Chelsea will welcome national champions Liverpool with a guard of honour on Sunday. Manager Enzo Maresca confirmed this on Friday during the press conference ahead of the match. It is a tradition, and Chelsea will not deviate from it.
Embed from Getty Images
Chelsea honoured newly crowned Premier League champions Liverpool with a guard of honour on Sunday evening at Stamford Bridge, moments before falling to a 0-2 defeat in a match that served as both a tribute and a stark reminder of where each club currently stands.
The ceremonial gesture, rooted in respect and tradition, came exactly one week after Liverpool, under new manager Arne Slot, mathematically secured the Premier League title their second in the modern era and first under the Dutch coach. As the Liverpool squad walked onto the pitch, Chelsea players formed two lines and applauded them, acknowledging their achievement in a moment of sportsmanship witnessed by tens of thousands inside the stadium and millions more around the world.
While the gesture itself was brief, its significance was not lost on anyone. The guard of honour may not be mandatory in the rules of the game, but it remains one of the most visually symbolic moments in football a quiet recognition of superiority, earned over the course of a long and difficult season. Manager Enzo Maresca, who had confirmed Chelsea’s intention to uphold the tradition earlier in the week, explained the reasoning clearly. “It’s a tradition. It’s something you must do, and something we want to do,” he said. “They’ve won the league, so they deserve it. Hopefully, one day, we’ll be on the other side of that gesture.”
Indeed, Chelsea are no strangers to performing the ritual. This marked the fifth time the club has formed a guard of honour for another team, more than any other side in Premier League history. Previous recipients include Manchester United in 2007, Leicester City in 2016, Liverpool in 2020, and Manchester City just last year in 2023. That consistency speaks not only to the values upheld within the club but also to Chelsea’s long-standing presence at the top level of English football even if recent seasons have seen them drift from that standard.
Across the Premier League, guards of honour have an uneven history. Not every champion receives one. Some clubs opt out, citing various reasons: fierce rivalries, timing, or competitive concerns. Yet when they do take place, these moments are often remembered for their grace. Everton did it for Manchester United in 2003. United returned the gesture for Chelsea in 2005. Arsenal honoured United in 2013. In 2020, as Liverpool coasted to the title under Jürgen Klopp, multiple clubs including Chelsea lined up to salute them. In the age of financial muscle and bitter competition, moments like these still remind fans and players alike of the core values of the sport.
As the applause faded and the match began, attention turned from tradition to tactics. Unfortunately for Chelsea, what followed was a continuation of the harsh reality that has defined their campaign. While they showed flashes of energy and commitment, they were largely second best throughout the 90 minutes. Liverpool played with the calm authority and controlled aggression befitting champions. Their structure, movement, and discipline were apparent from the first whistle. Goals in either half secured a professional and deserved win, further cementing their superiority in a season where they have been the most consistent and complete team in the country.
For Chelsea, the result will sting not just because of the loss, but because of what it symbolised. This is a club that, not so long ago, was winning Champions League titles, competing for league crowns, and assembling some of the most feared squads in Europe. But under new ownership, and in the midst of a major rebuilding phase, they find themselves stuck between eras. The appointment of Maresca has brought with it a sense of structure and long-term vision, but the road back to the top is clearly still long and uncertain.
Players like Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernández, and Reece James have the potential to form the spine of a future title-challenging team, but Sunday’s match showed just how far the current side is from that standard. There were moments of promise a few counter-attacks, flashes of individual brilliance, a strong opening to the second half but they were fleeting. Liverpool’s control was never truly threatened.
Post-match, Maresca reiterated that the focus must remain on the bigger picture. “We’re building,” he said. “These moments are painful, but also valuable. They show us where we need to go, and what we need to learn. Liverpool have set a standard, and it’s one we must aspire to.”
Meanwhile, for Liverpool, this was another celebratory chapter in a near-flawless season. Arne Slot, tasked with following in the enormous footsteps of Jürgen Klopp, has delivered beyond expectations. The title was secured with room to spare, and the team’s performances have continued to shine even after sealing the trophy. Players like Van Dijk, Salah, Alexander-Arnold, and Gakpo have led by example, and emerging talents have blended seamlessly into a system that looks built for sustainability as well as success.
With three matches still to play, Liverpool are now turning their attention to finishing strong and possibly adding to their trophy cabinet. The FA Cup final awaits. So too does a Europa League showdown, where they are favourites to lift the trophy in Bilbao. A treble is within reach, and few would doubt their ability to complete it.
In contrast, Chelsea now face the prospect of another year outside the top four, another season of rebuilding and recalibrating. But even in defeat, even in a season of disappointment, the club showed on Sunday that it hasn’t forgotten the values that define great institutions humility, respect, and professionalism. The guard of honour may not win points, but it does win credit.
As Virgil van Dijk led his teammates onto the pitch to applause, and later left the field with three more points and another clean sheet, the moment encapsulated a simple truth: champions deserve respect. And Chelsea, for all their struggles, gave it.
Updated: 03:20, 2 May 2025
