow defender in a difficult situation.

Akanji was immediately robbed by Leandro Trossard before Kai Havertz picked out Odegaard and the Arsenal captain slotted home from 10 yards with City’s defence in disarray.

Shell-shocked City

Already fearing the worst, Guardiola stomped back to the bench with a thunderous expression.

City controlled possession but were toothless for long periods, prompting all manner of agitated gestures from the exasperated Guardiola.

Haaland angered Arsenal after telling Arteta to “stay humble” and throwing the ball at Gunners defender Gabriel Magalhaes during the stormy 2-2 draw earlier this season.

So inevitably, it was Haaland who grabbed City’s 55th minute equaliser.

Savinho’s perfectly weighted cross gave Haaland the chance to get in front of William Saliba and bury his close-range header.

But Arsenal took just two minutes to wipe from smile from Haaland’s face.

Foden’s pass was picked off by Partey and the Ghana midfielder unleashed a powerful long-range drive that went in via a wicked deflection off Stones.

Arsenal scented blood and Lewis-Skelly went for the kill in the 62nd minute.

Cutting inside the City area, the 18-year-old left-back showed poised that belied his lack of experience as he curled a fine finish into the far corner.

In a cheeky jibe at Haaland, Lewis-Skelly marked the goal by sitting down with his legs crossed to mimic the City star’s meditative celebration.

There was more misery for shell-shocked City as the much-maligned Havertz got on the scoresheet in the 76th minute.

Gabriel Martinelli swaggered through City’s leaky defence and teed up Havertz for a clinical finish from 10 yards.

Deep into stoppage-time, teenage forward Nwaneri delivered the final blow, whipping a superb finish into the far corner from an acute angle.

Arsenal fans taunted Guardiola with chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” and, not for the first time in a chastening afternoon, City had no response.

Mohamed Salah scored twice to take Liverpool nine points clear at the top of the Premier League by beating Bournemouth 2-0 on Saturday, while third-placed Nottingham Forest smashed Brighton 7-0. Salah’s double took him above Frank Lampard as the sixth highest goalscorer in Premier League history with 178 goals on another significant day in the Reds’ charge towards a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title. Bournemouth had not lost in 12 games in all competitions and beaten Arsenal and Manchester City at home earlier this season.

The Cherries can count themselves unfortunate not to have extended that run as they hit the woodwork either side of half-time through Antoine Semenyo and Marcus Tavernier.

Bournemouth were also furious over the awarding of a penalty that opened the scoring on the half hour mark as Cody Gakpo appeared to clip his own heels as he entered the box rather than being tripped by Lewis Cook.

VAR did not intervene to overturn referee Darren England’s original decision to point to the spot and Salah ruthlessly rifled home the resulting spot-kick for his 20th Premier League goal of the season.

Bournemouth pressed in vain for an equaliser after the break as the in-form Justin Kluivert missed two big chances either side of Tavernier’s strike off the post.

But one moment of magic from Salah sealed a massive three points in the title race when he cut inside onto his favoured left foot and curled into the top corner.

Second-placed Arsenal have a mountain to climb if they are to rein in Arne Slot’s men and host defending champions Manchester City on Sunday.

Forest land a punch

Forest moved level on points with the Gunners thanks to a scintillating performance that blew Brighton away at the City Ground.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s men had been beaten 5-0 by Bournemouth last weekend but bounced back in style with Chris Wood netting a hat-trick.

Morgan Gibbs-White, Neco Williams and Jota Silva were also on target for Forest after Lewis Dunk‘s own goal opened the floodgates.

“After what happened last week, the answer was good,” said Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo. “You get punched, you get up – fantastic!”

The two-time European champions are on course for a return to the Champions League for the first time since 1980 as they opened up a six-point cushion on fifth-placed Newcastle, who blew the lead to lose 2-1 at home to Fulham.

Jacob Murphy put the Magpies in front at St. James’ Park, but Fulham hit back thanks to goals from Raul Jimenez and Rodrigo Muniz to climb up to ninth and within four points of the top six.

Everton’s relegation fears in their final season at Goodison Park now appear over after thrashing Leicester 4-0.

Abdoulaye Doucoure opened the scoring after just 10 seconds as David Moyes enjoyed a third win in his first four games since returning as Everton boss.

Beto then took advantage of some woeful Leicester defending to score twice before half-time and Iliman Ndiaye rounded off a resounding win in stoppage time.

The Toffees are now 10 points clear of the bottom three.

By contrast, Ipswich look doomed after Southampton ended their wait for a league win since November with a 2-1 victory at Portman Road.

