Instead he has begun the season with a calm authority that Liverpool’s midfield has perhaps lacked since Gerrard bade farewell to Anfield 16 months ago.
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The Reds had already taken the lead when Dejan Lovren took advantage of slack Chelsea marking to convert from a Philippe Coutinho cross, the pair returning to the starting line-up with Lucas Leiva and Roberto Firmino, who suffered a groin strain, making way after the impressive 4-1 win over champions Leicester City last time out.
Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte has confirm: “David Luiz will play for the first time with us and we are confident about this”.
“We conceded two goals and the game became very hard”, he said. In the second half it was a bit more hard.
Martin Keown has warned Chelsea’s Premier League rivals that Diego Costa is close to being back to his best form this season.
“I spoke with the Cameroon manager and he was not happy, but I have to do what is right to be 100% and make sure I am not injured again, especially at an important time in my career starting at Liverpool”.
A change in tactics gave Conte’s team a more direct approach, with Hazard knocking down a long pass into Costa’s feet.
Despite referee Martin Atkinson’s best efforts to knock Coutinho off the ball, the Brazilian picked out Milner, whose deflected cross found substitute Divock Origi at the far post, but Courtois got down sharply to push the ball behind for a corner.
“It’s a big victory, it keeps our momentum going”, captain Jordan Henderson said.
Table-topping City hosts Bournemouth on Saturday, while Everton – above Chelsea and Liverpool on goal difference – is at home to promoted Middlesbrough.
“But I also know we can cause Liverpool problems, our attacking play has been good and in the last game against Swansea (2-2 draw) we had a lot of chances”.
“Last season was not a Chelsea season and now they are back on track, so we need to be ready for a real challenge”.
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“Chelsea is a great team but we must be a great team on the pitch and think like one”. No team in the league has scored more goals this calendar year than Liverpool, but a rocky defence has resulted in a W10-D7-L6 record over this period as they remain infuriatingly inconsistent under Jurgen Klopp.
