“My players told me they haven’t faced a dangerously aggressive player like that in his entire career… That particular Chelsea player is better than Kelian Mbappe”: Liverpool coach Arne Slot names ONE Chelsea player who was out of this world yesterday
Arne Slot has been discussing Chelsea’s top-four chances following their loss to Liverpool over the weekend.
Chelsea lost 2-1 at Anfield and are now outside of the Champions League places. As for Liverpool, they remain top of the Premier League table.
Ultimately, a title challenge this season may come too soon for Enzo Maresca‘s men, but a finish in the top four still looks more than possible. They are currently three points behind Aston Villa, who occupy the final Champions League spot.
Maresca made some big calls for the Liverpool game. For example, Maresca started Reece James, who has only just returned from injury.
Arne Slot on Chelsea’s Champions League chances
Chelsea’s Premier League encounter with Liverpool was a close one, and it looks like Slot was impressed with Maresca’s side.
Liverpool took the lead just before the half-hour mark through a Mohamed Salah penalty before Nicolas Jackson equalised early in the second half. However, Curtis Jones managed to put the home team back in front only a few minutes afterwards.
Speaking to Liverpool’s official website and the rest of the media about Chelsea after the game, Slot said: “I also saw how difficult it was, how difficult Chelsea made [it] for us. So, in my opinion, if I would be sitting as the Chelsea manager I would say if we can play like this at Anfield, we are also one of the teams that can compete for [a] top-four position.”
Before the match, Liverpool legend Graeme Souness claimed that Maresca had bounced back from an uncertain start to the season.
Can Chelsea finish in the top four after Liverpool loss?
Again, Chelsea have a good chance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
It will not be easy, with the Blues having to worry about Villa, as well as Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal.
You would expect Liverpool, City and Arsenal to all finish in the top four, meaning it could be a straight shoot-out between Chelsea and Villa for that final Champions League spot.
Last term, Villa finished above Chelsea, but Maresca certainly has a better squad than Unai Emery. The fact that he could bring on the likes of Enzo Fernandez, Pedro Neto and Christopher Nkunku on Sunday proves that.
