Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca speaks after the Premier League clash with Liverpool at Anfield
Enzo Maresca believes his Chelsea side dominated in defeat to Liverpool but refused to be drawn on the decisions of referee John Brooks.
The Londoners suffered a narrow 2-1 Premier League defeat at Anfield on Sunday afternoon despite enjoying more of the possession during a closely-fought encounter.
Curtis Jones scored the winner on 51 minutes shortly after Nicolas Jackson had equalised Mohamed Salah’s first-half penalty.
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And Maresca was delighted with the performance of his team, who are already seven points behind leaders Liverpool in the early top-flight standings.
“I think the performance was very good,” said the Chelsea boss. “We don’t like to drop points but if you have to decide the way to drop points…
“I’ve been here many times and I’ve seen that coming here to play Liverpool is not easy.
“Although we controlled the game for the most part and dominated, we lost. We are not happy. We don’t like it. But the performance on and off the ball was very good.”
Maresca added: “We conceded two goals. The first is a penalty which can happen. The second goal in the way we conceded it, we told the boys that by defending like that we have avoided five or six goals doing that already this season but sometimes we will concede like that.
“To come here and not allow Liverpool chances and momentum is almost impossible because of the environment and the team.
“But for the most part we controlled the game very well, we have to be proud of it but a bit upset as we don’t like to lose.”
Referee Brooks made a number of controversial calls that riled supporters of both sides, first giving and then cancelling another Liverpool penalty having earlier waved away claims of a Chelsea spot kick after Trent Alexander-Arnold tangled with Jadon Sancho.
“I’m not happy because we lost, but I’m happy because of the performance of the team,” said Maresca. “The decisions from the referee were clear for you (the media) and me but the referee is there to take the decision. Sometimes they are right and sometimes they are wrong.”
