Top 5 Liverpool moments against Chelsea in the Jurgen Klopp era
Now that pre-season is behind us, all attention is focused on the Premier League opener away at Chelsea on Sunday.
So naturally, that got us thinking about Liverpool's greatest moments against the London club in the Jurgen Klopp era.
The Reds may be coming off the back of an underwhelming 2022/23 campaign, but they've had a blistering goalscoring pre-season, and all signs point towards the squad being hungry to show the league they are back and mean business.
It's vital Klopp gets his team off the mark quickly, and beating Chelsea – now under Mauricio Pochettino – will be no easy task.
Many fans will be predicting a draw for the weekend's clash (the last six games between the two sides have ended level, with a measly four goals scored in total). However, with Liverpool leaky in defence but clinical attack, it has the potential to be a blockbuster.
READ MORE: Chelsea vs Liverpool - Match Preview
So as we build up to the game, here are the top five Liverpool and Chelsea moments from the Klopp era.
STOP THAT STURRIDGE
On his day, Daniel Sturridge was a world class striker for Liverpool, and the thought of what career he could have had if he wasn't cursed with constant injury problems is frightening to say the least.
Every football fan knows how destructive Sturridge was in the Brendan Rodgers era of Liverpool – particularly when linking up with Luis Suarez in the 2013/14 season and causing havoc to Premier League defences.
Although, persistent injuries meant that under Klopp, the Englishman became a bit-part, unreliable forward. However, despite his availability, he still possessed unquestionable talent.
In 2018, the ex-Chelsea man demonstrated to the world against his former side, that his left-foot was still special and one to be feared.
30 yards out. One touch to control, another to strike. What followed was an inch-perfect curling effort into the top right corner. A truly remarkable finish.
WORLDIE FROM SALAH
A YouTube compilation of Mohamed Salah's best goals in a Liverpool shirt would probably last three hours long, but this strike against Chelsea back in 2019 surely has to be one of the best.
A long-range looping ball from the half-way line – the Virgil van Dijk classic, if you will – found Salah on the right flank, around 25 yards from the net.
The entire Chelsea defence was in shape and any sane player would never have the audacity to shoot. Not our Egyptian King. The winger stopped the ball dead with his first touch, took two neat touches inside and absolutely drilled a rocket straight into the top corner, leaving Kepa Arrizabalaga dumfounded.
What is it with ex-Chelsea players coming back to bite them?
WINNING WATCH PARTY
One of Liverpool's greatest ever moments against Chelsea actually happened when the Reds weren't even playing. Instead, they were instead hosting a party, getting drunk, and having a laugh in a moment of pure ecstasy.
As a scintillating 2019/20 season was coming to a close – following that unprecedented mid-season stoppage due to the Coronavirus pandemic – Liverpool had such a wide points gap that the club's first league title of the Premier League era was already all but confirmed.
So much so that Klopp and his squad organised a watch party for Chelsea's home clash with Manchester City on 25 June – a game that if Manchester City lost, Liverpool would officially be crowned champions with a record-breaking seven games to spare.
Chelsea took an early lead in the game, but the goal was ruled out by Kevin De Bruyne just after half time. In the 77th minute however, Fernandinho was sent off for a reckless challenge in the box, which allowed Willian to score the penalty that ultimately won Chelsea the match and Liverpool the league.
A moment – or rather, 30 years' worth – of elation immediately followed from players as they celebrated their massive achievement.
SILENCING FRANK LAMPARD
Despite praying for Chelsea to win earlier in the season to crown Liverpool champions, the Reds didn't take it easy on Frank Lampard's side in their final home game of the 2019/20 season.
The eight-goal thriller eventually ended 5-3 to Liverpool, who went on to lift the Premier League trophy after the game.
However, an *almost* equally satisfying moment came in the first-half of the game, courtesy of a controversial free-kick that was given just outside the Chelsea box after Mateo Kovacic brought down Sadio Mane.
Liverpool were already 1-0 up and Lampard was incensed by the decision, taking out his frustration on the Liverpool bench. The then-manager had to be told to calm down by Klopp after he shouted: "One title you've won and you’re f*****g giving it the big 'un."
Calm down he did, as Trent Alexander-Arnold stepped up and delivered an unstoppable free-kick around the wall and into the Chelsea net. He didn't say much for the rest of the game.
That goal was about as about satisfying as they come, and it's not even the best free-kick Alexander-Arnold scored against Chelsea. In fact, it's not even the best one he scored against them that year.
DOMESTIC CUP DOUBLE
The six most recent clashes between Liverpool and Chelsea have ended up in a stalemate, but 0-0 isn't a bad score if you eventually win a cup final on penalties...
Liverpool beat Chelsea on penalties in both the Carabao Cup final and the FA Cup final in the 2021/22 season, as they fought tooth and nail for an unprecedented quadruple.
Neither games were the most riveting for the neutral, but the only thing that matters in a final is who is left lifting the trophy at the end of it.
The most exciting moment across the two matches was the penalty shoot-out in the Carabao Cup final early on in the season. Neither keeper made a single save, but crucially, when it came to Caoimhin Kelleher and Kepa stepping up to the spot, one leathered it into the top corner and one blazed it over the bar.
Kelleher's penalty will be etched into Liverpool history. Kepa must be sick of the sight of Liverpool.