Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri feels that Chelsea need about a year to reach the same level as Liverpool. Chelsea’s winning streak came to an end as they drew 0-0 with West Ham. Both sides had some really good opportunities but neither broke the deadlock.
This was their first goalless draw in the Premier League in nearly 9 months. The Blues are now third in the Premier League table below Liverpool and Manchester City.
Next week, Chelsea face Liverpool twice. Both sides play a Carabao Cup match at Anfield on Wednesday before playing a Premier League fixture at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Liverpool maintained their winning run as they beat Southampton to register their 6th Premier League win in a row.
Despite Chelsea’s unbeaten run, Maurizio Sarri thinks his team are yet to reach Liverpool’s level. When asked if next weekend’s match was a must-win game, he said, “Must win, in football, doesn’t exist. We have to play against a very, very good team. Against a team who have worked with the same coach for three or four years – I don’t remember exactly.
They are a step forward of us at this moment. We have started to work all together 35/40 days ago and, 40 days ago less 10 for the international break, so for us it’s a bit early. We have to work then, maybe, in one year we will be at the same level as Liverpool.”
Sarri feels that playing against Liverpool’s forward is a difficult task. He said, “Easy, against [Mohamed] Salah, [Roberto] Firmino and [Sadio] Mane? I think it is impossible. It will be really a very difficult match. Maybe a spectacular match but, for us, very difficult I think.”
The Italian confirmed that he will make some changes for the Carabao Cup match on Wednesday. He said, “They [Liverpool] have played yesterday and have one day’s more rest than us. I want to see the picture of the situation tomorrow morning during the training session. Now, really, I don’t know. Maybe I will have to change 11 players, maybe only five. At this moment, I don’t know.”
Regardless of who wins there is no doubt that both Liverpool-Chelsea matches next week will be anything but one-sided.
