LIVERPOOL, England: Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca insisted he was “really happy” despite his team losing their grip on the Premier League title race following a goalless draw at Everton late last night.
The Blues can take top spot from Liverpool if they win at Goodison Park before the leaders meet Tottenham Hotspur at home early this morning.
Chelsea, on the other hand, saw their eight-game winning streak come to an end as they failed to score for the first time since October.
With Liverpool winning 6-3 in a remarkable match in north London, it meant Chelsea finished the day in second place – four points behind the Reds and having played a game more than the leaders.
Maresca – speaking before Liverpool’s victory was confirmed – said: “I’m really happy. I just told the players I’m happier today than I was after the game with Brentford (which they won 2-1 last weekend).
“The reason I’m a bit worried about this match: tough match, tough stadium, tough team.”
He added: “Defensively they are the best, they are one of the top five teams in Europe in terms of clean sheets so you struggle to create chances against them.
“It’s not an easy game and you have to learn to play differently. Football is not just about how good you are with the ball, it’s also about how you defend and how you deal with it.”
It was Everton’s first match since the Friedkin Group (TFG) completed its takeover of the Liverpool club, with new executive chairman Marc Watts in the Goodison crowd late last night.
It was Everton’s second consecutive goalless draw after a 0-0 draw at Arsenal last weekend but Toffees boss Sean Dyche, whose contract expires at the end of the season, knows only a win will impress the club’s American owner.