Cahill credits renewed work ethic for Chelsea revival

Blues upbeat about top-four finish as they take on Huddersfield

Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Liverpool on Sunday shows they have rediscovered the kind of work ethic it takes to get results in the Premier League, defender Gary Cahill said.

Chelsea’s victory over the Champions League finalists was their fourth league win in a row and Antonio Conte’s side are now within touching distance of a top-four finish with two league games remaining. They face Huddersfield Town today and Newcastle United on Sunday.

“Of late we’ve shown the right attitude, we’ve shown the right work ethic to get back to the level we should be at and the momentum is building now, we’re getting results,” Cahill told Chelsea’s website.

Chelsea are fifth on 69 points, two points behind Tottenham Hotspur and three points behind Liverpool, who have played a game more.

Cahill said keeping the Liverpool trio of Mohammad Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino off the scoresheet on Sunday was a major accomplishment.

“We did well against a front three who’ve been absolutely fantastic,” Cahill added. “We defended fantastically well as a team and to get a clean sheet against those three, who are top players and can hurt you time and again, was great.”

Holding champions Manchester City to a draw has, meanwhile, given Huddersfield Town belief that a similar approach to their remaining fixtures can ensure top-flight survival, defender Scott Malone said.

David Wagner’s men take on Chelsea and Arsenal in their final two games but Malone is confident that the ‘Terriers’ can get the points needed to stay up after a solid performance in the goalless draw at City last weekend.

Huddersfield are playing in their first top-flight season in 45 years and sit 16th in the table on 36 points, three points above the drop zone.

“The draw against Manchester City has given us more belief, so back-to-back games against these types of teams is great,” Malone said ahead of the trip to Stamford Bridge.