“Many comparisons” – Arne Slot says Liverpool have only faced one team similar to Chelsea | OneFootball

We’ve covered a lot of what Enzo Maresca has had to say in his press conference in the build up to today’s Chelsea – Liverpool game. But what did Arne Slot have to say?

In the Liverpool coach’s presser, he made an interesting comparison between Chelsea and another one of the Premier League’s top teams.

Arsenal are Chelsea’s closest comparison says Slot

Enzo Maresca on the touchline with Arne Slot. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

“Chelsea are a completely different challenge to all the ones we’ve had before, with the exception of one, Arsenal,” Slot said.

“I think there are many comparisons between Arsenal and Chelsea. When you look at the way they set up, the way they play, the way they want to bring the ball out from the back, the way they want to press. There I see a lot of similarities.”

There is certainly a similarity in the two styles – both Maresca and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta learned under Pep Guardiola when he was in his possession domination era, and that’s clearly had a major effect on their styles as coaches.

We wonder how that means things will go today, a couple of weeks after Liverpool and Arsenal played out a draw.

Chelsea also have major differences to Reds

Sadly, there are a lot of difference too. We’d start at the back, where the Gunners have a reliable goalkeeper, really solid centre backs and plenty of depth – not just talent, but genuine quality, starter level players ready to come in if there’s an injury.

It’s a similar story further forward too – depth, quality, players reaching their peak age and ready to win titles. When Chelsea were open to selling Noni Madueke for a profit as he hits his prime, Arsenal were ready to buy. Perhaps that sums up the difference between the two strategies right now.