Chelsea's Maresca Reflects on Liverpool Influence

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has shared that he once devoted an entire Christmas week to watching 38 Liverpool matches to study Jurgen Klopp's pressing style as he transitioned from player to coach. Ahead of Chelsea's Premier League clash with Liverpool, Maresca emphasized that while Chelsea has started the season strong, they are not directly competing with Liverpool for the title but hope to reignite a historic rivalry. He praised the aggressive off-ball play of Liverpool's former stars like Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, and Sadio Mane, which he found inspiring. Maresca aims to instill similar pressure tactics in his Chelsea squad, hoping to see players like Cole Palmer emulate Salah's work ethic. The upcoming match at Anfield serves as a significant test for both managers, Maresca and Arne Slot, as they seek to solidify their teams' early-season successes.