If there’s one thing that Liverpool didn’t do well under former boss Brendan Rodgers, it was come from behind to win. After Chelsea bagged an early goal on Saturday, Reds fans around the world were expecting the worst, but the visitors never put their heads down and pressed their opponents with the same vigor we saw at kick-off — something that Lucas puts down to the effect new boss Jurgen Klopp has had on the team.
“We conceded an early goal and during the last few months if we conceded a goal our body language maybe wasn’t the best. But after the Southampton game the manager spoke to us and said you can’t think too much about a goal if you concede it, and you just need to get back on your game,” explained the Brazilian. “That’s what we did I think and the goal came at the right time for us just before half-time, but even in the first-half I thought we were the better team,” he continued. “In the second-half I thought both teams had chances but we looked really solid defending and on the counter-attack we took our chances and I thought it was a deserved win. There’s still a lot of things to improve on, but it’s better improving and winning.”
A pair of goals on either side of the break from compatriot Philippe Coutinho and a composed effort from Christian Benteke late in the game saw the Anfield outfit claim their first victory over the Blues in a dogs age, but the game wasn’t without controversy. Lucas, booked for persistent fouling in the first half, came close to seeing a second yellow card after a cynical foul on Ramires, but referee Mark Clattenburg only gave him a stern talking to rather than sending him for an early shower.
“They [Chelsea] will probably talk about it, it’s normal especially when you lose a game. The first three fouls in the first 10 minutes of the game probably were just fouls that maybe wouldn’t be a yellow card,” said the Reds midfielder. “Sometimes in my position you make fouls but more to stop the game and I think it was a good decision from the referee. He controlled the game very well, all the situations with the Chelsea players I think he dealt with it really well and I think it was a fair game,” reflected Lucas, obviously proud of Liverpool’s display. “People will say this could change the game but I think at the end we were the better team and we just need now to enjoy it, recover and then go again.”
