After 72 minutes, Chelsea led Liverpool 2-0 and were plain sailing, going on to hand the new Premier League champions a 3-1 defeat.

He laboured into a strop as he sat on the bench and started asking: “Why?” Maresca opted to play the last 20 minutes without a recognised striker, with Pedro Neto moving centrally, before Cole Palmer put the result beyond doubt with a stoppage-time penalty.

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And although some may see Jackson’s outburst as a negative, the Senegalese forward simply wanted to remain on the pitch and add to his side’s tally - the tell of a great striker.

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They are notoriously selfish and after bagging twice within six minutes during Chelsea 4-1 UEFA Conference League semi-final win over Djurgardens, Jackson wanted to replicate his efforts against a fragile Liverpool defence.

He is back in form after a hamstring injury and is the only recognised senior striker available, with Christopher Nkunku ruled out for the next 10 to 15 days, and Maresca would likely want his forwards to be desperate to play.

It was a frustrating afternoon for the 23-year-old, having been flagged offside on four separate occasions.

He tied the season record across the league in doing so, but showcased how eager he was to get in behind Virgil van Dijk and Jarrell Quansah.

But Maresca is keeping his striker hungry for more opportunities and goals, with a pivotal end to the season as Chelsea gun for Champions League football next season with a top-five place.

“You see now that he looks like a different player from weeks ago.

“Hopefully the same thing is going to happen with Cole [Palmer].

It’s just a matter of breaking that moment and going again.

“The game against Legia Warsaw at home we started with Nicolas and Cole from the beginning and both struggled.

Now he has the confidence again and we know how good Nico is for us.

“It is the same thing with Cole and hopefully we can also have him scoring goals and getting assists very soon.”


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