Mourinho demands respect for Chelsea's storming of Anfield

"Riled" was how Frank Lampard described Chelsea's reaction to criticism not only of their style after Wednesday's goalless draw at Anfield in the Champions' League but also their mentality, with the Liverpool manager claiming they were "worried and afraid" of opponents who dispatched them from the European Cup last season.

There was little evidence of either on their return. Lampard sent the League leaders towards their most impressive victory of the season with a 26th-minute penalty and though Steven Gerrard equalised shortly afterwards Chelsea, with Didier Drogba enjoying his finest game for the club, delivered the perfect riposte to Liverpool and the rest of their detractors with further goals from Damien Duff, Joe Cole and Geremi.

The victory extended Chelsea's 100 per cent start to the season to eight games and their lead over second-placed Charlton to nine points. For those with greater pretensions to the title the table looks even bleaker, with Manchester United 10 points adrift, albeit with a game in hand, and Liverpool digesting a 17-point gulf that Mourinho suggested ended their interest in the Premiership title for another season.

For Mourinho the timing and manner of this result offered a foundation to dismiss accusations that he lacks adventure, a criticism levelled by Dutch legend and former Barcelona manager Johan Cryuff this week, and to demand the respect he believes has been denied the Stamford Bridge club because of the extraordinary wealth lavished on it by Roman Abramovich.

The Chelsea manager said: "We are not a perfect team but it is eight wins now, 18 goals and it is about time my players had the respect they deserve. No one is prepared to give us respect, either as players or as a team. I am not saying we are perfect, but we are a very good football team with everything a good football team should have - big ambition, defensive quality, attacking quality, individual players, good team spirit and creativity. That makes a very good team. We beat almost every record last season andit is a pity Johan Cryuff, who is such a big person in the world of football, was not here to see this game.

"We are not perfect and we are not the best in the world, I don't know how you can judge that, but Liverpool are the European champions and they could not beat us over two games," Mourinho added.

Lampard revealed that the Chelsea squad had been angered by several comments before and after their Champions' League tie at Anfield, although it was the uncharacteristic slight by Benitez, himself angered by Mourinho's attack on Liverpool's European Cup-winning credentials, that the England midfielder highlighted as a particular thorn.

"We had a big point to prove because a lot of things have been said that we were not happy about," said Lampard. "We are not scared of going anywhere. We have kept quiet, we've not shown any disrespect but got a lot thrown at us, which made us even more determined today. It riled us a bit."

Liverpool's defeat was the first time they had conceded four goals at home in the league since a 4-1 defeat by Manchester United in December 1969 and Benitez could barely contain his anger as he reflected on the defensive errors that contributed to the emphatic margin. He said: "It is not normal to lose at home by that score and, after watching the game, it is incredible. We controlled the first half and it is almost impossible to believe that we conceded a penalty, drew level, conceded another one before half-time and then, when we were pressed high in the second half, made two more mistakes.

"Against a good team that likes to defend and hit you on the counter-attack you cannot do that. We helped Chelsea. They did not play any differently to Wednesday, but this time we lost because of mistakes. The fourth goal came from a throw-in. Unbelievable."

Drogba was delighted with his contribution. "I think it was one of my best performances for us," he said. "To play a game like that three days after a very difficult match [in the Champions' League] makes me very happy."

Mourinho insisted the result "made it difficult for Liverpool now" but was less forthcoming on his own prospects of retaining the title. He said: "We are first and the rest have to chase us and they have the quality to do that. Six points, seven or eight, what is that? It gives us permission to make a mistake but it does not give us permission to sleep."