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Chelsea: Four lessons learnt from Liverpool shellacking

By Travis Tyler

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JULY 22: Mateo Kovacic of Chelsea looks on during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield on July 22, 2020 in Liverpool, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JULY 22: Mateo Kovacic of Chelsea looks on during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield on July 22, 2020 in Liverpool, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) /
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Chelsea’s US midfielder Christian Pulisic (L) vies with Norwich City’s German-born Swiss defender Timm Klose during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Norwich City at Stamford Bridge in London on July 14, 2020. (Photo by Richard Heathcote / POOL / AFP) / 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 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by RICHARD HEATHCOTE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea’s US midfielder Christian Pulisic (L) vies with Norwich City’s German-born Swiss defender Timm Klose during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Norwich City at Stamford Bridge in London on July 14, 2020. (Photo by Richard Heathcote / POOL / AFP) / 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 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by RICHARD HEATHCOTE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

3. Subs can still make a difference

Lampard’s decision to sub off his entire forward line of Mason Mount, Olivier Giroud, and Willian for Christian Pulisic, Tammy Abraham, and Callum Hudson-Odoi was almost immediately vindicated when Pulisic waved his magic wand to pull an Abraham goal out of a hat. All three continued to have an excellent time on the pitch despite the result ultimately not going in the Blues’ favor.

Over the course of the season, and at Derby County, Lampard has shown that he can make game changing substitutions time and time again. The timing may not always be correct (why not make those subs at half time?) but the impact often seems to be.

It is clear why Chelsea was one of the clubs pushing to keep the five substitution rule in place along with expanded benches. It is also clear that even with the likes of Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech (and maybe Kai Havertz) coming next season that the current crop of attackers will still have plenty of opportunities next season.

Imagine subbing off Timo Werner for Tammy Abraham. Or Christian Pulisic for Hudson-Odoi. Or vice versa. The Blues are gearing up to give Lampard a ton of attacking options and the club is already well poised to take advantage of the increase in subs and bench size too.

It may be a small thing in the grand scheme of things, but it is an advantage that Chelsea can use going into next season as they combine current attackers with new.

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