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 at 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 informed Sky Sports activities: “We don’t prefer to lose or drop factors, however I actually appreciated 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 prefer to lose, but when we’ve to decide on that is the way in which. 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 properly. It’s important 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 house empty-handed.
The England worldwide stated: “Coming right here is at all times powerful. I believe we managed many of the sport. That they had possibilities however we had a number of possibilities as properly however didn’t take them.
“We’re positively shifting in the suitable path. The scoreline doesn’t mirror the sport.
“If we step again and take a look at performances and what we are attempting to do, we’ve come a great distance. It’s nonetheless early days, we haven’t been with the supervisor lengthy.”
Slot noticed it in a different 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 technique to win in what he described as their hardest sport of the season.
The Dutchman informed BBC Match of the Day: “Many different video games had been arduous however this might need been the toughest possibly due to the quantity of high quality gamers they’ve and the construction they’ve. We needed to struggle actually arduous to get this one over the road.”
Slot felt Liverpool should 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 tough for us as a result of there have been a number of choices for my part that didn’t go for us, essentially 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 a large 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 a minimum of you could struggle after which hopefully the people could make the distinction.
“It helps in the event you play towards 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 this time.
“We confirmed up, that was a very powerful factor.”