Paul Onuachu scored the winner three minutes from time for Saints, who are still eight points adrift of safety, but move to with seven of Ipswich.

Manchester City face the stiffest test of their recent revival when they travel to Arsenal this weekend as Bournemouth seek to take down Premier League leaders Liverpool. Third-placed Nottingham Forest host Brighton hoping to banish memories of last week’s 5-0 hammering at Bournemouth, while slumping Tottenham aim to stop the rot at Brentford. Let’s take a look at some of the major talking points ahead of the action.

Man City’s litmus test

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City have won four of their past five Premier League games to climb back into the top four after a miserable run of results.

In midweek they survived a huge scare against Club Brugge to scrape into the Champions League play-off round, further evidence that they may have turned a corner at last.

So is it back to business as usual for the four-time defending Premier League champions?

The fixture list has been relatively kind in recent weeks but they now have a daunting run, with a trip to Arsenal followed by games against Newcastle, Liverpool, Tottenham and Nottingham Forest.

Their prize for survival in the Champions League is a tough play-off against either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich.

Mikel Arteta‘s Gunners are unbeaten in 14 league games at home since a 2-0 defeat by Aston Villa last April and cannot afford to drop points as they hunt down Liverpool.

Second-placed Arsenal have been pipped to the title by City in each of the past two seasons, but will kick off six points above their old rivals, determined to state their credentials as serious challengers.

Tottenham: Too good to go down?

Despite Tottenham’s plunge down the table, relegation talk has appeared fanciful, with an eight-point buffer between themselves and the bottom three.

But when will Ange Postecoglou’s injury-hit team turn their form around?

Fellow strugglers Everton and Leicester both closed the gap on Spurs last weekend.

The slide has been dramatic for Postecoglou’s men. In late November, Tottenham were sixth and just four points off second place. Since then, they have slumped to 15th, 23 points off second.

They have taken just four points from their past 10 games — only Southampton (one) have taken fewer.

It is still difficult to imagine that enough of the teams below Tottenham have the quality to reel them in but they are alarmingly fragile.

On Sunday, they travel across London to face mid-table Brentford, who boast an impressive home record and significant firepower.

If they do not start winning again soon, fans will start to think the unthinkable.

Bournemouth’s push for Europe

At the start of the season, a trip to Bournemouth’s modest Vitality Stadium would not have given Liverpool manager Arne Slot sleepless nights but it is a different story now.

Andoni Iraola‘s team are unbeaten in their past 11 Premier League games, their longest run without defeat in the competition. 

The Spaniard, in his second season at the club, has done a remarkable job despite missing a host of players through injury including Marcos Senesi, Marcus Tavernier, Luis Sinisterra, Evanilson and Enes Unal.

Iraola’s free-scoring side are seventh in the table but are just a single point behind fourth-placed Manchester City as their fans dream of European football next season.

Justin Kluivert, on 11 Premier League goals, is emerging from the shadow of his father, Netherlands star Patrick Kluivert, while Dango Ouattara scored a hat-trick in the 5-0 demolition of Nottingham Forest last weekend.

Bournemouth have already beaten Arsenal and Manchester City this season but Liverpool, who have lost just once in the league, would be their biggest scalp so far.

Fixtures

Saturday (1500 GMT unless stated)

Nottingham Forest v Brighton (1230), Bournemouth v Liverpool, Everton v Leicester, Ipswich v Southampton, Newcastle v Fulham, Wolves v Aston Villa (1730)

Sunday (1400 unless stated)

Brentford v Tottenham, Manchester United v Crystal Palace, Arsenal v Manchester City (1630)

Monday 

Chelsea v West Ham (2000)

Leicester pushed Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou closer to the exit door with a 2-1 win that extended Spurs’ dismal run, while Manchester United’s 1-0 victory at Fulham eased the pressure on Ruben Amorim. Tottenham blew the lead on home turf as they crumbled to a sixth defeat in their last seven league games. With only one win in their last 11 top-flight matches, Postecoglou’s side are languishing in 15th place, just eight points above the bottom three. It was another woeful result for the beleaguered Australian, who has faced mounting calls for his dismissal throughout a turbulent second season in charge.

Tottenham are dangerously close to being sucked into the relegation battle but Postecoglou believes his injury-ravaged squad are still fighting for him.

“When you are the manager of a football club, you can be very vulnerable and isolated. I don’t feel that,” said Postecoglou.

“I feel like this group of players, not for me, are giving everything for the club. I have a group of staff that is really committed. I focus on that.”

