Goals from Ruben Loftus-Cheek, David Luiz and Gonzalo Higuain confirmed Chelsea’s top-four finish in the Premier League with a 3-0 victory over Watford at Stamford Bridge.

The scoreline suggests otherwise but the visitors had unmistakably been the better side in an opening 45 minutes in which the Blues had Kepa Arrizabalaga to thank for a world-class save to deny Troy Deeney.

The Stamford Bridge club have been criticised for starting well and ending games poorly in recent months but this particular match was exactly the opposite, and after the break Chelsea quickly took control with two goals in as many minutes, almost identical headers from Ruben Loftus-Cheek and David Luiz, both from Eden Hazard crosses, before Gonzalo Higuain added the gloss with 15 minutes remaining.

Watford had the better of the first half and Kepa Arrizabalaga brilliantly saved a header from Troy Deeney, while Chelsea lost N’Golo Kante to an early injury.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek was Kante’s replacement and only three minutes after half-time he headed in the opener from Eden Hazard’s cross.

The Blues’ advantage was doubled on 51 minutes as David Luiz got on the end of Hazard’s 15th assist of the season, the most in the Premier League, to head past Ben Foster.

Kovacic won a corner as the hosts countered quickly and this time, Hazard opted to cross directly, picking out David Luiz for his third goal of the season. Within five second-half minutes Chelsea had the game sewn up, and where Watford had looked dangerous in attack and organised at the back, they now looked incredibly vulnerable every time the Blues came forward.

Deulofeu could have put them back in it but dragged a shot wide and then somehow Chelsea failed to score as Pedro, Loftus-Cheek and Higuain all went close, Foster making two excellent saves to keep the score down.

But the Hornets’ goalkeeper was beaten for the third time on 75 minutes by Gonzalo Higuain’s lofted finish.

Photo Credit: premierleague.com

Reports in England claim Real Madrid are planning to hit Chelsea with another transfer dent as they have compiled a detailed dossier N’Golo Kante.

Real manager Zinedine Zidane wants to bring a midfielder to the Bernabeu this summer with Manchester United star Paul Pogba top of his wishlist.

However, The Express claim if the French World Cup winner cannot be brought to Madrid, Pogba’s countrymen Kante will be targeted instead.

Real chiefs are said to have started looking at the transfer of Kante, who under manager Maurizio Sarri has been deployed as a playmaker rather than a defensive midfielder.

Jurgen Klopp is not comfortable with reports making the rounds that Mohamed Salah would not feature against Barcelona on Tuesday’s Champions League.

The Egyptian was stretchered off in tears at St James’ Park and now potentially joins Roberto Firmino on the sidelines ahead of the Champions League second-leg.

There were fears Salah’s season was over after an aerial collision with Magpies stopper Martin Dubravka left the Reds leading goalscorer motionless on the turf.

However, manager Klopp is optimistic the 26-year-old will be available at Anfield on Tuesday where Liverpool will look to overturn a hefty three-goal deficit.

According to the Reds boss,it was too soon to say whether Salah would be able to play against Barca.

“What I heard, he got the hip of the goalie on his head,” Klopp said. “He was then on the ground and the doc had to make a decision ‘on the pitch or off the pitch’ and the decision was off the pitch. We accept that of course.

“When we came in he was sitting in the dressing room watching the game on television. So he was then fine, but of course we have to wait. He got a proper knock, obviously, in that situation.”

Liverpool will be without their Brazilian forward Roberto Firmino for the match against Barcelona.

“He will not be ready for Tuesday and the rest we will see,” said Klopp, whose side face Wolves in their final Premier League game on May 12.

Firmino, who has a muscular injury, was not included in the match day squad for Saturday’s game and Klopp said he will not feature against the Spaniards as Liverpool look to overturn a 3-0 deficit from the first leg, reports ESPN FC.

Divock Origi, who grabbed the 86th minute winner at Newcastle, could start against Barca while Daniel Sturridge, who started on Saturday, would be another option.

Photo Credit: Daily Express

Divock Origi’s late header delivered the all-important three points to Liverpool, putting the visitors back on top of the table after a pulsating contest at St James’ Park on Saturday night.

Liverpool had to take the lead three times for the first time this season to keep alive their title hopes, moving two points ahead of Manchester City having played a match more.

The Reds began with intent, with two early openings falling for Salah. The Egyptian winger snatched at his shot when Andy Robertson’s cross dropped kindly for him, before seeing another effort blocked by Paul Dummett when Sadio Mane’s centre picked him out at the far post.

And from the resulting corner, Klopp’s men seized the advantage. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s delivery was met by van Dijk, whose thumping header beat Martin Dúbravka.

But with 20 minutes gone, the Magpies levelled the scores. Former Liverpool man Javier Manquillo’s deep cross found Matt Ritchie at the back post, who in turn cut the ball back for Rondón. The frontman’s first-time strike was handled on the line by Alexander-Arnold but referee Andre Marriner didn’t stop play and Atsu followed up, tucking the equaliser past Alisson.

The goal heralded a spell of pressure from Newcastle, buoyed by a sell-out crowd of over 52,000 at St. James’. Ayoze Pérez forced his way into the box and produced a fine improvised shot which came back off the crossbar just before, with the visitors on the ropes, Ki Sung-yueng tested Alisson with a powerful drive.

Mohamed Salah restored the visitors’ lead from a Trent Alexander-Arnold cross, but Salomon Rondon levelled with a left-foot volley.

Salah was taken off after a collision with Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, to be replaced by Origi, who got his head to Xherdan Shaqiri’s free-kick late on to snatch victory.

It means Man City need to beat Leicester City on Monday to go back top of the table.