Liverpool legend identifies best player on parade for Chelsea in away win,… not Abraham

Former Liverpool star Danny Murphy has identified Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic as the best Blues player in the London club’s win against Norwich.

A Tammy Abraham brace and a Mason Mount goal helped Chelsea defeat Premier League new boys Norwich 3-2 at Carrow Road on Saturday.

Kovavic started the fixture in replace of the injured N’Golo Kante and Murphy believes the Croatia international produced his best display for Chelsea, report the Metro.

Murphy said on Match of the Day: ‘There was big question marks from the last season, what is he [Kovavic]? Is a holding midfielder or is he a number 10?

‘But today he showed all aspects of his game. It’s probably as good a game as we’ve seen in a Chelsea shirt.

‘He played in that central role but he got forward more, which we haven’t seen, he’s played a bit safe for me in the nine months of watching him.

‘There was a responsibility he had to take and he did it really, really well. Without Kante, they needed someone to put his foot in because Norwich played well.

‘They’ve got good footballers and someone had to stop the momentum they had at times. He was the one making things happen.’

Giroud reveals his “main role” in Tammy Abraham’s career as striker, says “I believe Tammy can get to a very good level”

Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud has disclosed his “main role” at Stamford Bridge is using his experience to help Tammy Abraham and other young players.

The French forward has lost his place as the Blues No1 striker this season with new Stamford Bridge boss Frank Lampard opting for 21-year-old Abraham to lead the line.

Despite facing a season as understudy striker, Giroud told talkSPORT he has urged the former Aston Villa loanee to “practice more and more”.

He said: “I have been talking with Tammy a lot.

“My main role is to look after these young players like Tammy and try and help them to improve.

“When you’re a striker and you miss some chances or you miss a penalty, you must carry on and make sure you never give up.

“This is one of the best values you can have as a striker. Tammy has got the quality and talent, he just needs to practice more and more. I keep telling him this.”

Giroud’s advice paid dividends as the England starlet scored a clinical double against Norwich this afternoon, The Sun report.

Abraham’s double was sandwiched in between Mason Mount’s second goal of the season as Lampard picked up his first win as Chelsea boss having beaten The Canaries 3-2 away.

Giroud came off the bench to replace the match winner and believes he still has a major role for the Blues this campaign.

He added: “I have been doing that [practising] all my career and I still do. Even at 32 I believe I can still can get better and improve as a player.

“I believe Tammy can get to a very good level.

“He is listening to the advice that is being given to him, and he knows how important it is for him to make the most of this opportunity he has and make the step up.”

David Luiz reveals what Mohamed Salah told him during Arsenal defeat at Anfield

Arsenal defender David Luiz has opened up on what Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah told him after he had given away a penalty in the Premier League defeat at Anfield.

The Brazilian has attempted to defend his shirt pull on Salah, which in turn saw the Reds awarded with a penalty.

Liverpool had secured a 1-0 lead at half-time thanks to a Joel Matip header off a corner and after the break the Reds continued to display their dominance over Arsenal, which after some intricate passing saw Luiz give away a penalty.

Reds right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold found Roberto Frimino inside the box with a low driven pass and the Brazilian, with a first-time pass, then laid the ball off to Salah.

However, the Egyptian was prevented from getting onto the pass as Luiz pulled his shirt back as the defender spun around to chase the movement of the winger.

Footage of the moment Salah’s shirt is pulled by Luiz is indisputable, however, the defender claims it was just a reflex movement and didn’t actually impede the player’s run, report the Express.

Salah converted the penalty and Liverpool went on to win the clash 3-1, which in turn means the Reds are currently the only team in the Premier League who still have a 100 per cent record after three games.

However, Luiz insists Salah told him afterward that he didn’t even feel the contact during the incident.

“I think the second goal, the penalty, killed the game,” Luiz told Sky Sports after the final whistle.

“Yes [it was instinctive], I think you cannot take this out of the players, it’s just a reflex.

“When I turn I see and I take but I take off the power [of the pull].

“That’s when I spoke with Momo [Salah] and he said, ‘I didn’t feel you touch me, that’s why I didn’t go down to the floor’.

“But now the VAR you cannot see the power [of the shirt pull] so it’s difficult for the referees, he saw the shirt like that.

“It’s difficult for them, so I cannot complain to the referees.

“If you play with an extra-large shirt now it could be a penalty every time. It’s interpretation. If you pull someone with power and you stop him trying to go to the ball it’s different. This was just a reflex.

“But that’s it, he scored the penalty and gave me a yellow.

“For the third goal I could not make the foul and put my team in trouble with 10 men.

“So I think I conditioned my game after that, it was more difficult, but the team fight until the end.

“If I pull your shirt or put my hand on your shirt it’s totally different, the power is different.

“VAR is difficult for them they cannot see the power. It depends on the interpretation. I spoke with Momo he said, ‘I didn’t feel that’.”

(Watch video highlights of all the goals) How Crystal Palace snatched victory at the death at Old Trafford

Patrick van Aanholt scored in stoppage time to give Crystal Palace their first win against Manchester United in the Premier League.

