Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca felt his aspect deserved greater than a 2-1 defeat at Liverpool this afternoon.
The guests are nonetheless a piece in progress beneath the Italian however confirmed sufficient at Anfield to counsel they are going to problem for a top-four spot on the finish of the season.
Mohamed Salah’s penalty put Liverpool in entrance just for Nicolas Jackson to stage in the beginning of the second half. Parity was short-lived, although, with Curtis Jones rapidly netting what turned out to be the winner.
Defeat at Anfield.#CFC | #LIVCHE pic.twitter.com/3tRRFxqimJ
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 20, 2024
Maresca instructed Sky Sports activities: “We don’t wish to lose or drop factors, however I actually preferred the efficiency. We deserved one thing extra however the efficiency was good.
“We managed many of the sport. We had possibilities, we had possession. We don’t wish to lose, but when we’ve to decide on that is the best way. The staff was courageous on and off the ball.
“I don’t suppose this sport defines the place we’re. We ready in one of the simplest ways, it labored fairly nicely. You need to take possibilities, however general I’m very pleased with the gamers.”
Returning James echoes Maresca
Chelsea captain Reece James made his first begin of the season at right-back after lastly regaining full health and he additionally felt Chelsea had been unfortunate to return dwelling empty-handed.
The England worldwide stated: “Coming right here is at all times powerful. I believe we managed many of the sport. They’d possibilities however we had a couple of possibilities as nicely however didn’t take them.
“We’re undoubtedly shifting in the proper route. The scoreline doesn’t mirror the sport.
“If we step again and have a look at performances and what we are attempting to do, we’ve come a good distance. It’s nonetheless early days, we haven’t been with the supervisor lengthy.”
Slot noticed it in another way
Liverpool returned to the highest of the Premier League with the win, having been deposed by Manchester Metropolis earlier within the day.
And Arne Slot was delighted his gamers discovered a approach to win in what he described as their hardest sport of the season.
The Dutchman instructed BBC Match of the Day: “Many different video games had been exhausting however this may need been the toughest perhaps due to the quantity of high quality gamers they’ve and the construction they’ve. We needed to struggle actually exhausting to get this one over the road.”
Slot felt Liverpool must have had a second penalty when Jones was introduced down within the field however replays confirmed Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez had performed the ball first.
He added: “The sport grew to become troublesome for us as a result of there have been a couple of selections in my view that didn’t go for us, probably the most essential was once we thought we had the penalty earlier than half time. To go 2-0 earlier than half-time would make an enormous distinction from 1-0. Then we conceded however we stepped up once more and scored the second.
“Within the Premier League there are such a lot of good groups so if you wish to win not less than you have to struggle after which hopefully the people could make the distinction.
“It helps if you happen to play in opposition to a Chelsea, it’s a huge sport and everybody feels it. We felt it and the followers felt it as a result of they had been there for us at the moment.
“We confirmed up, that was a very powerful factor.”
