Pochettino and Chilwell agree on what Chelsea "deserved" against Liverpool

13 August 2023 , 18:42

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Pochettino and Chilwell agree on what Chelsea "deserved" against Liverpool

Both Mauricio Pochettino and Ben Chilwell felt Chelsea deserved to take all three points in their clash with Liverpool on Sunday.

The Blues came back from 1-0 down to secure a draw in their Premier League season opener at Stamford Bridge. Pochettino was making his bow as the new Chelsea boss and saw summer signing Axel Disasi cancel out Luis Diaz's opener.

Liverpool dominated the early exchanges but the Blues came into the game shortly before their equaliser and continued to grow in the second-half. Nicolas Jackson, making his debut for the west Londoners, missed several decent chances whilst Chilwell had a goal ruled out.

That would've put Chelsea ahead but the English wing-back was impressed with how his side dominated as the game went on and was frustrated that he missed a second-half opportunity, which was made harder by a poor first touch.

Chilwell told Sky Sports : "We had a lot more frustrating draws last season. This game was frustrating but in a different way because we were the better team.

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"We created chances, the effort was brilliant but we just couldn't get that final goal. I should have scored in the second half as well so I was annoyed about that."

Both Pochettino and Chilwell were pleased with how they had played

He also went on to add: "In the first half an hour, Liverpool were the better team and then we conceded. When the second one went in and it was disallowed, we got a bit of a boost. We turned it around and the confidence started to come and then we started to play the rest of the game as the manager wanted.

"We did set pieces the day before the game as you usually do and he was put all the deliveries away. I said he would score, he said he would love to so we manifested it."

Chelsea and Liverpool have struggled to be separated in recent years. Their 1-1 draw on Sunday was the seventh game on the trot in which they couldn't be separated in 90 minutes, dating back more than two seasons.

And Pochettino echoed the words of his player, suggesting the Blues deserved more than a draw.

"I don't believe it is [a fair result]. I think we deserved a little bit more overall," he told the BBC. "We feel pleased, but at the same time disappointed because we wanted to win and we deserved to win, but it is only the beginning. We have created a very good way to work here and that is important. It is about belief and about work and to trust each other. The connection from day one has been fantastic.

"The fans were always with us. Even in the difficult moment they were there, they never gave up and always believed in the team and the team felt the energy from the crowd.

"It was difficult from the beginning but how we grew in the game and how we found the way to play and how we started to dominate and push Liverpool deeper and deeper, I am very pleased about everything."

Samuel Meade