Despite a 2-1 defeat to Liverpool, Chelsea has had a positive start to the season. Mohamed Salah’s penalty gave Liverpool the lead in the 29th minute. Chelsea equalized three minutes into the second half through Nicolas Jackson.
Curtis Jones restored Liverpool’s lead in the 51 minutes, ending Chelsea’s six games unbeaten Premier League run.
Chelsea started with a front three of Jaden Sancho, Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke; after a disappointing display by Jaden Sancho, Pedro Neto replaced him.
Pedro Neto was Chelsea’s brighter star in the second half and changed the Blues attack.
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Frank Lampard believes Pedro Neto should be given more playing time and should start the next Chelsea Premier League game.
What did Frank Lampard say about Pedro Neto?
Lampard told Premier League Productions: “It’s always disappointing when you feel like you probably done some good things in the game and the other team, someone with the quality of Liverpool, aren’t at their best, but you don’t come away with anything.
“And maybe at the top end of the pitch, the game-changers we’ve seen, particularly Cole Palmer, didn’t really have their moments when you felt that they might do.
“I think Pedro Neto came on and added a lot, I think he probably pushed himself into a big chance of starting the next games going forward. I think he should, I think he’s dynamic, and he changed it a bit from up there.
“But they’re probably lacking that little bit of an edge at the top end of the pitch really, some good stuff for them there but in the end they’ll go home disappointed because at least you get something when you play like that.”
Despite the defeat to Liverpool, Frank Lampard was excited by Chelsea’s performance against Liverpool.
He added: “I think bravery is a big plus, to go into a game of that stature when they’re a young squad, in terms of the build and control, I understand,’ Lampard said.
‘I don’t think at the top end of the pitch they created that many big chances, but in terms of the feeling of having some control, there is a big thing for him [Maresca] because when you’re trying to move to this possession-based game, which he is, I think he can speak to the players after and say, ‘see, you can control, the set-up is good, the things I’m trying to do are good’, and they’ll buy into that.
“‘The next thing, as I say, is just being that little bit more dynamic in the big moments in the big games.
“But to be fair, Liverpool have got players who have done it for quite a few seasons. We talk about Mo Salah, you understand he can do this all the time, so you’re trying to develop Madueke, you’re trying to get Neto into the team and feel comfortable in the team, Cole Palmer, we know can do it, but okay, it was a big game that wasn’t maybe his today.
“So I think it’s normal he [Maresca] comes out and speaks as he did, he’ll be disappointed that they lost, but there were some good signs.
“Liverpool were not at their best today, Liverpool in particiularly in that first half, it had the feeling of the game that they’re slightly off it, sometimes when you go to Anfield, they don’t give you a breath, that first 10 minutes you feel them, and that was never there today.
“So I think as much as he’s saying, ‘I’m quite happy with that’, you also, on reflection, will say that was an opportunity to come here and get something, and they haven’t done that.
“Is it down to immaturity of a young, developing squad? Potentially. The manager’s trying to come in and lay down these things. But when you do fall short the reality is, ‘okay, there’s that little bit more pressure now that we have to get a result’. They’ve lost two games against big team, they’ve drawn a couple of games, he’ll want to get those results, we’ve talked about results for Arne Slot and what it does, he’ll want to make sure that kicks on.
Quizzed if Maresca wil should l be given time at Chelsea, Lampard replied: “Yeah, I think there’s an air of positivity in house and outside.
‘I think I’ve felt in the last two years I’ve been over at Stamford Bridge to watch games and there’s been a different feeling, transition, fans are used to seeing teams win generally over the last 15, 20 years very regularly, they’re not seeing it [now] so there’s an element of frustration.
“I think now we’re on the turning point of that as a feeling. So I think the support of the club is there, and there’s a potivie atmosphere and positive words and an idea that we’re going in this direction. So I think that’s a good thing for him.
“I think in terms of his timing of coming into the job, a little bit of stability, and then he will need time to work, all managers will tell you that but he certainly will need that, so again, it comes to results will be the catalyst for that.”
Chelsea has dropped to sixth following defeat to Liverpool.
