Terry: Liverpool defeat may help us

08 November 2010 16:00

Chelsea captain John Terry believes the defeat at Liverpool was a "kick up the backside" the team needed.

Two superbly-taken goals by Fernando Torres inflicted only the Blues' second Barclays Premier League defeat of the season, preventing them restoring their five-point advantage at the top of the table. Having struggled to overcome Blackburn last weekend Terry feels the players have to take a look at themselves and their performances.

"I don't think we ever take things for granted at this club but maybe this is the kick up the backside we all needed," he said. "We haven't been playing too well recently but have been grinding out results."

He added: "We have another gear to find and we're still at the top of the Premier League, so we have to be encouraged by that but we can't forget what has got us there in the first place."

With Didier Drogba left on the bench until the second half because of illness and Michael Essien missing with a toe injury Chelsea struggled to impose themselves.

Terry recognises that failing but said they could not use the absence of key players as an excuse.

"In the last couple of games away from home, we have started the game very slowly and we did the same on Sunday," he added. "I am disappointed to lose in the manner we did. I just think the tempo was missing early on.

"We obviously knew Liverpool hadn't had the best of starts to the season but they were up for it from the word go.

"We tried to take the sting out of the game but it backfired on us. That wasn't a tactical thing, it just seemed to happen.

"The next thing we knew we were 2-0 down and by the time we got our game together in the second half, it was too little too late."

Source: PA