'Wasn't great': Mauricio Pochettino admits £42.5m Chelsea star struggled against Liverpool

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino says Cole Palmer's performance wasn't great at Anfield but refused to blame him for the heavy defeat. Jurgen Klopp's side ran out 4-1 winners with Chelsea needing to respond this weekend to keep their hopes of finishing in a European spot alive. 

Summer signing Palmer has been the club's top scorer this season and Chelsea often play well when the former Manchester City star plays well. There have been questions as to why the Chelsea boss started him as a false nine against Jurgen Klopp's side, but Pochettino said he was playing as an attacking midfielder and not necessarily as an out-and-out attacker.

He told the press: "He cannot be in a bubble when the performance isn't so good. The influence of every single player is there. I think it's not important in the place he starts at the beginning. If you see the game, he wasn't a striker, he was playing like an offensive midfielder, sharing with Conor in the first half. In the second half, Nkunku was the No.9. 

"We cannot put out of the context of the team. The performance wasn't great and also for him."

Chelsea vs Wolves

The Blues will hope for a swift response to the defeat when they take on Wolves on Sunday in the Premier League but Pochettino says Wolves will be a difficult opponent.

He added: "It's always a reference when you watch the other games. Always we take five games reference to prepare the games to see the patterns and what makes the team. It's a team we play and we know really well. And of course, it's going to be very competitive. We need to be focused." 

Chelsea have not lost a game at Stamford Bridge since October so they'll hope to continue their strong home form and get back on track after the disappointment in midweek.