WE’RE A YEAR BEHIND

Chelsea boss admits they’re playing catch-up with Klopp

MauriZio Sarri warned it may take another year before Chelsea are a match for Liverpool as he braced himself for two games in four days against the Premier League leaders.

Sarri’s team, who dropped their first points of the season in a goalless draw at West Ham yesterday, go to anfield for a Carabao Cup third-round tie on Wednesday, then host Jurgen Klopp’s team in the Premier League on Saturday.

Sarri said: ‘They are a step ahead of us at this moment. We have to play against a very, very good team who have worked with the same coach for three years. We have started to work together 40 days ago — less 10 days for the international break — so for us it is a bit early.

‘We have to work and then, maybe, in one year we will be at the same level as Liverpool.’

Klopp’s team top the Premier League table having won their first six games of the campaign. They beat Southampton 3-0 on Saturday.

‘it will be a really difficult match,’ said Sarri. ‘Maybe spectacular but for us, difficult. i don’t think there is an easy game against Salah, Firmino and Mane.’