Reds manager not impressed by the Special One’s tactic’s during Chelsea’s 2-0 win on Merseyside.
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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has accused Jose Mourinho of ‘parking two buses’ in front of Chelsea’s goal at Anfield on Sunday.
The Blues won 2-0 on Merseyside after a producing a highly-disciplined defensive display and scoring against the run of play in the closing stages of each half.
Mourinho, who made seven changes to his starting XI at Liverpool, has received widespread praise for masterminding a positive result, but Rodgers was reluctant to add praise of his own
Rodgers told Sky Sports: “Congratulations to Chelsea, they won the game, we just couldn’t find the breakthrough.
“They obviously sat very deep. I think there were two buses parked today, never mind one.
“It was like a back six with three midfield players in front of that. That’s 10, with the goalkeeper, for 90 minutes consistently behind the ball.
“Unless you get that early goal, it doesn’t entice them to come out. It was clear that they’d come certainly not wanting to win the game, with the time-wasting and whatnot.
“The players gave everything and we couldn’t quite get that wee bit of luck.”
Mourinho made the phrase ‘park the bus’ famous when he accused Jacques Santini’s Tottenham Hotspur side of doing just that to gain a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge in September 2004.
However, the Portuguese has since been exposed as a bit of a hypocrite after using similar ultra-defensive blockade tactics in multiple away matches down the years.
An unimpressed Rodgers added: “I don’t think it’s a tactic. Anyone can ask a team to just sit back and defend on the edge of the box.
“It’s the nature of how Chelsea play. They’ve got some wonderful players but they play a defensive game and hope to hit you on the counter-attack or with a mistake.”
After being on the defensive for the vast majority of the opening period, Chelsea broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time when Reds captain Steven Gerrard slipped over while in possession, allowing Demba Ba to sprint through on goal, before slotting the ball past Simon Mignolet.
“We were disappointed with the goal, it’s just one of those things,” explained Rodgers. “There’s no blame for Stevie. I said to him he’s been a wonderful player for this club and he’s a massive part of why we are where we are.”
Liverpool, who began the weekend as 1/5 favourites to win the Premier League, have now drifted to 13/10 following their loss and Manchester City’s 2-0 success at Crystal Palace.
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