Chelsea 2 Liverpool 1
The Blues needed only to avoid defeat to secure the remaining place in Europe's elite competition but they suffered a setback after 11 minutes when Sami Hyypia was left unmarked to head in Danny Murphy's free-kick.
The hosts quickly replied, though, as Marcel Desailly climbed highest to head home Jesper Gronkjaer's cross off the post from 14 yards out.
The Danish flyer turned from creator to £15 million match-winner on 27 minutes when he cut in from the right flank and curled a superb low shot into the far corner of the net.
Liverpool were left with a mountain to climb to overturn the deficit and Michael Owen wasted a good chance to restore parity early in the second half when he shot over after nipping in ahead of his marker.
Milan Baros had a goal rightly ruled out for handball after Carlo Cudicini spilled the ball, while at the opposite end Jerzy Dudek pushed Mario Melchiot's shot onto the post.
In the closing stages, Steven Gerrard was sent off after an awful tackle on Graeme Le Saux, ensuring Liverpool's season ended on a sour note as Chelsea celebrate clinching their spot in the lucrative Champions League.
