Chelsea take guard of honour decision ahead of Liverpool showdown - 'We want to'

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has confirmed his team will give newly-crowned champions Liverpool a guard of honour at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon.

The Reds wrapped up the Premier League title with four games to spare last weekend when thrashing Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 at Anfield.

While not compulsory, it has become customary for teams who have been declared champions before the final weekend of the season to have the achievement recognised by opponents before matches.

Back in 2020, Liverpool were given such treatment for seven games having raced away with the championship before ending the campaign on 99 points.

when asked whether the Reds can expect a guard of honour at the weekend, Chelsea boss Maresca said:

"It's a tradition that you have to do and we want to do because they won the league and they deserve that, and hopefully we can be there (winning the league) very soon."

Chelsea, won won 4-1 at Djugarden in their Conference League semi-final first leg on Thursday night, remain in the hunt for a top-five finish and Champions League qualification, and currently stand in fifth place ahead of Nottingham Forest on goal difference.

Just five points separate third from seventh, with the Londoners also yet to face Manchester United at home while also travelling to near rivals Newcastle United and Forest.

Maresca added: "We know how important this game is for us. They (Liverpool) have shown how good they been all season. At home we have been better during this season in terms of results.

"It’s always nice to play in this kind of game, but I don’t think they (Liverpool) will be any different or relaxed because they have already won the title.

"They are a very good team and deserved to win the Premier League this season. The gap is there, you can see clearly. “

“My feeling is we are in the right direction and hopefully this gap can be smaller and closer next season.”

"Perhaps the difference (between the sides) is that they have probably been a lot more consistent compared to us over the entire season.

"For parts of the season, we were very good. Then we lost some games and this is the main reason why.

"Liverpool did not lose many games in these periods. Also, in terms of experienced players who know how to win games and these kind of things, they have something more compared to us."