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FBL-EUR-SUPERCUP-ENG-LIVERPOOL-CHELSEA,PREVIEW
Liverpool seek more silverware as Lampard eyes Super Cup boost
ISTANBUL, Aug 13, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Jurgen Klopp wants Liverpool to make
winning trophies a habit as they head back to Istanbul — the scene of one of
the club’s greatest triumphs — to take on Premier League rivals Chelsea in
the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday.
The Anfield club memorably defeated AC Milan on penalties to win the
Champions League by the Bosphorus back in 2005, and now they face Chelsea in
the Turkish city after becoming European champions for the sixth time in
June.
The traditional curtain-raiser to the European season may not be taken
entirely seriously by everyone, but neither club will turn their noses up at
the chance of lifting more silverware, with Liverpool having just ended a
seven-year trophy drought and Frank Lampard eager to kickstart his Chelsea
managerial career.
The clubs have already won the competition four times between them, but
nine of the last 10 winners of the Super Cup have come from Spain.
Among the other protagonists on Wednesday will be Stephanie Frappart, with
the French official becoming the first woman to referee a major men’s match
in European competition.
Frappart will nevertheless be happy to stay out of the limelight once the
match at the Vodafone Park, home of Besiktas, kicks off, with Liverpool
favourites against a Chelsea side reeling from their 4-0 defeat at Manchester
United in their Premier League opener.
– Alisson blow –
After losing on penalties to Manchester City in the Community Shield,
Liverpool began their league campaign with a comfortable 4-1 win over Norwich
City with Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Divock Origi all scoring.
However, that result was somewhat overshadowed by the loss of Alisson
Becker, with Klopp confirming the formidable Brazil goalkeeper will be out
for a while with a calf injury.
“I don’t want to make now (an) exact prognosis on when he will be back but
it will not be Wednesday for sure, so now then we have to see. It takes a
while, it takes a couple weeks for sure, and we have to see,” he told the
club’s website.
Spaniard Adrian will deputise in Alisson’s absence, and Klopp is hopeful
his team can build on their win over Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions
League final in Madrid.
“Stay greedy. That’s very important — I have no doubt about that, but it’s
clear that we have to do that,” Klopp told UEFA.com when asked how his side
could build on that success.
Reds fans will also be tempted by the possibility of a third successive
Champions League final appearance, back in Istanbul at the end of the
campaign.
Equally, they will hope the Super Cup can be the prelude to their side
finally going all the way in the Premier League.
“We don’t want to just stop at the Champions League, that’s all we’ve won
as a group of players,” Andy Robertson told the club’s website.
“We want more but we know how hard that’s going to be. This is our next
opportunity to do so and it’d be great if we can take it.”
– Chelsea reeling –
Chelsea secured their place in this fixture thanks to their comprehensive
victory over Arsenal in the Europa League final, but much has changed since
then.
Coach Maurizio Sarri and star player Eden Hazard have left, and club legend
Lampard is now in charge, handed the reins at Stamford Bridge despite just
one season’s managerial experience in the second tier with Derby County.
The prospect of winning a trophy in just his second competitive match with
the London club will be an enticing one, although they could be forgiven for
coming into this match with a sense of trepidation after their hammering at
Old Trafford.
It will be interesting to see if Lampard keeps faith with the likes of
youngsters Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham here.
“We know that we can improve. We have to face it, take the responsibility
and move forward. We have a trophy to fight for on Wednesday against a good
team and we have to be ready for it,” Cesar Azpilicueta said after Sunday’s
defeat.
BSS/AFP/ARS/1049 hrs