Less than a quarter of the way through the season, Liverpool has lost more Premier League games than it did in the whole of the last campaign.
The Reds, who last won the league in 1990, went down 2-0 at Chelsea, leaving the 18-time champion six points behind the table-topping Stamford Bridge team through eight of 38 games.
Five-time European champion Liverpool has also been beaten this season by Tottenham and Aston Villa after losing just twice in finishing second to Manchester United in May. No team since United in the 1966-67 campaign has lost three of the opening eight games and gone on to claim the league.
“You will see the top sides losing more points against any team,” Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez told reporters after yesterday’s game. “We have to keep going. We can’t just think about losing three games.”
Goals from Nicolas Anelka and Florent Malouda moved Chelsea atop the standings, two points ahead of Manchester United, which is also seeking a record 19th title after securing the championship for a third straight year last season.
Didier Drogba set up both goals for Chelsea, which rebounded after losing its unbeaten league record at Wigan on Sept. 26.
The Ivorian powered down the left wing before squaring for strike partner Anelka to open the scoring in the 59th minute. Then, in the last minute of regulation time, Drogba set up substitute Malouda from the opposite flank to guarantee the victory.
“Didier provided very good support for Nicolas and Malouda,” Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti said. “But I think all the players worked very hard. If you want to win against Liverpool and other big teams all the players have to work hard.”
Liverpool’s approach made it difficult for Chelsea to adopt the open style Ancelotti has tried to impose since joining on July 1, the coach said.
“They had a very good defensive organization,” the former AC Milan coach said. “They don’t leave space in their midfield.”
Xabi Alonso, who was sold to Real Madrid preseason, scored the only goal in Liverpool’s win at Stamford Bridge last season. The Oct. 26 result ended Chelsea’s 86-game unbeaten home run in the league.
Lucas, Alonso’s replacement in midfield, failed to supply striker Fernando Torres with the service he needed to trouble the home team.
Torres, the league’s top scorer with eight goals, fluffed a header with 15 minutes remaining and missed from close range when the score was 1-0.
“I can’t blame any one of the players because they were working so hard,” Benitez said. “Torres was trying to do his job.”
It’s too early to predict whether the title will return to west London for the first time since 2006, Ancelotti said.
“Now we stay top of the list and we prepare for the next games with concentration and determination,” he said. “Our season depends on us.”
The Reds, who last won the league in 1990, went down 2-0 at Chelsea, leaving the 18-time champion six points behind the table-topping Stamford Bridge team through eight of 38 games.
Five-time European champion Liverpool has also been beaten this season by Tottenham and Aston Villa after losing just twice in finishing second to Manchester United in May. No team since United in the 1966-67 campaign has lost three of the opening eight games and gone on to claim the league.
“You will see the top sides losing more points against any team,” Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez told reporters after yesterday’s game. “We have to keep going. We can’t just think about losing three games.”
Goals from Nicolas Anelka and Florent Malouda moved Chelsea atop the standings, two points ahead of Manchester United, which is also seeking a record 19th title after securing the championship for a third straight year last season.
Didier Drogba set up both goals for Chelsea, which rebounded after losing its unbeaten league record at Wigan on Sept. 26.
The Ivorian powered down the left wing before squaring for strike partner Anelka to open the scoring in the 59th minute. Then, in the last minute of regulation time, Drogba set up substitute Malouda from the opposite flank to guarantee the victory.
“Didier provided very good support for Nicolas and Malouda,” Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti said. “But I think all the players worked very hard. If you want to win against Liverpool and other big teams all the players have to work hard.”
Liverpool’s approach made it difficult for Chelsea to adopt the open style Ancelotti has tried to impose since joining on July 1, the coach said.
“They had a very good defensive organization,” the former AC Milan coach said. “They don’t leave space in their midfield.”
Xabi Alonso, who was sold to Real Madrid preseason, scored the only goal in Liverpool’s win at Stamford Bridge last season. The Oct. 26 result ended Chelsea’s 86-game unbeaten home run in the league.
Lucas, Alonso’s replacement in midfield, failed to supply striker Fernando Torres with the service he needed to trouble the home team.
Torres, the league’s top scorer with eight goals, fluffed a header with 15 minutes remaining and missed from close range when the score was 1-0.
“I can’t blame any one of the players because they were working so hard,” Benitez said. “Torres was trying to do his job.”
It’s too early to predict whether the title will return to west London for the first time since 2006, Ancelotti said.
“Now we stay top of the list and we prepare for the next games with concentration and determination,” he said. “Our season depends on us.”
No comments:
Post a Comment