Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori said Liverpool duo Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah gave him a hard time in defence.
The 22-year-old has emerged as a breakout star under Frank Lampard this season.
It is unsurprising that Lampard has had complete confidence in the defender since day one; the two (along with Mason Mount) spent last season together at Derby County and Tomori ended the season as the Rams’ Player of the Season.
The Canana-born centre-back has admitted the step-up to the Premier League has been a challenge — and he named Liverpool forwards as the toughest opponents he has faced so far.
The England international told Sky Sports’ Jamie Redknapp: “In the Championship you have a lot of different strikers – some love it in the air or like to go in behind.
“But then I’m playing against [Roberto] Firmino and he’s dropping deep into midfield. Things happen a lot faster and mistakes are punished more harshly.
“Firmino was probably the most difficult [to play against] – along with Salah. Every time they got the ball, I was thinking, ‘This is a challenge but this is where I want to be – this is a chance to prove that I can play at this level’.”
Chelsea have faced Liverpool three times this season: in the European Super Cup, the Premier League and the FA Cup.
Tomori featured in the first two games where Chelsea ended up losing on both occasions, although it was just a five-minute cameo in the Super Cup.
But it was the home game against Jurgen Klopp’s men in September where Tomori, who played the full 90 minutes, was really given a hard time.
Firmino and Salah had a goal and an assist respectively, as the Blues suffered a 2-1 defeat.
Tomori still has an opportunity for payback, though, as Chelsea should still visit Anfield for a Premier League clash. If the season continues, that is.
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