Eden Hazard is nowhere near world's best and Liverpool need Benteke: Five things we learnt at Chelsea vs Liverpool

Standard Sport looks at what we learnt from Chelsea's 3-1 defeat to Liverpool at Stamford Bridge
On the peripheries: Eden Hazard
Tom Sheen31 October 2015

Referees costing Mourinho?

Jose Mourinho, again, was demonstrably furious with the performance of referee Mark Clattenburg and fourth official Lee Mason. His frustrations built throughout the 90 minutes but his main quarrel was that Liverpool midfielder Lucas got away with numerous fouls, while his own, John Obi Mikel, was booked for his first foul he made during the game; the Brazilian gave away eight fouls in total and was spoken to by Clattenburg on three occasions.

The biggest flashpoint came when Lucas cynically tripped Ramires, a foul that was worth a second yellow card. The angry Mourinho ironically clapped Clattenburg, the Chelsea bench were all on their feet arguing the case and Chelsea players surrounded the referee.

The Portuguese took off Mikel just minutes after the incident and could be heard shouting at Mason that Clattenburg had 'made him' make the change, worried about the Nigerian potentially picking up a second yellow. As Mikel was taken off and Chelsea attempted to get on the front foot, gaps opened up - and Liverpool ruthlessly exploited them. Mourinho certainly has a case that Lucas should have seen red and it's hard to see Liverpool winning 3-1 with 10 men.

But the biggest problem with this line of defence is that the Blues themselves should have been a man light after Diego Costa clashed with Martin Skrtel in the first half. The Spanish striker kicked out at Skrtel, an incident that seemed to go unseen by Clattenburg. If the referee says he missed the incident in his report, expect the Football Association to come down hard on a striker who has seen more than his share of disciplinary measures.

Mourinho's also had issue with Philippe Coutinho's equaliser, which came after the alloted two minutes of injury time had elapsed in the first half - more than 30 seconds later, in fact.

The Portuguese also took issue with the way that Jurgen Klopp was allowed to get away with speaking to fourth official Mason - after a (clear) handball on John Terry wasn't given in the first half, Klopp screamed at Mason. Mourinho enquired as to whether he would be allowed to get away with speaking to him like that. He was also angered after Klopp got into an arguement with one of his coaching staff, Jose Morais and again asked Mason if he would be able to speak in such a manner to one of Liverpool's backroom staff.

But rather than Clattenburg being part of some hidden 'campaign' to sabotage Chelsea and their manager, it's more that the men in charge of the match were below par; Clattenburg made just as many decisions that hurt Liverpool as hurt Chelsea.

(IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images)

Philippe Coutinho, match winner

The very best players can make meaningful contributions even when they aren't on top form and that's exactly what the little Brazilian did. Coutinho was marked out of the game in the first half by Ramires and Mikel, barely getting a touch in the attacking third.

But the playmaker turned the game on its head with one moment of absolute brilliance. Chelsea were comfortable at 1-0 up and had they seen it through to the break one gets the impression that they would have held on.

But then Coutinho picked up the ball on the edge of the box and beat an over-eager Ramires before bending an unstoppable shot into the far corner.

It was a magnificent goal that took the air out of Stamford Bridge and gave the visitors renewed confidence.

His second was slightly more fortunate, taking a deflection from John Terry, but from that point it was impossible to see an increasingly anxious Chelsea fighting back.

Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Liverpool need Benteke (and wingers)

The Reds were impressive winners eventually but there were long periods in the match when their attacking play left a lot to be desired. Without a striker fit enough to start, Jurgen Klopp named Coutinho, Firmino and Lallana as a front three that were constantly chopping and changing as the focal point in attack.

It didn't work, all three continued to get in each other’s way and when they finally did find a bit of space, there was never anyone far enough up the pitch to make the threat count. James Milner saw more time on the ball than any other Liverpool player in the first half but, inexplicably, kept on firing in crosses to the box for the attacking trio to get on the end of. John Terry and Gary Cahill couldn't believe their luck. When played in a wider role Milner has never been the type of winger to striker fear in a defender, he is a workhorse.

It was only when Christian Benteke entered the game that Liverpool had a credible attacking threat. The physical Belgian proved much more of a handful for Chelsea's defensive pair and his pace allowed Liverpool to ruthlessly expose the Blues as they poured forward.

He needs to get back to 100 per cent as quickly as possible for Liverpool to continue their form, while Klopp should look to Jordon Ibe a bit more.

Chelsea vs Liverpool - player ratings

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Mourinho almost got it right by going defensive

Mourinho shocked a fair few when his team was announced this morning. Out went midfield stalwarts Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic - a pair who had missed only six Premier League games between them last season - and in came John Obi Mikel and Oscar. The message was clear: the Portuguese was ditching the creative talents of his under-performing stars in favour of the work rate and defensive discipline those two would add to the side.

Rather than his usual 4-2-3-1, Mourinho put Oscar out on the left and Eden Hazard through the middle, switching to a defensive 4-4-1-1. For 44 minutes of the first half it worked. Chelsea often had all 11 men in their own half behind the ball, and a Liverpool side lacking creativity struggled to break down Chelsea's Blue brick wall. The midfield four worked hard off the ball to keep their shape and stifle Adam Lallana, Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho.

But as soon as Chelsea conceded, it looked like the Blues were going to struggle to make any more meaningful chances. Ramires and Mikel are as good as any players in the Premier League at putting pressure on the opposition and winning the ball back, but as Liverpool then sat back the Chelsea pair struggled to push their side forward - both are far too slow and indecisive when in possession. Both were guilty of misplacing passes and taking three touches when one or two would suffice.

IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images

Hazard and Costa on the peripheries again

For the reigning Premier League Player of the Year (and his perplexed manager) it was another frustrating afternoon spent on the fringes of the game. The Belgian, played in behind Diego Costa to allow Oscar to cover the dangerous Clyne, never got into the match, failing to register a shot at goal or provide any meaningful attacking contribution in his 58 minutes. Kenedy came on and within two minutes had done more than Hazard was able to in an hour, testing Clyne and firing a shot wide.

He showed a few flashes of his talents, beating a man here or playing a nice little one-two, but Hazard was almost completely snuffed out by Lucas and Emre Can. He has been compared to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, two former wingers who took their games to new heights when moved inside. Hazard was never really been at the level where he should have been realisticly compared to those two, and has since fallen further and further away, but even so, he must do more a lot more than what he offered the Blues.

Costa should have been sent off, first of all. But apart from that, the striker didn't hardly do anything of note. His role as a lone striker always asks a lot, he has to battle two centre-backs and keep the ball in play for his team-mates, and while he did that at times, Skrtel and Mamadou Sakho were able to handle him pretty easily.

Compared to last season he seems to have lost a little bit of pace that allows him to separate from chasing defenders, while his touch isn't as sure as it has been previously - there was one moment when he seemed to be through on goal after a long pass from Willian but he couldn't gather and was forced wide.

He never had any real chances in the game (although Chelsea's defensive tactics didn't help) but it was his lack of ability to get involved in the game that was more worrying. Last season he was able to have an impact on the game even when he didn't score, by working hard and creating chances for team-mates. Costa did none of that.

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