Jurgen Klopp fancies Chelsea for Premier League title challenge

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has said that Chelsea will challenge for the Premier League title next season irrespective of their ongoing transfer ban. The west London giants are not permitted to make any signings for the next 12 months but they have nonetheless been positives during pre-season with the several young players taking the chance to impress.

Among those, Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham have been influential performers in the lead-up to the new campaign and Klopp has levied praise for the latter while citing that the Blues will be in the mix for the league title, he said: “I don’t know where people get the idea that Arsenal will not challenge, that Chelsea will not challenge with Frank [Lampard] bringing complete excitement to the club. Okay, they cannot really be busy in the transfer window, but after years when all the young boys were on loan, now they finally bring them back and get the benefit of that. It’s like it’s made for a transfer ban. Now [Tammy] Abraham and all these other guys come back and it’s a fantastic team.”

The Blues have a familiar face in club legend Frank Lampard as their new head coach and the 41-year-old has impressed with the style of play during pre-season. The Europa League holders have adapted a more attacking formation under the new boss but there remain concerns at the back as they just managed one clean sheet from six friendly matches.

Chelsea start their league campaign with an away game at Manchester United and the clash should be tricky with the Red Devils strengthening their defensive ranks with the impressive Harry Maguire. On the contrary, the Blues seem set to lose the services of David Luiz to Premier League rivals Arsenal and that has left them with just two senior central defensive options in Kurt Zouma and Andreas Christensen for the opening match with Antonio Rudiger just returning to training after a long-term knee problem.