Jurgen Klopp insists he knows how good Chelsea are ahead of Liverpool’s clash with the west Londoners this weekend.
Liverpool face Chelsea on Saturday lunchtime with both sides in unfamiliar territory in the Premier League table. Klopp’s side are ninth in the division after a challenging campaign to date, while Chelsea are tenth after problems of their own under new head coach Graham Potter.
The Blues arrive on Merseyside having won just two of their last ten Premier League fixtures. Neither side can afford to drop more points in the race to secure Champions League football and Klopp believes Chelsea’s struggles have been similar to Liverpool’s own.
Both teams have had significant injury problems this season and Klopp insists that his side will not underestimate Chelsea this weekend.
“They are the only team with a similar injury list to us. It is tough; Arsenal deserves where they are, the play outstanding football. But cut out five players, injuries are a massive problem, but not the only problem,” Klopp told his pre-match press conference.
“Look at the games they’ve played, they’ve lost a few but against teams in form. They’ve played City twice, Newcastle, so it is not like they should win 6-0 and send the other team home. There is still lots of good football. I know how good Chelsea are.”
This weekend’s fixture will be Klopp’s 1000th in management and the Liverpool manager admits he has been ‘lucky’ to have had such longevity.
“I never thought about these numbers and I’d be allowed to do it for that long,” he said.
“I feel blessed. I have three fantastic clubs which gave me the opportunity to work. I learnt a lot but I wouldn’t know the most important thing I have learnt. When you come in somewhere, you never know how it’ll go. I’ve been really lucky.”
