Liverpool 5-3 Chelsea: Eight-goal Anfield thriller keeps Blues waiting for Champions League
Liverpool set a new club record for wins in a single league season but were pushed hard by a spirited Chelsea side as the champions secured victory in an eight-goal thriller prior to their Premier League trophy presentation at Anfield.
Chelsea trailed 3-0 in the first half on Merseyside but battled back courageously in search of the point that would have sealed their place in next season's Champions League after top-four rivals Manchester United could only draw against West Ham earlier on Wednesday, eventually succumbing 5-3 on Merseyside.
The Blues will be left needing a point at home to Wolves on the final day to guarantee their place in Europe's premier club competition in 2020/21, while an 18th home victory of the season also means that Liverpool equal the record for the best home campaign Premier League history.
Both managers made just one change apiece for this high-profile contest, with Naby Keita returning to the hosts' midfield at the expense of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain following the defeat by Arsenal seven days ago and Lampard replacing cup goalkeeper Willy Caballero with regular first-choice option Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Chelsea started the game in confident fashion, controlling the early possession and setting the tempo as Mason Mount wasted a golden early chance by heading well over from close range.
Liverpool were denied penalties after some physical defending from Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta to block off the runs of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane as the hosts looked to capitalise on some incisive one-twos in and around the area.
Chelsea looked compact until a weak pass from Willian presented the ball to Keita, who took a couple of touches before rifling in a wonderful long-range strike off the underside of the crossbar.
With a 1-0 lead, suddenly the champions looked dangerous and Roberto Firmino was guilty of squaring the ball when he should have shot following a speedy break and Georginio Wijnaldum headed into the arms of Kepa having been left unmarked at a corner.
At the other end, Mount collected a long pass from Reece James and finished coolly beyond Alisson Becker, only for VAR to confirm that he had strayed narrowly offside.
Chelsea's misery was compounded when a free-kick was given harshly against Mateo Kovacic for a challenge on Mane - a decision that left Lampard incensed and led to a row between the Blues boss and Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders.
To make matters worse for Lampard, Trent Alexander-Arnold then swiftly stepped up to bend a tremendous effort around the wall and into the back of the net with Kepa left rooted to the spot.
Liverpool were now cruising and more horrific set-piece defending from Chelsea - a familiar theme this season - led to Wijnaldum blasting past Kepa for 3-0 after Giroud's headed clearance from a corner struck the hand of Jorginho.
Suddenly after a confident start Chelsea were staring at a heavy defeat, but Giroud did reduce the deficit deep into first-half stoppage time after beating Andy Robertson to the rebound after Willian's close-range strike was parried by Alisson.
Liverpool should have made it 4-1 shortly after the break, but Salah's attempt to finish with the outside of his boot proved ill-advised and Antonio Rudiger had to be alert to turn Robertson's cross behind with Firmino lurking.
Firmino did finally end his 19-match scoreless league run at Anfield when he got between defenders Kurt Zouma and Azpilicueta to fire a bullet header beyond Kepa, but a triple change from Lampard soon had Chelsea right back in a topsy-turvy game.
Two of the men who came on combined to tremendous effect to peg the Reds back once more as the fleet-footed Christian Pulisic - who has started the last couple of games on the bench due to a knock - embarked on a dazzling run and left three defenders in his wake before squaring the ball for fellow substitute Tammy Abraham to sweep home.
The impressive Pulisic then netted himself, executing a precise turn in the box and lashing in after being picked out by Callum Hudson-Odoi. Liverpool's centre-backs had collided and were left in a heap.
Chelsea pushed for an unlikely equaliser as pre-emptive fireworks lit up the skies overhead and scores of Liverpool fans gathered outside Anfield against the advice of police and several prominent club figures, but their resistance was finally broken when a blistering counter-attack was finished off by substitute Oxlade-Chamberlain at the back post.
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