Liverpool’s Van Dijk A ‘Stress Test’ For Lukaku — Tuchel

By Daily sports on August 28, 2021

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel is eager to see how the club’s record signing Romelu Lukaku gets on against Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk this weekend when the London club travel to Anfield in the Premier League.

Both teams have won their opening two league games of the season without conceding and Tuchel said he expected Belgium striker Lukaku to rise to the challenge against Dutchman Van Dijk, one of the best centre backs in the world.

Lukaku signed for Chelsea for the second time earlier this month, moving from Inter Milan in a deal reported to be worth £97.5 million, and he scored 15 minutes into his second debut against Arsenal on Sunday.

“Liverpool with Van Dijk is a different Liverpool than without Van Dijk,” Tuchel told reporters on Friday. “For Romelu, it’s a big challenge. He had now one match with us, which was a very good start, so from now on we are into details.

“The stress test is on tomorrow at Anfield... I am not sure if he has already reached his top level, maybe not because he has only one game in his legs, but he will have a good match tomorrow because he loves to play in these kinds of matches.

“I’m looking forward to it. I think many fans of football are looking forward to that battle.”

Van Dijk spent nearly the whole of last season sidelined with a cruciate ligament injury that required surgery, and Liverpool struggled without him in their back line, finishing third behind Manchester City and Manchester United.

Chelsea’s last visit to Anfield in March ended in a 1-0 win for Tuchel’s team, but the German expects a much tougher test this time round given Netherlands defender Van Dijk’s return to full fitness.

“It’s not only (Van Dijk’s) isolated capacity, ability and level of performance, he also makes everybody around him feel more comfortable,” Tuchel said.

The manager also confirmed that Chelsea were in talks with West Ham United over the possible sale of defender Kurt Zouma, who has been deemed surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge.

“I don’t want to lie to you, there are negotiations between West Ham and Chelsea about Kurt,” Tuchel said. “I don’t know where it leads right now. Both things can happen, that he stays or he leaves.”

West Ham manager David Moyes said on Friday a deal to sign Zouma was close after they had an offer accepted. (AFP)

•PHOTO: Virgil Van Dijk

 

Source Daily sports

Posted August 28, 2021


 

You may also like...
Schalke Sack Coach Christian Gross, Entire Sporting Leadership...

Marseille line up loan move for Agu

Milik Joins Marseille On Loan From Napoli

Rangers players promised N1m for every goal

Ronaldo strikes again as Juve keep up perfect...

Ibrahimovid Scores Twice As Milan Win Opener

 

Latest News Nigeria beat Cameroon to reach IHF final 27 schools for Doregos Basketball Championship Super Falcons to play France’s Les Bleues in friendly SWAN suspends ban on coverage of Anambra FA activities Joshua among boxing’s top three earners in 2024 Oshoala makes history with Bay FC Nnamani hails team over IHF bright start Flamingos lift U-17 W’Cup Fair Play Trophy Rangers Intl, SWAN partner on sports collaboration in SE LAGOS SWAN CELEBRATES AIG ZONE 2 ON HIS BIRTHDAY AND 30 DAYS IN OFFICE Traders Cup: Upholstery Soccer Team Secured 2nd Win To Advance To Round Two Lagos SWAN Celebrates Oba Akiolu, Iyaloja General, AIG Fayoade

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,140 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,267 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,349 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (43,989 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (43,930 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (43,877 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,717 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,287 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,331 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,034 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,487 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (38,915 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media