Thomas Tuchel praises Chelsea’s courageous display in ‘six-point game’ against Liverpool

Thomas Tuchel praises Chelsea’s courageous display in ‘six-point game’ against Liverpool… and insists ‘the race is on’ for his side to finish in the top four after Anfield victory

  • Mason Mount scored the only goal of the game as Chelsea beat Liverpool 
  • The Blues have now gone 10 games unbeaten under new boss Thomas Tuchel 
  • Chelsea are now up into fourth while the Reds remain in seventh position 
  • And Tuchel believes the race is now on to qualify for the Champions League 

Thomas Tuchel lauded Chelsea‘s courage after they inflicted a fifth straight league defeat on Liverpool at Anfield.

Mason Mount was the Blues hero, firing home a superb individual strike late in the first half for the only goal of the game to extend the club’s unbeaten run under boss Tuchel to 10 games. 

The result took Chelsea up into fourth in the Premier League, while Jurgen Klopp‘s men remain in seventh after another home defeat.

Thomas Tuchel lauded Chelsea’s courage after they inflicted a fifth straight home league defeat on Liverpool

Mason Mount was the Blues hero, firing home a superb individual strike late in the first half

Mason Mount was the Blues hero, firing home a superb individual strike late in the first half

And while German Tuchel acknowledged that there is still little cause for celebration, he turned up the heat by stating the race to qualify for next season’s Champions League ‘is on’. 

‘We played with courage, had excellent moments with the ball, had moments we needed to suffer, never lost the attitude and desire and a deserved win and big performance,’ Tuchel said.

‘It was a very good team performance. They ask you a lot of questions and we need to have the answers.

‘Everyone was very brave and everyone was sharp. It is a six-point game because the others lose. The race is on, there are still 11 games to go.

Tuchel acknowledged there is still little cause for celebration, but said the race is now on

Tuchel acknowledged there is still little cause for celebration, but said the race is now on

‘We go step by step. We can never rest and never celebrate, there is no time.’

Tuchel’s first ten games in charge have therefore seen him take a club that was sitting ninth in the Premier League at the time of Frank Lampard’s sacking into the highly-coveted top four. 

But the former Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain boss insists he will not rest on his laurels just because his side have moved into the top four and insists settling for Champions League qualification only is not in his thinking.

‘We didn’t think this way. We have already been in the top four after a win against Newcastle and we cannot lose the focus by looking at fixtures all the time, it does not help,’ he added.

Chelsea moved up into fourth in the table, while Jurgen Klopp's men remain in seventh

Chelsea moved up into fourth in the table, while Jurgen Klopp’s men remain in seventh

‘I know it is boring for you but we have to prepare every match on the highest level as this league doesn’t allow you to drop one per cent.

‘If we want to keep going we have to refocus for Everton (on Monday) and nothing else and the rest will take care of itself.

‘There are still 11 games to go, still a long way, we are in the race. We closed the gap very quickly and it is big effort and now we are in the middle of the race and we need to keep going.

‘But this league, the competition in the Champions League and FA Cup, drives us and it is not time to lay back and become too relaxed.

‘I have a hungry group and I am hungry and we are not finished.’

Tuchel also insists settling for Champions League qualification only is not in his thinking

Tuchel also insists settling for Champions League qualification only is not in his thinking