Palace led for much of the contest after Jordan Ayew’s first-half goal against the run of play, but United thought they had earned a draw when Daniel James scored late on.

That appeared to atone for Marcus Rashford’s miss from the penalty spot in the 70th minute.

But Van Aanholt popped up in the third of five added minutes to earn Palace a first victory against United since 1991.

Photo Credit: premierleague.com

How Kovacic, Kepa, Tammy Abraham, other Chelsea stars celebrated win over Norwich on social media

Some Chelsea stars took to Twitter to celebrate their first Premier League victory after overpowering Norwich at Carrow Road.

Tammy Abraham scored his first two Premier League goals for Chelsea, who produced an entertaining 3-2 victory at Norwich City.

The Blues took the lead in the third minute, Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross finding Abraham, who guided the ball into the bottom corner.

Norwich equalised three minutes later, when Teemu Pukki squared the ball for Todd Cantwell to tap in his first Premier League goal.

Frank Lampard’s side restored their lead after 17 minutes, Mason Mount cutting in from the left and finishing emphatically past Tim Krul.

Norwich equalised again 13 minutes later, as Pukki latched on to Emiliano Buendia’s through-ball to shoot past Kepa Arrizabalaga for his fifth goal in three Premier League appearances.

Chelsea made it 3-2 midway through the second half, Abraham collecting Mateo Kovacic’s pass to shoot low past Krul.

Read the London club’s players excitement over the win away from home:

Emerson Palmieri @emersonpalmieri
Well done lads, great win today!
Step-by-step… Come on Chelsea! 💪🏽 #CFC #EP33

kepa Arrizabalaga @kepa_46
First win of the season… we keep going! @chelseafc

Mason Mount @masonmount_10
First win of the season… Big 3 points! Well done bro
@tammyabraham 🔥

Jody Morris@morriskid@ChelseaFC
U16s, U18s and the first team all win today..
Lovely Saturday for The Chels 💙

César Azpilicueta@CesarAzpi
Great team spirit! We go for more! 💪💙 Support was class 🙌🏻🔥 #cfc

Mateo Kovačić@Mateo_Kova23
First three points of the season!!! Best way to start this weekend! 💪💙
@ChelseaFC

Tammy Abraham @tammyabraham
Dreams do come true 💙 2 goals + 3 points 🥳 cmmonnnnnn
@ChelseaFC
!!!!

Photo Credit: Twitter/premierleague.com

Chelsea fans make jest of Arsenal supporters over David Luiz roles in Gunners’ defeat at Anfield

Chelsea fans have taken to Twitter to mock Arsenal supporters in their troves after David Luiz conceded a penalty against Liverpool.

The Brazilian signed for the Gunners in the summer transfer window after allegedly falling out with Chelsea boss Frank Lampard.

Luiz skipped a training session ahead of deadline day to push through a move before finally completing an £8million switch to the Emirates.

He started at the back for Arsenal in their Premier League clash with European champions Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday.

And it’s safe to say Luiz had a game to forget – as Chelsea fans were quick to point out to Arsenal supporters on social media, report the Mirror.

After Luiz conceded a penalty by pulling Mohamed Salah’s shirt – a spot-kick that was subsequently converted by the Egyptian – Twitter exploded.

“David Luiz gives a penalty away. Chelsea done well to get rid of him. Thanks for the £8million Arsenal,” tweeted on fan.

Another added: “Arsenal fans bantered Chelsea about taking away David Luiz,” while a third said: “David Luiz on mission from Chelsea. Thanks Agent Luiz.”

A fourth concluded:”Arsenal fans, I present to you the one and only David Luiz. Cheers, a Chelsea fan.”

Luiz’s day quickly got worse when he was skinned by Salah for a second time, with the Reds forward running through on goal and netting his second and Liverpool’s third.

Photo Credit: Twitter

Chelsea mock Manchester United after loss to Crystal Palace at Old Trafford

Chelsea fired back at Manchester United on Twitter after being trolled for their 4-0 defeat at Old Trafford on the opening day.

United took aim at the Blues on Twitter after tweeting a reminder of their thrashing at the start of the month.

But after Frank Lampard’s side beat Norwich City 3-2 on Saturday, and watched London rivals Crystal Palace takes three points at Old Trafford – the Blues clapped back online.

Responding to United’s 4-0 jibe, Chelsea tweeted: “How’d it go?” – after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men suffered a shock 2-1 loss to The Eagles.

An 89th minute equaliser by Daniel James looked to have cancelled out Jordan Ayew’s first-half opener,the Sun report.

However, three minutes into injury time ex-Chelsea left-back Patrick van Aanholt picked up the ball in the box and his effort somehow pierced through the hands of David de Gea.

The goalkeeping error saw Palace take all three points – much to the delight of Chelsea.

It came after new Stamford Bridge boss Lampard picked up his first three points as Blues manager.

Mason Mount netted for the second game in a row as he put his side 2-1 up in the first-half as fellow starlet Tammy Abraham opened the scoring.

Following equalisers from Todd Cantwell and Teemu Pukki it took a second-half finish from Abraham 20 minutes secured all three points.

Photo Credit: Twitter