Fierce battle at stamford bridge as chelsea host liverpool
...Osimhen set for Napoli debut
Football fans will enjoy another great weekend of football action as the new football season in Europe continues this weekend. The pick of Premier League matches this weekend is the make or mar clash between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. The Reds completed a league ‘ double’ over the Blues last season, with the teams’ most recent meeting a 5-3 win for the Merseyside club in July.
Liverpool supporters have been concerned at their club’s relative lack of action in the transfer market (certainly compared to Chelsea, who have recruited heavily and brought in world- class talent such as Moroccan attacking midfielder Hakim Ziyech), but manager Jurgen Klopp insists he prefers working with a smaller group of players.
Speaking ahead of the cracker, Chelsea manager Frank Lampard insists he has “huge respect” for Jurgen Klopp despite his stormy relationship with the Liverpool boss.
Lampard launched an expletive-laced touchline tirade at Klopp and his assistant Pep Lijnders as tempers rose during Chelsea’s 5-3 loss at Liverpool last season.
He followed that blast by warning Klopp not to get “too arrogant” and the feud has continued into the new campaign, with Liverpool’s Premier League visit to Chelsea on Sunday serving as another potential flashpoint in the growing rivalry.
Klopp took a swipe at Lampard’s £200 million ($259 million) close- season spending spree which included Chelsea beating Liverpool to the signature of Germany forward Timo Werner.
He said his club could not act in the same way as those owned by oligarchs, in a reference to Blues supremo Roman Abramovich.
Lampard responded by saying it was “slightly amusing” to see Klopp complain about Chelsea’s transfer investments when Liverpool had spent heavily in the past.
Klopp was diplomatic about their relationship, insisting he admired Lampard as a player and was impressed with his managerial work.
“What he has done in his time at Liverpool has been incredible and that is on him as the focal point of the club and the individual talent they have brought in,” the Chelsea boss said.
“The nature of the world we live in is there’s a lot of airtime for you to fill with rivalries. They can be scrutinised in every way.
“There is nothing in it for me. The competitive nature of the 90 minutes can always slightly boil over in different directions. The respect I have for Jurgen Klopp will never change.”
Chelsea lost narrowly three times to Liverpool last season, but they did knock Klopp’s men out of the FA Cup.
After finishing 33 points behind Liverpool, Lampard’s spending has raised expectations that Chelsea will mount a serious title challenge this term.
Despite Lampard’s protestations, beating Liverpool in their second game of the season would clearly lay down a title marker for Chelsea, who opened the campaign with a 3-1 win at Brighton on Monday.
“I don’t feel it’s a game to make a statement, it’s the second game of the season,” Lampard said. “On Monday we were in the pre- season zone in terms of fitness. Now we take on the best team in the country last season.