Thomas Tuchel was blown away by N’Golo Kante’s display against Liverpool (AFP via Getty)
Thomas Tuchel has hailed N’Golo Kante following Chelsea’s victory over Liverpool on Thursday evening.
Mason Mount’s superb first-half strike was enough to see off the Premier League champions at Anfield.
But Chelsea delivered an accomplished performance against Jurgen Klopp’s side, with Kante and Chelsea’s defence limiting Liverpool’s chances in front of goal.
‘He [Kante] is a gift. It’s incredible,’ Tuchel told RMC Sport after the game.
‘I’ve never seen anything like this. At training, in games, he never stops.
‘We look at the data on his intensity and he is incredible. He really is a gift.’
Thomas Tuchel says N’Golo Kante is ‘a gift’ (AFP via Getty)
Tuchel also praised the performance of Andreas Christensen, who impressed once again at the heart of Chelsea’s defence in the absence of Thiago Silva.
‘Andreas stepped in during the middle of the first half versus Tottenham which was a tough thing to do, and from the first minute he is absolutely impressive,’ said Tuchel.
‘He is brave, strong in individual challenges and very brave and intelligent in our build-up.
‘He plays with a lot of confidence and I am absolutely happy with his performance.
‘How he has stepped up is a big part of our performances.’
Mason Mount scored Chelsea’s winner to see off Liverpool (AFP via Getty)
West Ham midfielder Declan Rice singled out Mason Mount for praise after Chelsea beat Liverpool on Thursday evening.
Thomas Tuchel’s side sealed a 1-0 win at Anfield thanks to Mount’s excellent individual goal in the first half.
Mount has quickly become a key part of Tuchel’s Chelsea set up since the German replaced Frank Lampard as manager at the end of January.
And the England international delivered another impressive display against the Premier League champions.
Following the match, Rice, who is close friends with Mount following their time together in Chelsea’s academy, praised his fellow midfielder for his performance.
Rice wrote on Twitter: ‘I don’t want to hear no more negativity on Mason Mount’s name again.
‘Proving everyone wrong week in week out.’
Mason Mount brilliant solo effort sunk Liverpool at Anfield (AP)
Declan Rice praised Mason Mount’s latest display for Chelsea (Twitter)
Speaking after Chelsea’s win at Anfield, Mount told Sky Sports: ‘Where the season is at the moment it is very tight in the top four, we are in and around and we want to keep pushing.
‘We have been on a good run recently, we have been keeping clean sheets but not scoring enough. It was very good to score tonight.
‘Massive win. Every game now is a big win, we need to get as many three points as we can. We have the team to do it, we want to keep going.
‘The game plan was to press them high and not let them have the ball. We had to be brave and try and win the ball up high. Most of the time they defend high and that is where the goal came from.
‘I just try to give my best performance wise if I am starting or coming off the bench. I feel like everyone has been really together. I am obviously happy, I am happy to get a goal today. I want to score more.’
Jamie Carragher called Jurgen Klopp’s decision to sub Mohamed Salah ‘strange’ (Sky Sports)
Jamie Carragher has questioned Jurgen Klopp’s ‘strange’ decision to substitute Mohamed Salah during Liverpool’s defeat to Chelsea at Anfield.
Mason Mount’s strike in the first half was enough to secure a 1-0 victory for Thomas Tuchel’s side against the Premier League champions.
But with Liverpool searching for an equaliser, Klopp opted to replace Salah after just 62 minutes, much to the Egyptian’s frustration.
Salah was seen shaking his head in the stands after the was brought off for Diogo Jota, and Carragher believes Klopp should have kept Liverpool’s top scorer this season on the pitch.
‘They don’t look like scoring, you never feel like a goal is coming,’ Carragher told Sky Sports.
‘Even with 20 minutes to go you don’t really feel like Liverpool are going to score and even late on, it almost felt like there needed to be a big Chelsea mistake to be a goal for Liverpool.
Mohamed Salah was brought off after just 62 minutes against Chelsea (Pool via REUTERS)
‘I mentioned the Leipzig game beforehand and I thought Chelsea would play like Leipzig and I was right: they pushed up high, played from the back and in some way that’s playing into Liverpool’s hands but they still couldn’t exploit it.
‘In Leipzig they did exploit it with the space in behind them and Salah and Mane got the goals but that night they were from big mistakes from Leipzig.
‘At this moment when you’re watching Liverpool, you’re not too sure where the goals are going to come from.
‘I must say, I could not believe Salah came off. Liverpool were desperate for a goal. To take your top goalscorer off was a strange one.
‘Klopp has never been shy in taking Mo Salah off the pitch. It’s not a case of him being worried about taking his main player off and he’s taken him off in certain situations when Salah has been poor.
Mohamed Salah was shaking his head in the stands after being brought off (PA)
‘And you think, “okay, yeah, he’s a big goal threat”. But a lot of the time when he has been brought off in the past, Liverpool’s attacking play is maybe breaking down when he’s losing possession and you can understand because they’re not able to get anything going.
