Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho hit back at his side’s critics after they went nine points clear at the top of the Premiership with an emphatic 4-1 win at Liverpool.

He said: “We deserve more respect, not from Liverpool but from people in general. We are a good team.

“We have eight matches and eight victories, with 18 goals, but people say we cannot play, that we are a group of clowns. This is not right.

“My team showed big personalities but the title is not over yet.”

Chelsea have now won all eight of their Premiership matches this season, but Mourinho said there was still room for improvement.

“I am not saying we are the best team in the world,” he said.

“I am saying we are a very good football team with everything a football team should have – big ambition, defensive quality, attacking quality, individual players, creativity.”

Mourinho claimed the victory illustrated Chelsea’s superiority over Liverpool.

He said: “They have to defend or wait for a mistake and a goal. When they play against us face to face they can’t win.

“The title race isn’t over. We may have a few more points than other teams but the moment we think that, we are in trouble.

“If Rafael Benitez says we have weaknesses that must be because he knows. He is a great manager but I also know the weaknesses of my team.

“The whole team was excellent. Didier Drogba was absolutely incredible. The way he dominated everything was incredible.

“Joe Cole and Damien Duff gave us the shape we needed and our substitutes Geremi and Arjen Robben put their mark on the game.”

Mourinho also took the time to respond to the suggestion by Johann Cruyff that his team was boring.

“We have a team with more points, victories and goals,” he continued. “Last season we broke every record. What more do people want?

“It’s a pity Johan Cryuff wasn’t here to see it.”