‘Huge upgrade’: Tuchel absolutely lauds one Liverpool player

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Thomas Tuchel has admitted that Liverpool are a much different prospect with Virgil van Dijk back in the first XI.

Chelsea have a tricky trip to Anfield tonight.

One of the subplots of the game will be whether a rusty Van Dijk can contain new Blues hitman Romelu Lukaku.

At the peak of his powers, you’d back the Liverpool defender to shackle any number nine in world football – including Lukaku.

But this is only the Dutchman’s third competitive game since suffering a season-ending knee injury last October.

Chelsea won this fixture 1-0 back in March, when Jurgen Klopp fielded a centre-back pairing of Schakle loanee Ozan Kabak and midfielder Fabinho, due to his limited options following an injury crisis.

And Tuchel has conceded that Van Dijk’s return is a game-changer for Liverpool, claiming he makes everyone play better.

He said on Chelsea’s YouTube channel: “Yeah, for sure [they’re a different proposition]. We should not hide from it. Liverpool with Van Dijk is a different Liverpool than without him. It’s not only his capacity and ability and level of performance – he also makes everyone around him feel more comfortable. Together with Matip it’s a huge upgrade to March.”

Massive

Really, it’s a massive game for both Van Dijk and Lukaku.

The Belgian striker has an appetite for goals in England again after scoring on his second Blues debut against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium last weekend.

By the same token, Van Dijk, who placed second in a Ballon d’Or race while at Liverpool, losing out to Lionel Messi in 2019, will be out to prove that he’s as good and sharp as he has ever been.