Dejan Lovren insists it is too early to consider Liverpool as Premier League title contenders despite their impressive start to the season. “We need this player there in the centre who we can play with and if there’s a ball behind the line sometimes, so that we can go there and can push up in the last line. It was really nice to watch”, the German said on Sky Sports after the game.
Advertisement
Conte said ahead of the game that the Reds were “the worst team” to face at the moment and he was proved right as the visitors ran roughshod over the Blues defence during the opening 45 minutes at Stamford Bridge, eventually securing a well-deserved 2-1 win.
First they allowed Philippe Coutinho to take the set-piece quickly, giving the Brazilian time to measure an in-swinging cross towards the back post. What can I say?
Nevertheless, the Italian took some positives from the second-half showing.
“In the second half it was getting more hard, with less power, but after they scored their goal we managed it well and they didn’t have many chances again. After their goal, we managed it well”. It was absolutely OK.
“(Nemanja) Matic also talked about it and Chelsea seemed obsessed with Liverpool and stopping Liverpool, and they had too many men behind the ball.
Klopp almost giggled when asked about Henderson’s strike from distance into the top corner.
FW Sadio Mane, 7 – Not at his explosive best and rarely got the opportunity to use his blistering pace against the experienced Cesar Azpilicueta, but was very tactically disciplined and never stopped running.
He is rapidly proving to be a wonderful signing, and the fact we got him on a free transfer makes it all the more remarkable.
On his starring role, Henderson played down what was one of the best goals of 2016/17 – his first since the 5-4 win at Norwich in January – but spoke glowingly about the team’s performance against a strong Chelsea team.
While his goal was reminiscent of the legendary former Liverpool captain, Jordan Henderson finally showed a willingness to instead try and emulate another former Reds hero.
“I always had a good feeling about moving to Liverpool and things have gone well so far”. We played football like hell!
The tide looked as though it was about to turn at that point; Costa only being denied a leveller by a Mignolet save after getting on the end of Oscar’s knockdown in what turned out to be a second half devoid of any major chances.
Advertisement
“We are acting like a team and the spirit around the club is ideal so we need to keep working stronger and stronger”.
