Frank Lampard believes ‘dynamic’ Pedro Neto has shown enough to warrant a starting place for Chelsea following their 2-1 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday.
Enzo Maresca’s side went behind in the first half at Anfield through Mohamed Salah’s penalty but equalised shortly after the break via Nicolas Jackson.
However, Chelsea were level for just three minutes as Curtis Jones got on the end of Mohamed Salah’s cross to finish from close range and restore Liverpool’s lead.
Neto, a £54 million summer signing from Wolves, replaced Jadon Sancho at half time and was one of Chelsea’s most positive attacking outlets in the second half.
‘It’s always disappointing when you feel like you probably done some good things in the game and the other team, someone with the quality of Liverpool aren’t at their best, but you don’t come away with anything,’ Lampard told Premier League Productions.
‘And maybe at the top end of the pitch, the game-changers we’ve seen, particularly Cole Palmer, didn’t really have their moments when you felt that they might do.
‘I think Pedro Neto came on and added a lot, I think he probably pushed himself into a big chance of starting the next games going forward. I think he should, I think he’s dynamic and he changed it a bit from up there.
‘But they’re probably lacking that little bit of an edge at the top end of the pitch really, some good stuff for them there but in the end they’ll go home disappointed because at least you get something when you play like that.’
Despite suffering their second defeat in the Premier League this season, Lampard believes Chelsea showed plenty of promise against Liverpool.
‘I think bravery is a big plus, to go into a game of that stature when they’re a young squad, in terms of the build and control, I understand,’ Lampard said.
‘I don’t think at the top end of the pitch they created that many big chances, but in terms of the feeling of having some control there is a big thing for him [Maresca] because when you’re trying to move to this possession-based game, which he is, I think he can speak to the players after and say, ‘see, you can control, the set-up is good, the things I’m trying to do are good’, and they’ll buy into that.
‘The next thing, as I say, is just being that little bit more dynamic in the big moments in the big games.
‘But to be fair, Liverpool have got players who have done it for quite a few seasons. We talk about Mo Salah, you understand he can do this all the time, so you’re trying to develop Madueke, you’re trying to get Neto into the team and feel comfortable in the team, Cole Palmer we know can do it but okay, it was a big game that wasn’t maybe his today.
‘So I think it’s normal he [Maresca] comes out and speaks as he did, he’ll be disappointed that they lost but there were some good signs.
‘Liverpool were not at their best today, Liverpool in particiularly in that first half, it had the feeling of the game that they’re slightly off it, sometimes when you go to Anfield they don’t give you a breath, that first 10 minutes you feel them, and that was never there today.
‘So I think as much as he’s saying, ‘I’m quite happy with that’, you also on reflection will say that was an opportunity to come here and get something and they haven’t done that.
‘Is it down to immaturity of a young, developing squad? Potentially. The manager’s trying to come in and lay down these things. But when you do fall short the reality is, ‘okay, there’s that little bit more pressure now that we have to get a result’. They’ve lost two games against big team, they’ve drawn a couple of games, he’ll want to get those results, we’ve talked about results for Arne Slot and what it does, he’ll want to make sure that kicks on.’
Asked if he thinks Maresca will be given time at Chelsea, Lampard replied: ‘Yeah, I think there’s an air of positivity in house and outside.
‘I think I’ve felt in the last two years I’ve been over at Stamford Bridge to watch games and there’s been a different feeling, transition, fans are used to seeing teams win generally over the last 15, 20 years very regularly, they’re not seeing it [now] so there’s an element of frustration.
‘I think now we’re on the turning point of that as a feeling. So I think the support of the club is there, and there’s a potivie atmosphere and positive words and an idea that we’re going in this direction. So I think that’s a good thing for him.
‘I think in terms of his timing of coming into the job, a little bit of stability, and then he will need time to work, all managers will tell you that but he certainly will need that, so again, it comes to results will be the catalyst for that.’
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