The race for the final two Champions League spots in the Premier League looks set to go down to the wire after Chelsea beat Liverpool 1-0 at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

An Olivier Giroud goal was the difference but Gary Cahill paid tribute to Antonio Conte's defensive tactics which kept the free-scoring Liverpool attack at bay.

"It was a game-plan that worked well," he told Off the Ball's Nathan Murphy. "We knew we were going to have to put in a fantastic performance. We knew it was going to be tough but we're delighted with the win. 

"We needed a win badly and we got it and we're obviously very pleased. 

"They've been fantastic this season between the three of them and the amount of goals that they've got so we're extra pleased coming off with a clean sheet. I thought we defended fantastically well and, like you said, to get a clean sheet against them three top, top players was great.

"I think, to give yourself an extra few yards at the back instead of trying to play a high-line against them, is probably a positive move and that proved to be the way today. 

"What's the point in playing so high against three players who are not even strikers who look to come into feet really - they look to play on the shoulder and get in behind."

Chelsea are now only three points behind Jurgen Klopp's side with a game in hand and are also only two points behind Tottenham with two games left each although the Blues have an inferior goal difference against both but Cahill isn't giving up hope of playing in European football's premier competition.

"We've got two more league games and we spoke last week that we needed to win every single one. We've won another one today and we've two more left and we have to see where that takes us."