New Liverpool Premier League threat emerges as Chelsea capitulation continues

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With just four more matches remaining this season, the chances of Chelsea catching Liverpool in the Premier League looks increasingly unlikely - however, fifth place is still not secure

Chelsea lost to Brighton as it lost further ground in the race for the Champions League places

It seems increasingly clear that Chelsea is no longer Liverpool's greatest threat in the race for the Champions League spots.

The Blues have been embroiled in the top-five race for several months, along with Liverpool, Manchester United and Aston Villa. But with the final league games of April on the horizon, Chelsea's hopes seem all but dead, while the trio's places look ever-more secure.

Liam Rosenior's side fell to a fifth consecutive league defeat without scoring on Tuesday, courtesy of a 3-0 loss at Brighton. It's a result that sees the Seagulls move ahead of the reigning world champions in the Premier League table.

Brighton now sits sixth, five points behind Liverpool having played a game more.

And while Chelsea's form has plummeted, Brighton is now the league's most in-form side, just a months after serious questions were asked about Hurzeler.

Six wins in eight means a European spot is now a real possibility, and few of those victories were more comfortable than the routine win over a disjointed Chelsea side.

It took just three minutes for Ferdi Kadioglu to net the game's opening goal, when he struck powerfully beyond ex-Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.

The visitors were lucky to head in at half-time trailing by just one goal, with just one shot compared to Brighton's seven. A change of shape at the break led to an improved start to the second period, but when Jack Hinshelwood finished off a free-flowing move in the 56th minute, any hopes of securing a victory were snuffed out.

Danny Welbeck added a third in injury-time to underline the one-sided nature of the contest and raise serious questions about Rosenior's future. The Blues have now lost five league games without scoring for the first time in 114 years.

Champions League qualification is verging on impossible. A European place of any description is under threat.