Former Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips has voiced his criticism of Mykhailo Mudryk’s defensive lapses during Liverpool’s commanding 4-1 victory over Chelsea.
Jurgen Klopp’s side delivered an exceptional performance at Anfield, with Conor Bradley shining by scoring a goal and providing assists for Diogo Jota and Dominik Szoboszlai, while Luis Diaz also found the net late in the game.
The defeat has left Chelsea languishing in 10th place in the Premier League, prompting concern from manager Mauricio Pochettino, who admitted his team lacked “personality and character” during the match.
Wright-Phillips slammed Pochettino’s players for their inability to match Liverpool’s intensity and singled out Mudryk for his defensive shortcomings, which were exploited by Liverpool during the game.
“If you go to Anfield, the absolute minimum requirement is to put in the effort,” Wright-Phillips told Premier League Productions. “Liverpool dominated possession and attacked relentlessly, yet somehow managed to cover 8-9 kilometers more than Chelsea, who should have been working harder to close them down.”
“I would have loved to hear what was said in the Chelsea dressing room because I know under Mourinho, a 2-1 loss would have sparked a fierce reaction. In the build-up to Szoboszlai’s goal, Mudryk failed to track Bradley’s run, leaving him unmarked. As a former winger, I know that if my full-back is caught out of position, it’s my responsibility to cover for him. Mudryk’s failure to do so allowed Liverpool to exploit the space out wide repeatedly.”
“They let themselves down, especially considering the talent they possess. Most top clubs understand the importance of pressing immediately after losing possession, but Chelsea failed to do so throughout the game. Liverpool capitalized on their lax defensive efforts and carved them open time and again.”
