FOR CONTE IT’S ANFIELD OF DREAMS

ANTONIO CONTE will be making his firstever trip to Anfield with a determination to write his own chapter of history in one of football’s great cathedrals. Chelsea have had some memorable battles with Liverpool – who can forget Luis Garcia’s ‘phantom’ goal, Steven Gerrard’s slip, or Luis Suarez’s bite? Conte is aware of the rich history and rivalry surrounding the fixture and says the current Chelsea generation is strong enough to lay down a statement of intent tonight as they march towards the title. Former Italy boss Conte, who had a glittering career as manager and player with Juventus, said: “I didn’t play any football at Liverpool so this is my first time to go and play at Anfield. “I know in the past there has been a very strong rivalry between Liverpool and Chelsea but the present is what is important now. “In a game like this you need strong players and I’m sure I have this type of player.” Liverpool inflicted Chelsea’s first defeat under Conte at Stamford Bridge back in September (right) and the Blues lost badly at Arsenal the following week. Conte angrily accused them of not being a team but from there they went on a remarkable 13-game winning run which has helped push them eight points clear at the top. “In six months our work has been incredible,” Conte said. “After the second defeat something changed in our minds. We had to think of a new type of football and a new idea. We had to change something if we wanted to avoid another bad season and that is what happened. “My players showed me this will to change and find a new solution, to turn our season around and try to fight until the end.” Conte offered some sympathy to underpressure Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, who goes into tonight’s game on the back of three straight home defeats. Conte was left questioning himself after Chelsea’s poor run early in the season and believes it will be the same for Klopp as he tries to inspire a reaction from his Liverpool team. Conte added: “When you have a defeat you start to wonder if you are doing the right thing. That happened to me. But when you have philosophy, you have to overcome this negative period. Klopp’s team play attractive football and very well. “If you lose two or three games but you have your idea of football, you have to trust in your methods and your ideas.”