Chelsea v Liverpool: Klopp’s comments won’t faze Frank

The Liverpool manager's summation of Chelsea’s recent transfer business has undermined his credibility according to David Johnstone from cfcUK.

David Johnstone

Reigning League Champions Liverpool are the first visitors to Stamford Bridge less than two months after beating Chelsea 5-3 at Anfield having already wrapped up the title.

Olivier Giroud, Tammy Abraham and Christian Pulisic scored Chelsea’s goals but they weren’t enough to prevent their side’s third defeat to Liverpool last season.

The first came in the Super Cup in Istanbul when the trophy went to Liverpool after 120 minutes of football ended in a 2-2 draw and a penalty shoot-out.

The in the meeting at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea were unlucky to go down 2-1, N’Golo Kanté registering for The Blues.

Jurgen Klopp

This might well be an extremely unpopular opinion amongst many Chelsea supporters but I had a sneaking admiration for Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

I like his enthusiasm, the way he sticks by his players, the value he put in the supporters of his club and also the way he has turned his club’s fortunes around but, that said, I am not in any way the slightest ‘fan’ of the Liverpool Football Club.

However, the current ‘spat’ between the German and Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has somewhat lessened my opinion of the Anfield side’s gaffer.

His summation of Chelsea’s recent transfer business has undermined his credibility and I’m afraid that, if it’s a ‘mind game’ that he’s trying to play, I don’t think it will work.

The German’s manipulation of the figures when comparing Liverpool’s spending to Chelsea’s was absolutely laughable and, to my mind at least, has diluted any integrity I formerly thought he had.

Mo Salah Liverpool Chelsea

Nonetheless, the hype around his comments will no doubt, be cranked up by certain sections of the media who will do their best to crank up the dispute and exploit it to its maximum.

The pitch-side vocal exchange between Lampard and Klopp at Anfield during Chelsea’s 5-3 defeat is also likely to feature in the pre-match build-up.

Although the Chelsea manager has publically acknowledged his ‘mistake’ in using the language he did, his estimation went sky-high in the eyes of a large majority of the Chelsea support for the way he ‘hit back’ at the Liverpool coaching staff.

The Englishman’s outburst came about as a result of the referee awarding the home side a free-kick when it was clear to all that no offence had been committed.

Chelsea supporters looking for positive omens regarding their team’s prospects have been quick to point out that the last two times their side’s league season has started on a Monday night (in 2014 and a 3-1 against Burnley away and then in 2016 with a 2-1 home to West Ham) the league trophy has, at the end of the campaign, been on show at Stamford Bridge.

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Following Chelsea’s opening game, a 3-1 win at Brighton last Monday, here’s hoping that it’s a case of ‘three in a row’.

Whilst I’ll always leave it to the manager to pick the side he sees as the best, I’m positive that Mateo Kovačić will make a return to the squad following his suspension for the red card he was unfairly shown by Anthony Taylor in the FA Cup Final defeat to Arsenal and will play some part in Frank Lampard’s game-plan.

I’m obviously hoping that Chelsea win the game on Sunday afternoon and I think they may well secure victory with a 2-0 scoreline which is currently available at 19.00.*

Those of you who agree and even those who fancy another result can have a bet via our betting partners FansBet.

For the latest Chelsea v Liverpool odds click here

About the Author

David JohnstoneLondoner David Johnstone is a home, away and European away Chelsea supporter and has missed just six matches since 2001 (although he’s quick to state there are plenty of other supporters with better attendance records than him).

He has been involved with the fanzine scene at Chelsea since around 1991 and started the ‘cfcuk’ fanzine in 1999 which was, until Mr Abramovich bought the club in 2003, named ‘Matthew Harding’s Blue And White Army’.

David was also responsible for forming both the Chelsea Supporters’ Group and the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust which are the main two bodies that represent the followers of Chelsea FC and take their concerns to those running the club.

A founder of the highly regarded Chelsea FanCast weekly podcast (but is no longer involved) and responsible for the crowd surfing banners and supporter displays that are seen in the Matthew Harding Stand at Stamford Bridge on matchdays.

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