The touchline action could be as explosive as what happens on the pitch at Stamford Bridge today when Jurgen Klopp takes his Liverpool side to tackle Antonio Conte’s Chelsea. Both managers are renowned for the remarkable intensity of their touchline antics 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 Wednesday’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 Guardiola 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 Antonio 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 Leicester City at the newly expanded Anfield.
Chelsea saw their perfect start to the campaign ended by a 2-2 draw at Swansea City in which they went 1-0 up, fell 2-1 down and then rescued a point through Diego 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.
However,  Conte has confirmed David Luiz will make his second debut for the club today. Luiz, who returned to the west London club from Paris Saint-Germain in a surprise £32mn move on transfer deadline day, will replace injured Blues captain John Terry at Stamford Bridge.
The Brazilian defender’s first spell at Chelsea became known for his habit of making high-profile mistakes. Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville memorably said Luiz looked like he was ‘being controlled by a 10-year-old in the crowd on a Playstation’ after one especially error-strewn display and the 29-year-old was unable to shed that reputation during his time in France.
But Conte, who has vowed to work on Luiz’s weaknesses, said: “David Luiz will play for the first time with us and we are confident about this. We expect him to play very well, with great attention. We know David is a good player and we are working to put him in the best condition to give us the best of him. When new players arrive they need time to adapt to a new concept of football. Tomorrow (Friday) we need to play David Luiz.”
Italian manager Conte added: “He has worked a lot on defensive situations. I’m confident for him. He’s a good player and during the training sessions I have been seeing good things.”
Meanwhile Conte insisted Cesc Fabregas was going nowhere following reports the Spain midfielder could leave Chelsea during the next transfer window.
Fabregas has found himself reduced to a substitute role in the early weeks of former Italy manager Conte’s time at Stamford Bridge, leading to speculation regarding his Chelsea future.
But Conte said: “Cesc is in my plans and in Chelsea’s plans. We all know Cesc is a fantastic player. I see him in every training session with great seriousness and if he continues in this way it will be very difficult choice for me. I want this from my players, to put doubts in my mind. Cesc is a great player, we all know he’s a very technical player, but also I’m starting to know him like a man.”
Chelsea face a Liverpool side fresh from a 4-1 win over reigning Premier League champions Leicester City. “I’m expecting a very tough match against a strong team,” said Conte. “I think Liverpool is a really good team, they play with identity, they can bring many players on in an offensive situation and we must pay great attention tomorrow.”
Last season’s corresponding fixture, in late October, saw Klopp pull off the first 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, tonight’s game beneath the floodlights could be a spicy affair.
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 more distance than any other team.
Croatian centre-back Dejan Lovren is due to return for Liverpool, following a head 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.