‘Now he certainly wasn’t at his best today but it wasn’t one of those games where I’ve seen how Salah can lose possession. He just didn’t have much of the ball and you’ve got to remember, Salah’s not a great player with the ball as such, he’s probably better off the ball, making runs and scoring goals.
‘What Salah is for me is a great goalscorer and that’s what obviously lacked, they needed a goal in that second half.
‘I don’t know if there was something about maybe Sunday, sharpness or maybe the games he’s played or something, I don’t know. It’s difficult to ever really question Jurgen Klopp but I did think that was a real strange one.
‘I just think when you need a goal late on, you leave as many players on the pitch that can get you a goal.
‘But he made that change, he was frustrated. It’s not the first time he’s done it, it won’t be the last and Salah can maybe get the goal or something at the weekend and Klopp will be proven right.’
Timo Werner came in and Olivier Giroud dropped out for Chelsea (Picture: Getty)
Jamie Carragher praised Thomas Tuchel for sticking to his ‘very brave’ game-plan after Chelsea’s hard-fought 1-0 win over Liverpool and said his ‘big decision’ to start Timo Werner up front in place of Olivier Giroud paid dividends at Anfield.
Chelsea secured victory thanks to Mason Mount’s sublime curled finish in the 42nd minute and Thursday night’s result ensured Tuchel’s unbeaten record since replacing Frank Lampard remained intact ten games into his reign.
Werner proved to be a threat all night and the German looked to have opened the scoring earlier in the first half only to have his goal disallowed by Martin Atkinson for offside.
Mount scored the only goal of the game in the first half (Picture: Getty)
Chelsea kept hold of their narrow advantage to seal their fifth Premier League win since Tuchel took charge. Liverpool, meanwhile, suffered a fifth successive loss on home soil for the first time in their history.
On Chelsea’s impressive display, Carragher told Sky Sports: ‘They looked a real top outfit, they really did. It was almost like a European team coming to Anfield.
‘I’ve played in games like that myself where you think you’re going to get after a team and everyone is short. That’s what it felt like tonight watching Liverpool.
‘You could maybe criticise Liverpool’s press or look at Chelsea’s quality.
Carragher was blown away by Chelsea’s display at Anfield (Picture: Sky Sports)
‘I’d look at Chelsea’s quality and very rarely did Liverpool really get someone, nick the ball off them and put them in any kind of trouble.
‘It was very brave of Thomas Tuchel to come here and play like that. That’s his way of playing, he’s not going to change and I’ve said that before the game.
‘He’s had some tough games here himself so he knows what it’s like playing against Jurgen Klopp.
‘He’s been here with PSG and with Borussia Dortmund so he didn’t change his game-plan, he’s been very brave.’
Giroud was an unused substitute at Anfield (Picture: Getty)
Eyebrows were raised as Tuchel opted to recall Werner up front, with Giroud left on the substitutes bench and Tammy Abraham omitted altogether on Merseyside.
The German was unfortunate to have his first-half goal ruled out for offside and the performance he produced was arguably one of his finest in a Chelsea shirt, despite not scoring in his 89 minutes on the pitch.
‘His big decision was playing Timo Werner as a centre-forward for the first time since he took the job and it paid dividends,’ Carragher added.
Chelsea moved into the top four with the result, while Liverpool remain stranded in seventh.
‘You saw the game – it was a tight one, it was a close one, it was an intense one,’ a disappointed Jurgen Klopp told BBC Sport shortly after the final whistle.
‘We forced them to make mistakes, they forced us to make mistakes. They used one, we didn’t use ours.
‘Against Chelsea, it would be surprising to play them off the pitch – but we were in the game.
‘It is just annoying to talk about the same things again and again. It is tough. We have to fight through this.’
The 25-year-old has been a regular feature for the Cottagers this season (Picture: Getty Images)
Scott Parker says he would be ‘more than happy’ to sign Ruben Loftus-Cheek on a permanent transfer once his loan deal at Fulham expires at the end of the season.
The 25-year-old made the switch from Stamford Bridge to Craven Cottage for the 2020/21 campaign and has been a regular feature for the Whites.
Loftus-Cheek has made 21 Premier League appearances under Parker this season as Fulham bid to retain their top-flight status.
Parker wants to keep the midfielder around (Picture: Getty Images)
The west London side have won two of their last four matches to move within three points of escaping the relegation zone, and their transfer plans will likely be dependent on if they can avoid the drop.
Although Loftus-Cheek has insisted his is planning on return to parent club Chelsea at the end of the season, Parker is keen on changing his mind.
When quizzed on whether he will attempt to convince the Blues academy graduate to reconsider his plans, Parker said: ‘Yes, of course. Ruben has been a fantastic addition.
‘I’ve seen someone grow immensely from the start of the season to a person and player now who has transformed. He’s grown massively and been a massive help for us.
‘At the moment it’s just about this year for Ruben, focus on the next 10 games and where he can still get better.
‘But at the end if there’s an opportunity to get it done I’d be more than happy to.’
Lee Sharpe has criticised Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes (Picture: Getty)
Lee Sharpe has revealed his concern over Manchester United midfielders Bruno Fernandes and Fred and says he is still ‘not sure’ about the duo.
