The Blues went into the game at Stamford Bridge knowing a point would be enough to secure a spot in either the Europa League or Conference League.

And a late goal-of-the-season contender from Moises Caicedo and a strike from Raheem Sterling in the second half, a minute before Enes Unal pulled one back, was enough to cement sixth position.

Chelsea now have to wait until next weekend to find out what European competition they will play in next season. If Manchester City win the FA Cup, then it will be the Europa League for Chelsea. Should Manchester United lift the trophy, it will be the Conference League.

A fast start

Two changes were made to the starting XI by Pochettino. Thiago Silva returned to the defence for his final appearance, as Malo Gusto dropped to the bench. The other saw Raheem Sterling replace Mykhailo Mudryk, who was ruled out due to concussion protocols.

Silva's name reverberated around Stamford Bridge before kick-off – and it was a positive atmosphere the Blues fed off as two chances were created in the opening two minutes.

Both were fashioned by Sterling. The first saw the England international evade pressure and slip the ball through to Jackson, whose left-footed shot was well saved by Neto.

The second was for Palmer, who was presented with his Premier League Young Player of the Year award before kick-off. The 22-year-old collected the ball inside the box and guided a shot toward the far corner, but it flew narrowly wide of the post.

There was no let-up from Pochettino's side and the Blues had a strong claim for a penalty when Sterling was clipped in the area by Antoine Semenyo. Referee Anthony Taylor waved away the appeals and VAR felt that was the correct decision.

The opener arrives

Our strong start was eventually rewarded – and in stunning fashion. Jackson did well to collect a pass and put Sterling through but Neto in the Bournemouth goal raced out, intercepted and cleared.

Yet the ball fell at the feet of Caicedo, who took a touch and from just inside the Bournemouth half, launched an inch-perfect shot into the visitors' net. It was a stunning strike and the Ecuadorian's first for the Blues.

Bournemouth threatened sporadically as the half continued. Djordje Petrovic in the Chelsea goal saved well to deny Enes Unal while Milos Kerkez was booked for simulation after going down under minimal pressure from Trevoh Chalobah.

The visitors continued to search for an equaliser as the half wore on. Ryan Christie had a long-range effort clip the top of the bar, Marcus Tavernier saw a goal-bound shot blocked by Chalobah and then forced Petrovic into a save following a mazy run, plus Justin Kluivert shot over from inside the penalty area.

Fast start

Bournemouth continued attacking at the start of the second half and could have equalised when Lewis Cook's shot from outside the penalty area was diverted just wide by Unal.

But it was Chelsea who grabbed the next goal of the game when Sterling's fine wing play on the left saw him beat the full-back inside the penalty area and have a low shot from a tight angle which went in via the legs of Neto.

But Bournemouth responded immediately to make it 2-1 as a Unal shot, which was heading wide, was directed past the diving Petrovic by the left foot of Benoit Badiashile.

Pochettino made a triple change around the hour mark as Malo Gusto, Lesley Ugochukwu and Christopher Nkunku were all introduced. And it was the latter who had the next chance as he headed a Palmer free-kick over the bar.

The number of clear-cut chances reduced as the half went on but Chelsea Academy graduate Dominic Solanke had Blues fans worried when he created space in the box and fired a powerful right-footed drive just wide of the far post.

Chelsea then enjoyed a period of pressure and Neto needed to be alert when palming away Gusto's shot and then saving from Nkunku's effort minutes later.

Bournemouth continued to look for the equaliser and Petrovic needed to palm away substitute Dango Ouattara's long-range effort.

Chelsea could have added a third during injury-time but yet again Neto was equal to it, as he pushed away Conor Gallagher's shot.

And the drama was not done there, as a swift Bournemouth counter-attack saw Petrovic parry Ouattara's shot into the path of Christie and he would have scored had Gallagher not slid in and made the challenge, with the goal empty. The ball then rolled to Solanke and somehow the striker lifted his shot from eight yards out over the bar.

The teams

Chelsea: Petrovic; Chalobah, Thiago Silva, Badiashile, Cucurella; Caicedo (Ugochukwu 64), Gallagher; Madueke (Gusto 64), Palmer (Casadei 89), Sterling (Nkunku 64); Jackson:
Unused substitutes: Bettinelli, Disasi, Colwill, Gilchrist, Chukwuemeka
Booked: Cucurella 28, Gusto 78
Goalscorers: Caicedo 17, Sterling 48

Bournemouth: Neto; Aarons (Scott 69), Zabarnyi, Senesi (Kelly 84), Kerkez; Cook, Tavernier (Solanke 59); Semenyo, Christie, Kluivert (Ouattara 59); Unal (Billing 69)
Unused substitutes: Travers, Smith, Kelly, Faivre, Billing, Hill,
Booked: Semenyo 27, Kerkez 30, Senesi 80
Goalscorer: Unal 49

Referee: Anthony Taylor
Attendance: 39,724