Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud: Liverpool fixtures will provide real test of how good we are

Olivier Giroud admits Chelsea’s two matches against Liverpool this week will help them measure how strong they really are this season.

The Blues take on Jurgen Klopp’s men in the Carabao Cup at Anfield on Wednesday night before facing them in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge three days later.

Despite dropping their first points of the season in the 0-0 draw at West Ham yesterday, Maurizio Sarri’s side are being talked about as possible challengers to League leaders Liverpool and defending champions Manchester City in the title race.

However, Giroud feels their matches against Liverpool will provide a better benchmark over how far they have progressed.

“They will provide a real test of how good we are,” said the striker. “We need to show team character after the West Ham game, so there is nothing better than to play the team at the top of the League. It will be a good test.”

Sarri has already confirmed that he will rotate his side for the trip to Anfield, but Giroud insists that does not mean Chelsea are not taking the League Cup seriously.

The World Cup winner believes victory in two days’ time will give the Blues a psychological edge going into their League clash.

“The coach will obviously make some changes for the League Cup tie, but we have many players with quality and we have a good team,” he added.

“We want to be strong and show them that it won’t be easy for them at Anfield. We want to keep the confidence high and come back to London with good momentum and start a winning run again.

“The League Cup match is going to be the best preparation for the Premier League game. We’re going there to win — we’re not just focusing on the other one.

“It was a bit disappointing against West Ham. We are aware of that and we will work on it. We want to bounce back as soon as possible. It’s a tough time, but this is when you see the men and we have to show stronger character and respond in the next game.”

Chelsea lost their 100 per cent League record after struggling to break down a well-organised West Ham outfit.

While the visitors had more than 70 per cent possession and saw N’Golo Kante, Willian and substitute Alvaro Morata waste good chances, it was West Ham who probably deserved three points.

Michail Antonio, who played up front in place of the injured Marko Arnautovic, could have scored twice in the first half, while Andriy Yarmolenko somehow headed wide after the break.

The derby was played less than 48 hours after Chelsea’s delayed return from their Europa League tie in Greece, but Giroud admits they cannot use that as an excuse and expressed fears that their opponents are starting to figure out how to play them.

“Now they are starting to know us well, so we need to bring something else,” he said. “We have to recognise the best way to put a team in difficulties.

“Against West Ham, we sometimes rushed our game and were not patient or maybe we did not put enough pace in our game. Maybe we need to give a bit more on the pitch as well.

“As a team we didn’t succeed in finding the solution. We tried too much to play inside and — against a strong defence like that, a lot of players — it was very hard to combine, especially in the last 30 yards. Maybe we should have gone a bit more on the wings and put in more crosses in. We also need to improve on our finishing, after also not taking our chances on Thursday.

“We are not hiding behind the fact we had to play two games in a few days. We had a long trip back from Greece and it was tiring because we had to stay out there. And when we came back we had to train straight away. It’s not the best, but we were aware about that beforehand and we have enough quality in our group. We have quantity as well, we have very good competition for places, very good players.”

After masterminding a 3-1 triumph over Everton the previous week, West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini was pleased to see his side keep Chelsea subdued but still regarded it as a missed opportunity. “When you have so many clear chances against big teams, you must score one of them,” he said.