Obviously, Chelsea – Liverpool is the best poster for this 1st day of the Premier League 2023-2024. But failing to see two teams that dominated last season compete, this duel between Blues and Reds, Sunday (5.30 p.m.), will set the tone for the ambitions and weapons of each of these two cadors in the history of the championship. English.
“We know what to expect, it’s their first home game after a big break, they will want to surpass themselves for the new manager, so we will have to be ready”, announced Jürgen Klopp in a press conference. “We will have no excuses because we have to be strong and we have very good players who can fight in the best way,” replied Mauricio Pochettino, who had just arrived in London, from a distance. The Argentinian technician will play his first official match on his new bench, succeeding Franck Lampard, Chelsea’s third coach last season.
Two teams, two transitions
It is difficult to speak of transition with the tenants of Stamford Bridge, while the revolution seems permanent since the arrival of Todd Boehly at the head of the machine. Three coaches used last season, a transfer window as rich as it is illegible and a twelfth place in the league at the end.
Even with the experienced coach that is Pochettino, the task still looks complicated. “Chelsea resemble PSG in their instability. I’m not sure this club can manage to build something solid like that. It’s hard to have confidence until you see it on the pitch, even if things seem interesting since the arrival of Mauricio Pochettino”, analyzes Pete Sharland, of the British editorial staff of Eurosport.
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“I think we have to be more worried about Chelsea,” continues our colleague. Especially since the Blues have just lost a strong rookie this summer, French striker Christopher Nkunku, seriously injured in the knee and absent for several months. To replace him, Pochettino is already thinking of recruiting another player and the club, with disproportionate expenses last winter, could still put millions on the table to seize Moises Caicedo.
It would be a turnaround, as the Ecuadorian midfielder moved towards Liverpool, who are trying to be a little more active in their transfer window. The Reds lost executives this summer (Fabinho, Henderson, Firmino) and recruited young people. Only Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szobozlai provide certainty. “There have been departures, players who have played an important role in the success of the team, but others must take over. It’s a great challenge in my opinion. We must be enthusiastic,” says Virgil van Dijk at the BBC. “But I can certainly understand the doubts that are emerging around the team.” The Dutchman was made captain by Klopp, who will leave the club at the end of last season. The end of the Klopp era, present since 2015, will also mark a new transition.
Champions League goal
Despite these internal issues, Liverpool and Chelsea are moving forward with ambition. “It will be very difficult if we look at the teams around us, but we want to be top of the bill again, we want to be competitive again,” continued Van Dijk. “Over time, we will take our bearings to play in the best conditions in order to be at the same level as the big ones”, motivated himself for his part the Chelsea coach.
Salah in pre-season with Liverpool.
Credit: Getty Images
“I think both teams should expect great seasons without the Champions League. As far as Liverpool are concerned, it will be interesting to see how seriously Klopp takes the Europa League, but I think both teams expect big things in the league,” said Pete Sharland. Doing great things in the league already corresponds to returning to the Top 4 and playing in the C1 next season.
For the podium, things are already looking more complicated. “You have to see how Arsenal and Newcastle will find the balance between the league and Europe, but I don’t think Chelsea and Liverpool will achieve that,” added Sharland. “The Reds need Darwin Nuñez to take a big step forward, they need this goalscorer to aim high”. Nothing looks easy for both teams, but that’s what makes their upcoming season already so exciting.
2023-08-13 00:00:43
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