EPL Table and Review After Chelsea Falter in Top Four Chase and Liverpool Slip Against Fulham

Chelsea’s hopes of securing a Champions League spot took a significant dent after they were held to a 0-0 draw by Brentford on Saturday. Despite enjoying the lion’s share of possession, the Blues lacked cutting edge in the final third, while Brentford created the more dangerous chances.

Following a taxing midweek victory over Tottenham, manager Enzo Maresca rotated his starting XI, choosing to rest key figures such as Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson, and Levi Colwill. Christopher Nkunku and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall were among those given a starting role, but the changes didn’t bring the creative spark Chelsea needed.

Brentford started on the front foot, pressing with intensity and causing problems for Chelsea early on. Mikkel Damsgaard tested the visitors’ defense with a couple of promising strikes, and Sepp van den Berg nearly opened the scoring but sent a free header off target.

Chelsea’s attacking tempo picked up slightly in the second half following the introduction of Jackson. Palmer, brought on around the 60th minute, was expected to influence the game, but the usually reliable forward couldn’t find his rhythm. His best moment came in stoppage time, curling a shot narrowly over the bar.

The goalless result leaves Chelsea frustrated, having missed a valuable chance to gain ground in the top-four battle. Brentford, meanwhile, remain comfortably mid-table and showed strong resilience.

Meanwhile, Liverpool’s title ambitions took a major hit after they were beaten by Fulham. The defeat handed momentum to their title rivals and cast doubt over their ability to keep pace in the race for the Premier League crown. With key fixtures approaching, the Reds will need to regroup quickly to avoid falling further behind.

Both Chelsea and Liverpool will be feeling the pressure as the season nears its climax, with European ambitions hanging in the balance.