Chelsea boss Conte relishing first-ever Anfield experience

He may have been humbled the last time he locked horns with Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, but Chelsea manager Antonio Conte insists he cannot wait to take to the Anfield touchline having never graced the turf as a player.

The Blues were on the wrong end of a 2-1 reverse when the sides met at Stamford Bridge in September – the first defeat of Conte’s Chelsea tenure, and to date his only loss on home soil.

But rather than heading to Anfield in search of revenge, Conte is wary of the threat of a wounded Liverpool side that will be desperate to bounce back after three successive home defeats in a week.

Tuesday evening’s clash will be the Italian’s first experience of the famous ground, having never played there during his days with Juventus, and Conte admits he will savour the moment.

“It’s a pity [I never played there] because to play a game as a footballer at Anfield is exciting,” he said.

“We must pay attention – it will be a great atmosphere, Liverpool is a really great team and I’m sure it is one of the teams that can fight until the end to win the title.

“We have to play our football and we’ll try to play with good intensity, great attention and we’ll see what happens.

“Whenever [Liverpool] play at Anfield it’s very difficult for other teams. I think we’ll have a great difficulty to face against them because when you arrive after three defeats they are very angry.

“We know football. We know this type of situation and for sure we must pay great attention. After three defeats a team are very dangerous.

“But I think it will be more difficult for Liverpool if you compare the game at Stamford Bridge to now at Anfield.

“After the game I said that Liverpool is already a team and Chelsea now is not a team. After four months, a lot of things have changed in my team.”