Fernandes has arguably been United’s best player since his move from Sporting in January 2020 but Sharpe says he has ‘not really done anything’ apart from score penalties.
Sharpe, who who three Premier League titles and two FA Cups at Old Trafford, also dug out Brazil international Fred for some of his ‘schoolboy’ play.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side climbed to the top of the Premier League last month but have since suffered a dramatic dip in form to slip 14 points behind leaders Manchester City.
The Red Devils failed to break down Crystal Palace in a dismal 0-0 draw at Selhurst Park on Wednesday night and face rivals Man City on Sunday.
Sharpe, speaking exclusively to Ladbrokes at its launch of the 5-A-Side Bet on the Manchester Derby, said: ‘Over the last few months I’m not really sure you could say Bruno Fernandes has performed in the big games.
‘I know everyone is raving about him and I’ll probably get slagged off for it but I’m still not quite sure about Bruno.
Sharpe is still unsure about Red Devils midfielder Fred (Picture: Getty)
‘He did come in and set the world alight but since then – apart from penalties – he’s not really done anything.
‘For me, he seems to give the ball away far too cheaply and he’s not getting as involved as I’d like.
‘Whether it’s down to where the manager is playing him or Ole’s instructions on what he wants him to do, he just doesn’t seem to be getting involved anywhere near as much as he used to.’
On Fred, former Manchester United midfielder Sharpe added: ‘I’m not sure about him.
‘One minute he’s doing something brilliant, the next he’s doing something an under-15 schoolboy would do.
‘He’s liable to give the ball away on the edge of his own box and he’s just as liable to carry the ball, beat a couple of players and slot the ball through to someone to score a goal.’
Nathaniel Phillips is hoping to cement a partnership with Okan Kabak at centre-back (Picture: Getty Images)
Nathaniel Phillips is hoping to form a partnership with Okan Kabak at the heart of Liverpool’s defence for the rest of the season and has thanked Virgil van Dijk for his help as he finds his feet in the first team.
The Premier League champions have had a torrid time with injuries at centre-back this season, with Van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip all suffering long-term injuries, while Fabinho and Jordan Henderson have also been sidelined.
The string of fitness concerns have seen the likes of Phillips and Rhys Williams called up into the first team, while Kabak and Ben Davies were signed in January.
It was Phillips and Kabak picked in the middle of defence in the last outing against Sheffield United and after a 2-0 win, they are expected to keep their places against Chelsea on Thursday night.
The Englishman hopes he can stay alongside the Turkey international as Kabak rapidly acclimatises to life in the Premier League.
‘Yeah, I hope so. You can see with Ozan’s performances that he’s adapting in the games,’ Phillips told Sky Sports.
Ozan Kabak is on loan at Anfield from Schalke (Picture: Getty Images)
‘I had a similar sort of experience when I was playing in Germany last year on loan with Stuttgart to coming back to playing in the derby in the FA Cup against Everton. The first 15 or 20 minutes, I was a bit shell-shocked because I’d got used to the style of football and how the game was played over there.
‘To then play against Everton at Anfield, it is a bit of a shock at first but you can see that he’s adapting in training and in every game he plays. Hopefully we can form a bit of a partnership.’
Van Dijk has not played since October when he suffered a serious knee injury, but the Dutchman has remained a big influence at the club on the young defenders who are filling in for him.
The 23-year-old Phillips has thanked Van Dijk for his advice after being thrown in at the deep end in the Premier League, with no top flight experience before this season.
‘Virg has been a big help when he’s been in and around the dressing room on game days,’ he said. ‘He will give advice for certain situations that are happening in the game and how we might be able to alter things to improve those situations in our favour.’
Timo Werner is confident he will start finding the back of the net regularly soon and told Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel to keep ‘screaming’ at him on the touchline.
Werner has only scored one goal since Tuchel’s arrival at Stamford Bridge and only five Premier League goals in total in his first season in English football.
Despite suffering to maintain his lethal scoring from from his time with Red Bull Leipzig, Werner is confident his best is still to come.
And he thinks Tuchel screaming at him from the touchline will give him an extra boost as he looks to rediscover his best form.
‘I can talk to him very easily,’ Werner told the BBC of Tuchel ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League clash with Liverpool.
‘When he screams on the pitch, no problem for me. I need types of managers who scream at me. It gives me more power.’
Werner wants Tuchel to keep shouting at him from the touchline (Picture: DeFodi Images via Getty)
He added: ‘You can always learn more from the bad situations. I learned to trust in myself, to give everything on the pitch, not only think about goals and fight for the team.
‘Now I hope this period is gone and I score a few more goals until the end of the season.
‘A lot of good strikers come to the Premier League and take one year to settle down and adapt.
‘I think my form is going up and getting better and better. Maybe this year is not the year of goal scoring for Timo but at the end I will reflect on the season.
‘I have learned a lot. I know exactly the teams we play against, how they play.’
Chelsea will rise above West Ham into the top-four with a draw against Liverpool on Thursday, while Jurgen Klopp’s side can leapfrog both with all three points at Anfield.
