Jose can't wait for L'pool
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is looking forward to tackling Liverpool after opening up an early lead on all their English Premier League title rivals.
The Blues manager was in upbeat mood after his side beat hosts Reading 2-1 at the Madejski Stadium on Wednesday, a game in which Mourinho was forced to make wholesale changes following an inept first 45 minutes.
The Portuguese boss replaced the ineffective defender Paulo Ferreira and midfielder Steve Sidwell, his new signing from Reading, to spark his team into life after the Royals had taken a first-half lead through Cameroonian defender Andre Bikey.
Mourinho's men responded by grabbing two goals in the space of three minutes to move four points ahead of Manchester United after two games so far this season.
They are also three points ahead of Liverpool and Arsenal, who were both busy Wednesday securing away wins in Champions League qualifying matches.
The Blues travel to Liverpool on Sunday.
"It is a good start but we know the Premier League can be full of disappointments," Mourinho said.
"We have six points and we have to try in our next game against Liverpool to get to seven or nine.
"As on Sunday against Birmingham we were made to suffer but six points in two games is a good start for us.
"This is a very good place to win as Reading are a very difficult side.
"We made changes and the players were brave enough to accept the risk of the way we played. The reaction was amazing. I just feel sorry we did not score a third.
"Making the changes was a big gamble but if one day it doesn't work -- like at Newcastle in my first season -- I am criticised. But I sleep well because I tried.
"The worst thing in life is when you don't try. That is the message I give to my kids all the time. I have to try in my job."
Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech endured a shaky return to the Madejski Stadium, 10 months after he left the ground with a fractured skull following Reading midfielder Stephen Hunt's accidental challenge in the corresponding fixture last season.
The Czech Republic international gifted the home side an opener when Nicky Shorey's flighted free kick was headed on by Ivar Ingimarsson only for Cech to miss his attempted punch clear completely.
As he rushed off his line the keeper conspired to bundle over team-mates Tal Ben Haim and Sidwell leaving substitute Bikey to tap into an empty net and wheel away, celebrating his first ever goal in a Royals shirt.
Mourinho threw on Claudio Pizarro and John Obi Mikel in an attacking gamble as Chelsea pressed for a much-needed equaliser in a game that was drifting away from them.
It was left for a bullish run from England midfielder Frank Lampard to draw them level as he exchanged passes with Didier Drogba to toe his finish past goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann.
Drogba produced a moment of real class to seal the three points.
The Ivory Coast striker swept home Salomon Kalou's short pass from 20 yards out with an eloquent first-time shot to leave the outstretched US keeper Hahnemann with no chance of preventing a goal.
The Royals were then forced to endure a final 20 minutes with just 10 men as debutant Kalifa Cisse was sent off for a second bookable offence following an innocuous-looking challenge on Pizarro, which the Berkshire club might well appeal against.
Royals boss Steve Coppell felt his side's inability to convert their first-half dominance into goals ultimately cost them the points.
"It was high-tempo first 45 minutes and our downfall was not finishing off the chances we created. At the interval we were disappointed not to be further ahead," he said.
"We knew the changes would ask different questions of us. They played with a lot more depth in the second half and that allowed Frank Lampard to push on for the first goal which was a bad one from our point of view in lots of ways.
"But their second goal from Drogba was great finish.
"When you go down 2-1 so quickly in the second half all the energy at half-time evaporates. It was hard for us to get into the game and the sending off made it very, very difficult."
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