Chelsea FC boss Tuchel bemoans referee's decision not to send off Liverpool's Mane

Tuchel after Chelsea's draw with Liverpool FC: "It was a brilliant match of football."

Chelsea FC boss Tuchel was disappointed Liverpool's Mane didn’t get a red for his foul on Azpilicueta (Sky Sports Screen Shot)

Chelsea FC boss Thomas Tuchel bemoaned the referee's decision not to show Liverpool's Sadio Mane a red card in the opening minute of Sunday's 2-2 draw between the Premier League top sides.

The Senegal international Mane was only shown a yellow for an elbow on Cesar Azpilicueta after only a few seconds into the game at Stamford Bridge and he went on to break the deadlock in the 9th minute, with Egypt forward Mohamed Salah adding a second before Mateo Kovacic and Christian Pulisic both found the net to secure a point for Chelsea.

"In the first game [between the teams] we got the red card [for Reece James] and the referee was so quick to give it," Tuchel, who revealed he plans serious talks with striker Romelu Lukaku on Monday, told BBC Sport.

"They did not check it today - I hate to say it normally as I don’t like a red card early in the game, it can kill it. The public came here to see 11 v 11.

"Sadio Mane should always be on the pitch because he is a brilliant player and a good guy but it is a red card. It is hard to swallow but what can we do?

"It was a brilliant match of football. We turned it around, we were close to winning it but it was on the edge and could have gone either way."

Tuchel was full of joy when his Blues equalised at the Bridge (Sky Sports Screen Shot)

While speaking to Sky Sports, the German boss expressed his delight at how the Blues didn't give up when they were two goals down.

He said: "Brilliant match of football, everybody not in the stadium missed something - energy, some mistakes. We started excellently and were 1-0 down out of nothing because we did two or three big mistakes, then we concede a second one which makes the task very hard.

"The team did not give in and Mateo Kovacic's goal brought the belief back into the stadium. There was almost the perfect comeback in the first half with a third goal on the transition."

On the situation with Lukaku, Tuchel said: "He is our player, there is always a way back, we will clear this behind closed doors and once we have made a decision and Romelu knows, you will maybe know also. It is not to be discussed now."

Pulisic: 'Frustrating not to get winner.'

Chelsea forward Pulisic added: "It feels like one of those games. It was an incredible first half, you feel after we got the momentum and get back 2-2 it is a bit frustrating not to get the winner but probably a fair result in the end.

"It was strange to be down 2-0. It felt like we were in the game and playing well and kept with it and scored two. It was an exciting game for sure."

When asked about his thoughts on safe standing being used, the American said: "I've seen it from Germany a lot. I definitely think it could help the atmosphere. I didn't know today but the atmosphere was brilliant."

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