Chelsea beaten: Five lessons learnt from Liverpool defeat

By Scott Brant | Sep 18, 2016

Chelsea's Brazilian defender David Luiz (L) reacts as Liverpool's Croatian defender Dejan Lovren (3L) celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge in London on September 16, 2016. / AFP / Adrian DENNIS / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images) /

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LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 16: Philippe Coutinho of Liverpool is chased by Oscar of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on September 16, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /

Midfield owned by Liverpool

N’Golo Kante and Nemanja Matic were virtually invisible. Philippe Coutinho and Georginio Wijnaldum had all the time and space needed. Wijnaldum had only a short spell where he went quiet; for the majority of the game he was in space and had time to pick a pass.

Kante had a bad day. His teammates may want to tell him he’s no longer allowed to shoot. The midfielder has seen more shots land in the stands than trouble the goal. However, a poor display from the Frenchman was overdue after an incredible and consistent last 12 months.

The issue is that his colleague failed to step up and compensate for his dip. Matic was abominable. In fairness, he made a run from deep midfield to assist Diego Costa on his neatly taken effort. But that’s all that can be said about Matic.

The midfield really was dire, piling the pressure on a vulnerable back four. The worrying thing is that disconnect will take a season to correct.

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