Lucas Leiva hailed the character of Liverpool after their brilliant 3-1 win at Chelsea and insisted the words of wisdom from Jürgen Klopp played a part in helping the team come from behind to get the three points.

After going behind to an early goal thanks to a header from Ramires, the Reds showed tremendous mental strength to fight their way back and take the three points.

Philippe Coutinho netted a memorable strike in first-half stoppage time to draw the Reds level and the Brazilian was at it again with another superb effort to make it 2-1.

Substitute Christian Benteke then rounded off a great day in London for the travelling Kop when he drilled a low shot into the bottom corner of the net to give Klopp his first top-flight win as Liverpool manager.

Lucas insists it was a deserved three points and revealed words of inspiration from Klopp made sure the team would not give up after conceding such an early goal.

“I wouldn’t say it [the performance] was perfect but I think it was enough to win the game,” said Lucas.

“We conceded an early goal and during the last few months if we conceded a goal our body language maybe wasn’t the best, but after the Southampton game the manager spoke to us and said you can’t think too much about a goal if you concede it, and you just need to get back on your game.

“That’s what we did I think and the goal came at the right time for us just before half-time, but even in the first-half I thought we were the better team.

“In the second-half I thought both teams had chances but we looked really solid defending and on the counter-attack we took our chances and I thought it was a deserved win.

“There’s still a lot of things to improve on, but it’s better improving and winning.

“It was a massive win for us because after a few draws we needed these three points and hopefully now in our next two games, in the Europa League [against Rubin Kazan] and then back to the Premier League [Crystal Palace] we can get a good momentum before the international break comes.”

Klopp began the encounter with Roberto Firmino in a more central attacking role with support from Coutinho and Adam Lallana.

Lucas insists the position is nothing new for Brazilian compatriot Firmino.

“Roberto played there for the national team as a No.9, and he has played there for Hoffenheim as well, and it’s a position he feels comfortable in,” he added.

“Of course he’s not a target man like Christian is, but he gives us another option with his movement and opening the space up for the other guys to run into.

“When a new player comes in for a big fee the expectation amongst the people is always really high. He was quite unlucky at the beginning of the season because he got an injury and it stopped the momentum for Roberto a little bit.

“The last two games he has already showed what he is capable of doing and he has a good partnership with Philippe as well.”

Coutinho returned to his brilliant best with two fantastic strikes at Stamford Bridge, and Lucas has now backed Liverpool’s No.10 to push on from this moment.

He added “I’m delighted for Philippe because he was probably trying too hard to score the goal and make things happen.

“In this game he was really relaxed and not too worried, and at the end he has scored two fantastic goals which is what you expect from a player like him.”

Asked whether he considered himself fortunate to stay on the pitch when he mistimed a challenge, having already being booked, he added: “They [Chelsea] will probably talk about it, it’s normal especially when you lose a game.

“The first three fouls in the first 10 minutes of the game probably were just fouls that maybe wouldn’t be a yellow card.

“Sometimes in my position you make fouls but more to stop the game and I think it was a good decision from the referee. He controlled the game very well, all the situations with the Chelsea players I think he dealt with it really well and I think it was a fair game.

“People will say this could change the game but I think at the end we were the better team and we just need now to enjoy it, recover and then go again.”