Chelsea to Honour Liverpool With Guard of Honour

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca confirmed his team will give newly crowned Premier League champions Liverpool a guard of honour at Stamford Bridge, honoring tradition despite mixed fan reactions. Maresca cited Liverpool's consistency and leadership, particularly from Virgil van Dijk, as central to their title win, while contrasting this with Chelsea's youthful squad and lack of experienced leaders. Despite a record £1.2 billion transfer spend, only a few Chelsea signings have met expectations, leaving the club fighting for a top-five finish. Maresca remains optimistic about closing the gap with Liverpool by building experience and possibly adding seasoned leaders. The guard of honour is intended to inspire Chelsea players to emulate Liverpool's success. The match is significant as Liverpool celebrates its championship and Chelsea seeks to secure European football.