Sarri will ensure Blues are contenders, says Klopp

LIVERPOOL boss Jurgen Klopp has expressed his admiration for Chelsea counterpart Maurizio Sarri and stressed that the Blues are strong contenders for the Premier League title.

Following their appointment of Sarri over the summer as successor to Antonio Conte, Chelsea have taken 16 points from a possible 18 in the Premier League so far this term — two fewer than leaders Liverpool.

The two clubs meet at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, three days after playing each other at Anfield in the third round of the Carabao Cup this evening.

When asked about Sarri, Klopp said: “It is the biggest change of system I ever saw in such a short period of time. Wow. Style completely (different). What a manager he is, to be honest.

“I’m pretty much a supporter of him since I saw them playing at Naples (Sarri’s Napoli team). That’s outstanding football, and now (he is) doing it in a very interrupted pre-season, without a lot of players involved — Eden (Hazard), (Olivier) Giroud — and starting the season, and you see immediately the impact.

“All my respect. It’s really good to watch. Good job so far.”

He added: “I know that people always were talking, and I don’t know exactly why, about (clubs) being champion at the end of the season, whatever, and completely forgot Chelsea.

“This team is experienced. They won the title already — I’m not sure, but 80 per cent of them probably twice, and they know how it works. So that’s a really good group, a really strong football team.”

Klopp confirmed goalkeeper Simon Mignolet will make his first appearance of the season tonight as Alisson Becker rests.

The manager also said Mignolet had been “brilliant” after a summer move away from the club did not materialise for him

Klopp said: “It was as you can imagine — transfer window time is one of two moments in the year when you can make decisions about going somewhere and, yes, Simon would have been ready to go to another club, to be the number one, wherever in the world. That was clear.

“But we couldn’t do it, and since then he has been brilliant. He trains fantastic. It’s all good and he deserves that game absolutely. I’m really happy to give him that opportunity.” Full respect: Jurgen Klopp is a fan of Maurizio Sarri’s style