Richarlison had headed the home side in front but two goals in four minutes at the start of the second half from Jamie Vardy and Bilal El Khannouss ended Leicester’s seven-game losing streak in the league.

While Postecoglou fights to save his job, Leicester manager Ruud van Nistelrooy can breathe a little easier over his own future.

Leicester are now one place and one point above the relegation zone.

“It’s a massive win,” said Van Nistelrooy. “The players are buying into it. I can only be very proud of this team.”

Man Utd’s lucky break

Any notion United could be dragged into a relegation battle now appears gone after Lisandro Martinez’s deflected strike ground out a much-needed victory at Fulham for the Red Devils.

Chances were at a premium for both sides until the Argentinian’s effort flicked off Sasa Lukic to loop over Bernd Leno.

Joachim Andersen had a header cleared off the line by Toby Collyer as the visitors held out for a victory which lifts United up to 12th.

Aston Villa’s hopes of Champions League qualification for a second consecutive season were dented as an under-strength West Ham battled back to earn a 1-1 draw in Birmingham.

Jacob Ramsey’s strike was just reward for a fast start by Unai Emery’s side.

Graham Potter was forced to name four full-backs in his starting line-up for the injury-hit Hammers, who were without captain Jarrod Bowen.

However, the visitors rallied in the second half and were unfortunate not to take all three points after Emerson Palmieri’s header levelled.

Lucas Paqueta thought he had won the game in stoppage time, but Tomas Soucek had strayed offside before teeing up the Brazilian to quell Potter’s jubilant celebration on the touchline.

Villa remain in eighth, four points off the top four, while West Ham sit 14th.

Brentford benefitted from penalty controversy to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 at Selhurst Park. 

Thomas Frank’s team earned a 66th minute spot-kick when Maxence Lacroix fouled Nathan Collins.

Bryan Mbeumo’s spot-kick hit the post, but Palace’s reprieve was short-lived as VAR ruled Marc Guehi had encroached before the shot.

The Brentford forward gratefully accepted his second chance by sending Palace keeper Dean Henderson the wrong way for his 14th goal this season.

Kevin Schade netted in the 80th minute for Brentford before Palace winger Romain Esse came off the bench to score with his first touch on his debut five minutes later.

Cody Gakpo struck twice as Premier League leaders Liverpool thrashed Ipswich 4-1 to maintain their six-point lead over Arsenal, who survived Myles Lewis-Skelly’s controversial red card to snatch a 1-0 win at Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday. Troubled champions Manchester City recovered from Abdukodir Khusanov’s debut disaster to move into fourth place with a vital 3-1 win against top four rivals Chelsea. At Anfield, Liverpool cruised to their second successive league victory thanks to a first half goal-spree.

Dominik Szoboszlai‘s 11th-minute opener fizzed past Ipswich goalkeeper Christian Walton from Ibrahima Konate’s assist.

Mohamed Salah doubled Liverpool’s advantage in the 35th minute with a fierce strike for his 23rd goal in all competitions this term.

It was also the Egypt forward’s 100th Premier League goal at Anfield.

Gakpo killed off Ipswich before half-time when he bundled home after Walton parried Szoboszlai’s shot in the 44th minute.

The Dutch forward netted again in the 66th minute, heading past Walton from Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s cross.

Jacob Greaves’ stoppage-time diving header was little consolation for third-bottom Ipswich.

Liverpool’s 16th win from 22 league games this season keeps them on course for a first English title since 2020.

“I think about how can I make sure these players play in a style I would love them to play. And they have done that from the start. It’s a joy to watch,” Liverpool boss Arne Slot said.

The quadruple-chasing Reds have a game in hand on second-placed Arsenal, who left it late before keeping the pressure on the leaders.

Arsenal had Lewis-Skelly contentiously sent off for tripping Matt Doherty to stop a Wolves counter-attack in the 43rd minute.

Arsenal were furious, protesting that the 18-year-old defender’s tackle was too far from goal to warrant a red card.

But Wolves were also reduced t0 10 men in the 70th minute when Joao Gomes earned a second booking for a foul on Jurrien Timber.

And Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori won it for Arsenal in the 74th minute with a half-volley that went in off the far post.

‘Difficult to accept’

“It’s obvious that it was very difficult to accept. I leave it to you guys because it’s that obvious. You don’t need my words. It was so obvious,” Arteta told reporters of Lewis-Skelly’s dismissal.

At the Etihad Stadium, Uzbekistan defender Khusanov, signed from Lens as part of struggling City’s January overhaul, made a woeful start when his miscued header allowed Noni Madueke to give Chelsea a second minute lead.

