Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admitted he expects a reaction from Chelsea players on Tuesday following Graham Potter’s sacking.
It is very unlikely that Chelsea will have appointed a new manager by the time they face Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.
The relatively-inexperienced interim head coach, Bruno Saltor is therefore expected to be in charge of the team for this game.
Klopp thinks that just like Liverpool, Chelsea do not have enough time to really prepare or make any significant tactical changes ahead of the match.
That said, he is still wary of a possible reaction from the Chelsea players after Potter’s exit.
“Maybe the normal effect after the manager leaves, I don’t know,” the Liverpool boss said in his press conference on Monday when asked about what he expects from Chelsea.
“They obviously told me that [Chelsea’s] coaching staff will stay.
“We have not had a real session between the last game and the game tomorrow night. There will be a session today, but from a recovery point of view, we cannot do any intense stuff mentally or physically, so it’s more talking.
“That’s what they [Chelsea] will do [too], definitely.
“But I’m pretty sure the Chelsea players want to show a reaction.
“You saw the Bayern [Munich] game against Dortmund [following Julian Nagelsmann’s departure]… there were reactions — for whatever reason.
As Klopp suggested, there is simply not enough time for Salter and the remaining coaches to implement anything new ahead of the game.
Obviously, Potter’s departure means that many of the players who have established themselves as regular starters under the manager are now fighting for their spots again which could help motivate the team in general.
