Liverpool and Chelsea are set to lock horns once again, reigniting a rivalry that previously saw Blues icon Frank Lampard accuse Reds hero Jurgen Klopp of “giving it the biggun”.
With both teams sitting pretty at the top end of the Premier League table, Arne Slot’s Reds and Enzo Maresca’s Blues have both kicked off this season in outstanding form. Chelsea, spearheaded by the dazzling Cole Palmer, have already netted 16 goals – a figure only surpassed by Manchester City.
Liverpool, on the other hand, have only dropped points once this season, suggesting that Sunday’s clash could be as intense as their encounter four years ago. Lampard’s touchline disagreement with Klopp in 2020 – which resulted in the Englishman firing off a string of expletives before the Premier League trophy was lifted at Anfield – was defended by his uncle, Harry Redknapp.
The match provided Liverpool with the opportunity to finally hoist the coveted Premier League trophy, although no spectators were allowed due to the Coronavirus pandemic, reports the Mirror.
The game began with a guard of honour, but tempers soon flared as the first half drew to a close. Mateo Kovacic was penalised for a foul, much to the chagrin of Blues manager Lampard, who firmly believed his player had won the ball.
The match at Anfield turned into a spectacle as Naby Keita’s earlier goal was complemented by Trent Alexander-Arnold’s stunning free-kick, which sent Lampard into despair. The game concluded with Liverpool securing a 5-3 victory in an eight-goal thriller.
Tempers flared on the touchline, leading to a heated exchange between Lampard and Klopp, with the former Everton boss telling his counterpart to “f*** off” and accusing him of acting arrogantly. Despite Klopp’s response, Redknapp jumped to Lampard’s defence in comments to The Sun.
He explained: “Frank has been around professional football since he was a toddler. He doesn’t need advice from anyone, although I’ve lots of respect for Klopp.” Redknapp continued to describe Lampard’s character: “Frank is very calm usually, he doesn’t tend to get involved in things like this.
“For him to react like that, it must have been something to really wind him up. Frank respects Jurgen. And I know he will just want to shake hands on it if he can and move on.” He further highlighted Lampard’s credentials: “You don’t play so long at the very top and then become a Premier League manager so quickly if you don’t have brains.
“It would be good for them just to put it behind them. Their paths will cross and it doesn’t help either of them if they can’t just see it as one of those moments when tempers are frayed.” Lampard experienced a similar outcome two months later, suffering a 2-0 defeat to Klopp’s team in the rematch.
He was dismissed shortly after in January 2021, and despite returning to the club as interim manager in April 2023, he never encountered Klopp again on the touchline.
Today will mark the first time in almost 10 years that Chelsea will confront the Reds without Klopp leading them, and if the current form of both teams is any indication, we could be in for some fireworks on the pitch.