But City, who also gave a debut to Egypt forward Omar Marmoush after his move from Eintracht Frankfurt, hit back to equalise with Josko Gvardiol‘s 42nd minute strike.

Erling Haaland chipped out of position Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez to put City ahead in the 68th minute.

Phil Foden sprinted clear to score his sixth goal in his last four league games in the 87th minute as Pep Guardiola’s side climbed one point above sixth-placed Chelsea.

It was a much-needed win for City, who suffered a damaging loss at Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday and must beat Club Brugge next week to have a chance of reaching the Champions League play-off round.

“Not the best start but we recovered emotionally and made a good performance,” Guardiola said.

“Any player can make a mistake. Khusanov’s so young. He will learn. The players were together. That was massively important.”

Dango Ouattara hit a hat-trick as Bournemouth dented Nottingham Forest’s top four charge with a 5-0 demolition at the Vitality Stadium.

Andoni Iraola‘s side are undefeated in their last 11 league games and up to seventh place after ending third-placed Forest’s own impressive run of eight top-flight matches without losing.

Justin Kluivert bagged Bournemouth’s opener and Ouattara completed a memorable treble before Antoine Semenyo sealed the Cherries’ biggest victory this season.

Alexander Isak starred as fifth-placed Newcastle won 3-1 at bottom of the table Southampton.

Jan Bednarek put Southampton ahead but in-form Isak struck twice before Sandro Tonali scored Newcastle’s third.

Everton boss David Moyes celebrated becoming the third manager to reach 700 Premier League games with a 1-0 win at Brighton secured by Iliman Ndiaye’s 42nd minute penalty.

File image of Ruud van Nistelrooy.© AFP

Chelsea overcame a howler from goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to beat relegation-threatened Wolves 3-1 on Monday, ending a five-game winless run to climb back into the Premier League’s top four. Enzo Maresca‘s team were just two points behind leaders Liverpool in mid-December, raising hopes of an unlikely title challenge before losing their way. Now they are back on track to qualify for next season’s Champions League after second-half goals from Marc Cucurella and Noni Madueke spared Sanchez’s blushes. The Spanish goalkeeper had dropped the ball moments before half-time, allowing Matt Doherty to cancel out Tosin Adarabioyo’s opener.

Maresca said Chelsea had dominated the first 40 minutes before problems that have haunted them in recent weeks returned.

“We lost a little bit of confidence, we conceded a goal and we started to struggle a little bit and then the second half I think we started quite well and then after the second and third goals the game was in control,” he told Sky Sports.

He added: “In the past five games we didn’t win but I said many times that the performance was there. We created many chances, we didn’t score and tonight finally we scored three goals.”

Chelsea’s top-scorer Cole Palmer, a doubt before the game, was fit to start as Maresca made five changes from last week’s draw against Bournemouth including bringing in centre-back Trevoh Chalobah, recalled from his loan spell at Crystal Palace.

The home side dominated possession in the early stages and Palmer had a couple of early efforts, curling one wide and forcing Jose Sa into a diving save.

The home side were rewarded for their dominance midway through the first half when Adarabioyo fired home for his first Premier League goal for the club.

The defender controlled the ball well after it was deflected into his path from Reece James‘s shot from the edge of the box.

A number of Chelsea players were in offside positions in a crowded penalty area and the flag was raised but the on-field decision was overturned after a VAR check.

Sanchez blunder

Wolves, anaemic in attack for most of the first half, came back into the game as half-time approached, scoring with their first shot on target thanks to Sanchez’s error.

The visitors won a corner and the goalkeeper dropped the inswinging delivery from Matheus Cunha under intense pressure when he could have punched clear, with Doherty poking home.

The home side started the second half brightly and were back in front on the hour mark when Cucurella hooked home on the stretch after Madueke’s cross was flicked on by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

Five minutes later Chelsea had a two-goal cushion when Madueke scored his fourth goal of the season against Wolves, heading home Chalobah’s goal-bound effort.

Sanchez palmed a Cunha shot behind with 10 minutes to go but Chelsea were largely comfortable despite the occasional minor scare and leapfrogged Newcastle and Manchester City, whom they face next.

Former Leicester boss Maresca, in his first season in charge at Stamford Bridge, stubbornly insisted his team were not in the title race even when they were flying high after five straight wins from late November.

Starting with a 0-0 draw at Everton just before Christmas, they took just three points from five games before returning to winning ways on Monday.

Wolves, who have conceded a league-high 51 goals, are outside the relegation zone on goal difference alone after three straight defeats following a bright start for new manager Vitor Pereira.