Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk insists he has been ‘impressed’ by Chelsea’s early-season form and says Enzo Maresca’s squad is ‘full of very good footballers’.
Chelsea endured another chaotic summer in which Mauricio Pochettino left the club and ex-Leicester City boss Maresca took over at Stamford Bridge.
Given the change in management and the number of incoming signings, many pundits suggested Chelsea could struggle this season, just as they did for much of last term under Pochettino.
Chelsea were outplayed by Premier League champions Manchester City on the opening day but that remains Maresca’s sole defeat since he arrived in west London.
The Blues have won four of their six league games since the loss to Man City, scoring six goals in a remarkable game against Wolves and putting four past Brighton.
Chelsea’s form has seen them climb into the Champions League spots and there is now real belief that the club can challenge for the top-four, or potentially even rival Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool for the title.
Van Dijk believes Chelsea are still ‘going under the radar’ but insists his Liverpool team-mates cannot afford to be complacent ahead of Sunday’s clash at Anfield.
While Chelsea have surprised pundits and fans, Liverpool have enjoyed an even better start to the season under new boss Arne Slot and sit top of the Premier League ahead of the visit of Maresca’s side.
‘I know that Anfield will be bouncing for the visit of Chelsea, and for sure we will look to draw on that noise and atmosphere as we go for all three points,’ Van Dijk said in Liverpool’s official matchday programme. ‘We all have our part to play in what will be a very tough game.
‘I have been impressed by Chelsea’s progress this season. I said a few weeks ago, after our win at Wolverhampton Wanderers, that they have gone under the radar a little bit within the media, but we will certainly not be underestimating them.
‘A lot has been made about the number of changes they have made as a club during the past couple of seasons, but one thing that is absolutely certain is that they have a squad which is full of very good footballers, players who can cause problems for any team.
‘They also have a manager who has a clear idea of how he wants his team to play, and who looks like he is starting to get the best out of the talent at his disposal.
‘That means, then, that we will need to be fully focused and prepared to fight from the first whistle for the points. We have had some good days and nights against Chelsea in recent years, but that counts for nothing this weekend.
‘We need to be ready, and we need to be somewhere near our best if we are to get the result we want.’
Liverpool had a relatively easy run of fixtures to start the 2024-25 campaign but face Arsenal, Brighton, Aston Villa and Manchester City over the next six weeks and take on Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Van Dijk added: ‘There is no doubt that the next three weeks are going to challenge each and every one of us.
‘Starting on Sunday, we will play seven games in the space of 20 days, across three competitions and against some very good teams. We are going to be tested, and we are going to need everyone at their very best.
‘That, though, is exactly what we want. We want to be playing in big games. We want to be competing in the Champions League, at the top end of the Premier League and in the domestic cup competitions.
‘We are Liverpool and that means testing periods such as this should be seen as normal and approached with excitement rather than trepidation.’
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