Wayne Rooney has heaped praise on Chelsea's performance against Liverpool, singling out Marc Cucurella as the player who caused the Reds "big problems" in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Anfield.

The former Manchester United and England captain believes Chelsea were the better side overall, despite falling behind early. Ryan Gravenberch opened the scoring for Liverpool after just six minutes, but Enzo Fernandez leveled things up before halftime. Neither side could find a winner after the break, though Chelsea felt they should have been awarded a late penalty for a foul on Joao Pedro.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Rooney said: "I thought Liverpool actually started quite well, got the goal, and then from there Chelsea were the better team. They caused Liverpool big problems, especially Marc Cucurella running behind."

Cucurella was a constant threat down the left flank, while Levi Colwill impressed on his first start since last summer's Club World Cup final. The point stops a run of six consecutive league defeats for Chelsea, though it does little to boost their fading hopes of qualifying for European football through the league.

For Chelsea fans looking to celebrate this improved performance, the team's fighting spirit at Anfield showed signs of a resurgence. With the club reportedly considering seven or eight candidates for their next head coach—despite rumors linking them to Xabi Alonso—there's plenty of reason to stay optimistic about the Blues' future.