Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta says manager Thomas Tuchel has made them more difficult to break down since his arrival.

Few players have been as influential to Chelsea's recent upturn in defensive solidity as Azpilicueta, the skipper having returned to a right-sided role in a back three under Tuchel. It is a position in which he helped Chelsea to a league title four years ago and the change in shape has coincided with a run of just two goals conceded in 10 games.

"The performance was very good from the whole team," he noted. "It was a great effort. We had to suffer a bit but we had enough opportunities to win and we were very solid.

"We defended all together and the strikers did an amazing job with that, which is what you need if you want to get three points at Anfield. When you concede goals, it normally goes to the defenders and when you don't concede it goes to the defenders as well but we work as a team with our structure.

"Obviously it is the job of the defenders to defend but we have to highlight the work from everybody and the attacking players did an amazing job. Liverpool ran a lot and had a lot of intensity so if you don't match them then it's difficult to win but we did really well."

He added: "The team is improving and we're looking forward to the future but on Monday we have another challenge against Everton so now it is well done for the team but we have to focus only on that."