As the fans shut out of the stadium lit the sky with pyrotechnics, champions Liverpool and Chelsea provided their own explosive moments in an eight-goal thriller.

A 5-3 victory before receiving the Premier League trophy in front of the Kop was an entertaining way for Liverpool to sign off from Anfield for the season on Wednesday.

Defeat for Chelsea left Frank Lampard's side still needing a point from Sunday's final match of the season against Wolverhampton to seal a Champions League place.

Earlier, Manchester United moved to third after a 1-1 draw with West Ham United at home.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side are level on 63 points with Chelsea, with a superior goal difference.

United require now only a draw against Leicester City, who need to win that final match, to secure a Champions League spot for next season.

But the evening belonged to Liverpool, who ended their 30-year title drought four weeks ago when Chelsea beat Manchester City.

Like that night, fans couldn't resist gathering outside Anfield as they couldn't enter the stadium due to pandemic restrictions.

What a show they missed.

Naby Keita's thunderbolt of a shot and Trent Alexander-Arnold's stunning dipping free kick set Liverpool on their way to an 18th home league win out of 19 games.

Chelsea's slack defending then allowed Gini Wijnaldum to grab a third from a corner.

Olivier Giroud was able to pull one back before the break after goalkeeper Alisson parried Willian's shot into the striker's path.

Just when it looked like Roberto Firmino would complete the season without scoring in the league at Anfield, he finally did in the 55th when he headed in an exquisite cross pinged in by Alexander-Arnold.

The arrival of Christian Pulisic injected a new energy in the Chelsea side in the second half and he set up the unmarked Tammy Abraham to walk Chelsea's second goal over the line.

With cordite filling the air from the pyrotechnics set off by Liverpool fans, it was Chelsea celebrating again as Pulisic brought down a cross with his chest before striking into the net.

But Liverpool had the final say with a goal that showed just why they are champions again with an 18-point lead heading into the final day.

It came from a counterattack launched by 19-year-old Liverpool-born Curtis Jones.

Sadio Mane then fed Andy Robertson who fed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at the back post to fire into the net.

"We are champions - it's the truth," said Klopp, who also helped Liverpool win the Champions League in Madrid and the Club World Cup in Qatar last year.

"It's a great moment. It's all about consistency. I couldn't be more proud.

"Usually I don't need pictures with something but I will have a picture with all four trophies, it doesn't happen too often."

At Old Trafford, The Red Devils went 1-0 down when Paul Pogba conceded a penalty with his hands after the Frenchman tried to protect his face from a powerful long-range shot by Declan Rice.

West Ham striker Michail Antonio calmly converted the penalty to put the Hammers ahead but the lead was erased five minutes into the second half when Mason Greenwood scored with a forceful finish from inside the Hammers box.

Australian Associated Press