‘Reds are a step ahead’

MAURIZIO SARRI claims there is no such thing as a “must-win” game after they fell off the early title pace with their draw at West Ham.

Chelsea remain in third place, level with Manchester City and two adrift of Liverpool, who visit Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

“Must win, in football, doesn’t exist,” said the Chelsea manager. “We have to play against a very, very good team. Against a team who have worked with the same coach for three or four years.

“They are a step forward of us at this moment. We have started to work all together 35, 40 days ago and, 40 days ago less 10 for the international break, so for us it’s a bit early.

“We have to work then, maybe, in one year we will be at the same level as Liverpool.”

The problem, according to Sarri, is that his team have still not become fluent enough for his liking.

“We need to move the ball quicker, I think,” he said. “We need more movement without the ball. We are improving in the defensive phase. In the last two or three matches, we’ve done very well.

“But we have to improve in the offensive phase, especially in this kind of match.”

West Ham will feel if anything they were hardest done by coming away with only one point after Andriy Yarmolenko missed a late header from six yards that should have wrapped up the win.

“Maybe it seemed easier to score than miss,” said manager Manuel Pellegrini. “Maybe he relaxed a bit more. But it is always difficult to score.”

MATTHEW DUNN