Lacroix calls for response after Chelsea's 2-0 loss to Spurs

Maxence Lacroix has urged Chelsea to respond as competitors after Saturday's 2-0 home defeat to Tottenham ended a run of positive results at Stamford Bridge.

The defender pointed to upcoming fixtures against Liverpool and Manchester United as the ideal opportunity to bounce back, starting with a Carabao Cup fourth-round trip to Anfield in midweek.

'It's a big game for us,' said Lacroix. 'We want to go far in this competition and it's good that we have a game like this now. We have to move on and work on some details to be stronger in certain moments and change some situations. We have to show the reaction of a competitor. We want to show another face, we want to win there, and it's going to be a big game.'

Lacroix also moved to rally support around goalkeeper Mike Penders, whose own goal handed Tottenham the lead on his first Premier League start. Manager Xabi Alonso has confirmed Penders will start at Anfield on Wednesday.

'He is a young goalkeeper and he has a lot of talent,' said Lacroix. 'He will learn from this. This can happen in football careers and in life, everyone makes mistakes, and we have to be with him and we are going to be with him. We are behind him. He will help us this season and now we have to help him.'

Chelsea sit fourth in the Premier League table after eight matches, with four wins and three defeats so far this season.