Klopp and Conte

The touchline action could be as explosive as what happens on the pitch at Stamf
ord Bridge on Friday when Jurgen Klopp takes his Liverpool side to tackle Antoni
o Conte's Chelsea.
Both managers are renowned for the remarkable intensity of their touchline antic
s and the fourth official is likely to have a job on his hands maintaining order
in the two technical areas.
Klopp appreciates the similarities, but it is Conte's achievements with Juventus
and Italy, rather than his conduct in front of the dug-outs, that have won him
the German's admiration.
"I don't know Antonio good enough to know why he is doing it. I know for myself
and, as I've said a few times, it just happens to me," Klopp told reporters at W
ednesday's pre-game press conference.
"He looks quite emotional, even when they don't score. Obviously he is involved
in the game, but that's not the most important thing.
"The very important thing is he is a great manager, something like the 'Pep Guar
diola of Juventus' if you want.
"He created their special type of play and had a very successful time there and
with the national team.
"It is quite impressive what he has done until now, but I don't play against Ant
onio Conte."
After defeat at Burnley and a 1-1 draw at Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool returned
to winning ways at the weekend with a clinical 4-1 thrashing of champions Leices
ter City at the newly expanded Anfield.
Chelsea saw their perfect start to the campaign ended by a 2-2 draw at Swansea C
ity in which they went 1-0 up, fell 2-1 down and then rescued a point through Di
ego Costa's acrobatic 81st-minute equaliser.
The way Chelsea let Swansea back into the match suggested the vulnerability that
plagued them last season, when they finished 10th, continues to hover below the
surface.
But Chelsea winger Victor Moses is convinced that Conte's off-pitch adjustments
have set the club on the right path.
"I think he is the right man for this club," the Nigeria international told the
Chelsea website.
"He came in and changed quite a few things and everyone was expecting that. The
food regime and the training have changed and he wants everyone to gel together
as a team.
"He speaks to every player and wants the best from each and every one of us, and
he will get the best out of us."
Last season's corresponding fixture, in late October, saw Klopp pull off the fir
st eye-catching result of his nascent Liverpool tenure as the visitors recorded
an impressive 3-1 win.
If the teams' last encounter, in a pre-season friendly in the United States, is
anything to go by, Friday's game beneath the floodlights could be a spicy affair

.
Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas was sent off for an ugly foul on Ragnar Klavan,
while Liverpool's Marko Grujic had to go to hospital following a clash of heads
with Bertrand Traore.
It could also be spectacular. The two teams average more shots on goal per game
than any other sides in the division, while Liverpool's players have covered mor
e distance than any other team.
Croatian centre-back Dejan Lovren is due to return for Liverpool, following a he
ad injury, in place of Lucas Leiva, whose error against Leicester gift-wrapped a
goal for Jamie Vardy.
But Germany midfielder Emre Can remains absent with an ankle injury.
David Luiz is expected to make his second debut for Chelsea, five years and seve
n months after his first appearance for the club, which coincidentally came in a
home game against Liverpool.
The Brazil centre-back, 29, returned to Chelsea from Paris Saint-Germain on tran
sfer deadline day for a reported fee of 32 million pounds.
Luiz, previously a Chelsea player between 2011 and 2014, is likely to replace ca
ptain John Terry, who has been ruled out for 10 days with ankle ligament damage
sustained at Swansea.The touchline action could be as explosive as what happens
on the pitch at Stamford Bridge on Friday when Jurgen Klopp takes his Liverpool
side to tackle Antonio Conte's Chelsea.
Both managers are renowned for the remarkable intensity of their touchline antic
s and the fourth official is likely to have a job on his hands maintaining order
in the two technical areas.
Klopp appreciates the similarities, but it is Conte's achievements with Juventus
and Italy, rather than his conduct in front of the dug-outs, that have won him
the German's admiration.
"I don't know Antonio good enough to know why he is doing it. I know for myself
and, as I've said a few times, it just happens to me," Klopp told reporters at W
ednesday's pre-game press conference.
"He looks quite emotional, even when they don't score. Obviously he is involved
in the game, but that's not the most important thing.
"The very important thing is he is a great manager, something like the 'Pep Guar
diola of Juventus' if you want.
"He created their special type of play and had a very successful time there and
with the national team.
"It is quite impressive what he has done until now, but I don't play against Ant
onio Conte."
After defeat at Burnley and a 1-1 draw at Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool returned
to winning ways at the weekend with a clinical 4-1 thrashing of champions Leices
ter City at the newly expanded Anfield.
Chelsea saw their perfect start to the campaign ended by a 2-2 draw at Swansea C
ity in which they went 1-0 up, fell 2-1 down and then rescued a point through Di
ego Costa's acrobatic 81st-minute equaliser.

The way Chelsea let Swansea back into the match suggested the vulnerability that
plagued them last season, when they finished 10th, continues to hover below the
surface.
But Chelsea winger Victor Moses is convinced that Conte's off-pitch adjustments
have set the club on the right path.
"I think he is the right man for this club," the Nigeria international told the
Chelsea website.
"He came in and changed quite a few things and everyone was expecting that. The
food regime and the training have changed and he wants everyone to gel together
as a team.
"He speaks to every player and wants the best from each and every one of us, and
he will get the best out of us."
Last season's corresponding fixture, in late October, saw Klopp pull off the fir
st eye-catching result of his nascent Liverpool tenure as the visitors recorded
an impressive 3-1 win.
If the teams' last encounter, in a pre-season friendly in the United States, is
anything to go by, Friday's game beneath the floodlights could be a spicy affair
.
Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas was sent off for an ugly foul on Ragnar Klavan,
while Liverpool's Marko Grujic had to go to hospital following a clash of heads
with Bertrand Traore.
It could also be spectacular. The two teams average more shots on goal per game
than any other sides in the division, while Liverpool's players have covered mor
e distance than any other team.
Croatian centre-back Dejan Lovren is due to return for Liverpool, following a he
ad injury, in place of Lucas Leiva, whose error against Leicester gift-wrapped a
goal for Jamie Vardy.
But Germany midfielder Emre Can remains absent with an ankle injury.
David Luiz is expected to make his second debut for Chelsea, five years and seve
n months after his first appearance for the club, which coincidentally came in a
home game against Liverpool.
The Brazil centre-back, 29, returned to Chelsea from Paris Saint-Germain on tran
sfer deadline day for a reported fee of 32 million pounds.
Luiz, previously a Chelsea player between 2011 and 2014, is likely to replace ca
ptain John Terry, who has been ruled out for 10 days with ankle ligament damage
sustained at Swansea.
Klopp and Conte