Chelsea qualify for Champions League alongside Liverpool by skin of their teeth

Chelsea narrowly avoided their season turning into disaster by creeping into the Champions League.

The Blues failed to beat Aston Villa on Sunday meaning that their top four fate was out of their hands.

In the end, Tottenham's three late goals to turn the tables on Leicester dumped the Foxes out of the top four and give Chelsea a lifeline.

Villa ran out 2-1 winners over Chelsea with thanks to goals from Bertrand Traore and Anwar El Ghazi.

Ben Chilwell pulled a goal back for Chelsea late on, but it wasn't to be enough to inspire a comeback – but good news soon arrived from elsewhere.

Had Chelsea not made the top four, Chelsea's only hope of upgrading from Europa League to Champions League would have been with the Champions League final against Manchester City next weekend.

Liverpool also made sure of their place in the Champions League when they beat Crystal Palace with two goals from Sadio Mane.

But now the inquest will begin at Chelsea at how they could almost throw away such a commanding position heading into the final day.

Thomas Tuchel had turned Chelsea into serious contenders when he took over from Frank Lampard earlier in the season, but defeat to Leicester in the FA Cup final and Sunday's struggles against Villa will raise question marks over the squad.

More to follow.

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