Tuchel complains ‘the early red card spoiled the game’ at Liverpool

 following a VAR check that proved to be a handball clearance from the line, giving the opposition a penalty which equalized the match late in the first half by Mohamed Salah.

However, the Reds couldn’t take advantage as a goalless second half resulted in a 1-1 draw at Anfield.

Chelsea’s boss, Thomas Tuchel, 

: 

"The red card - I'm not even sure anymore if it's the rules or not the rules.

"You have to accept the decision. He maybe would have changed his mind with moving pictures.

"In the end it maybe would have stayed the same. I don't like early red cards in general because it spoils the game. In the end it was a tough and hard fight. We showed great resilience and deserved the point.

"We decided to stay in a back five. We wanted to stay active and make it hard to create chances. The first 10 minutes seemed endless. The last five minutes I was actually praying we take what we deserved. It was a hard and a tough one, but a very strong second half defensively."

Blues captain, 

Cesar Azpilicueta

, was in agree with his coach about the ‘harsh’ decision. He said post-match: 

"Harsh. I feel sorry for Reece. The referee got advice from VAR to give it. He went to the screen to watch one replay.

"We got the double punishment, red card and a penalty - and two yellow cards in the same action. We were angry. But you have to calm down and find a way to fight together as a team. I think the team fought and maybe we had the best two chances in the second half."

Reece James

 will join 

 as he will look to put the difficulties of his trip to Merseyside behind him during the international break.

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