The real Liverpool returned against Chelsea, says Jurgen Klopp

Jurgen Klopp claimed he saw the return of the real Liverpool in his team’s victory over 10-man Chelsea on Sunday.

Two goals from Sadio Mane helped the Premier League champions maintain their winning start to the new season at Stamford Bridge after Andreas Christensen had been sent-off.

But while Liverpool had got off the hook against Leeds United in their opening game, Klopp was delighted to see a dominant performance against Chelsea.

Asked if the victory demonstrated Liverpool’s hunger, Klopp said: “For today, yes but that’s exactly what we have to show all the time. That’s what we wanted to show today. To us it’s really important. We only have to show ourselves ‘ok it’s us’ and I saw us today. I saw us playing football today and I’m completely fine, I loved it.

“I liked the performance a lot. For ourselves, we feel the way we play, with adaptations, with improvement, with development, made us successful and will make us successful if we really throw it consistently on the pitch.”

New signing Thiago Alcantara made his Liverpool debut as a second-half substitute and completed more passes (75) than any Chelsea player during the entire 90 minutes.

"We decided to bring Thiago on early because it was 11 v 10 and a player like him can command the rhythm,” said Klopp. ”It was the perfect start for him and the boys helped him massively.”

Chelsea head coach Frank Lampard was pleased with his team’s performance, but could not defend Kepa Arrizabalaga after the goalkeeper’s poor pass was pounced upon by Mane for his and Liverpool’s second goal.

With Edouard Mendy due to complete a move from Rennes once he has undergone a medical, Kepa looks set to lose his place with Lampard also confirming Willy Caballero will face Barnsley in the EFL Cup on Wednesday night.

“It was a clear mistake today and I think Brighton was a mistake as well, and he (Kepa) has reflected in that way, so we have to keep working,” said Lampard. “It’s the rules of football. Individually, players need support particularly from myself and I give that to all the players. Kepa has to keep working. Nobody tries to make mistakes in football but it’s the nature of the game and you have to be strong.

“I can say now Willy Caballero will play (against Barnsley) and that was always my feeling to play him regardless of today.”

Lampard left German international defender Antonio Rudiger out of his squad entirely, with Fikayo Tomori replacing him on the bench and making an encouraging 45-minute performance as a substitute.

“I’ve got five centre-halves at the club and I can’t pick a squad with three on the bench,” said Lampard. “I have to make my selection on the back of training, hard work and other situations. Tomori did really well and I am delighted with him, and I hope he feels the trust I have in him.”

On Christensen’s red card, which was upgraded from a yellow following a VAR check, for a foul on Mane, Lampard added: “They can be given or not. Once the yellow is the first decision, you feel it needs to be absolutely certain that it's a red to make that decision. I'm not sure it was. It was one I felt could be given or not.”

Klopp said: “I saw his arms were around Sadio, so I thought at the time it was a red card.”