Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp appeared to admonish members of his backroom staff and players on the bench after they applauded when Andreas Christensen was sent off during their game against Chelsea.

With the scores level at 0-0 at Stamford Bridge heading towards the end of the first-half, Blues centre-back Christensen hauled down Sadio Mane as he ran on to a Jordan Henderson through ball.

The Dane was initially shown a yellow card by referee Paul Tierney, but after he was advised by VAR to check the pitch-side monitor he changed it to a red, with Christensen adjudged to have denied Mane a clear goalscoring opportunity.

After the decision was changed, according to the Mirror, it is alleged that some in Liverpool colours reacted with joy on the bench, but were swiftly told to wind it in by Klopp.

A member of the press, Julien Laurens, tweeted: ‘Red card for Christensen. The Liverpool players in the stands clap and sort of celebrate. Klopp turns round from the touch line and shouts: “Are you crazy? We never ever do that, ok?”’

It is not yet clear exactly who the guilty party were, but Klopp is clearly keen to ensure his team do not gain a reputation as one who play by the dark arts this season.

His strong reaction comes after he and Chelsea manager Frank Lampard clashed on the touchline in a game between the two teams in the last campaign.

During an eventful night at Anfield in July, Lampard told Klopp and his assistant Pepijn Lijnders to “f*** off” and launched a tirade in the direction of the Reds bench.

The touchline spat began over a disagreement about a foul and the Blues boss also added: “One title you’ve won and you’re f*g giving it the big ‘un”.

Photo Credit: premierleague.com

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard is confident that new boy Kai Havertz will be a hit at Stamford Bridge.

Havertz had an underwhelming debut against Brighton, but speaking to Chelsea’s official site, Lampard said:

“I know he has great talent and I have seen that in the first week that he has been here.

“It is important to be clear that before the Brighton game he had trained for four or five days and two or three of those were the build up to a game, when you can’t even work that hard.

“The fitness levels for Kai were very difficult and they are only going to get better and they will get better very quickly.

“I have certainly seen big parts of his talent and the same as with Timo, I have no doubt the impact he is going to have here as a Chelsea player.”

Lampard also provided some background information about the signing of the German youngster.

“I was able to have some conversations with Kai as the buying process happened,” Lampard says.

“I did as much watching of him as a player as I could and by that time Timo Werner had arrived at the club and Timo and Kai are pretty close, so I could ask him quite a lot about Kai. They play in the national team together so we had some very good background on him, and I was very struck by the first conversations I had with Kai, by his humility and how he is as a person.”

The Blues boss explained why humility is a characteristic he especially loves in players.

“It comes with the idea that they just want to improve and come here and be a success. I know he has great talent and I have seen that in the first week that he has been here.”

Kai Havertz has sung the praises of fellow German Jurgen Klopp ahead of today’s fixture between Chelsea and Liverpool.

Speaking on Klopp, Havertz said: “He is a big manager and he has achieved a lot in Liverpool.

“He won the Premier League and the Champions League. I’ve watched all of this and you can only say congratulations.

“I think he is hungry and he wants to win more titles and that’s the reason why we need to play our best football on Sunday afternoon.”

Havertz will be looking to make more of an impact today than he did last time out against Brighton, and a goal against the current champions would be a dream home debut for the summer signing.

Lorenzo Insigne and Dries Mertens grabbed one each, as Napoli were inspired by new signing Victor Osimhen’s entrace in the second half of the 2-0 win against Parma.

Napoli, who started with Hirving Lozano at right and Victor Osimhen on the bench, came out cautious against a Parma side pressing high up the field.

No big chances within the first 20 minutes and none of the sides were allowed too much space in the opponents’ halves.

Dries Mertens the closest to test Luigi Sepe in the Parma goal and Fabian Ruiz with an attempt above the bar. No real highlights in the first half.

Parma started second half brightly, as Kucka forced a free kick outside the area before he clattered David Ospina from the following delivery. The goalkeeper held his chest, but was back on his feet moments after.

The intensity increased early on in the second half, Napoli pushed up but Parma are equally organised at the back after the break. Both teams cope well with the pressure.

New signing Osimhen was brought on after 60 minutes and got involved immediately, as he forced Iacoponi to make a poor clearance and the ball falls to Mertens, who finishes from 14 yards and makes it 1-0 to the Partenopei.

Napoli were a different side after the Nigerian’s entrance, with Lorenzo Insigne hitting the post before he made it 2-0, when Sepe couldn’t hold Lozano’s shot and the ball fell perfectly for the Italy international. The easiest of finishes to make it two.

Yann Karamoh had come on to give Parma an injection of energy and pace, and he caused some concern for the visitors. But Napoli managed well and controlled the match.

Held on for possession, Andrea Petagna was introduced in the 88th minute for his debut. A great start for Gattuso’s men, but the match changed completely when Osimhen came on. A different side after 60 minutes and a well-deserved win in the end.

Photo Credit: Twitter/sscnapoli

Victor Osimhen explains why he turned down the Premier League for Serie A and Napoli, idolising Didier Drogba and the ‘dream come true’ of following Diego Maradona’s footsteps.

The 21-year-old completed his transfer from Lille for €50m plus €10m in bonuses, Orestis Karnezis and three youth team players, for what the French club registered as a total of €81m.

The move had seemed in doubt for weeks, with Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool also interested, but he eventually signed for Napoli.

“Many predicted I will move to the EPL, and I had a lot of interesting offers from some clubs. But Napoli was the best choice for me,” Osimhen told CAFonline.com as cited by Football Italia.

“It was so because of the kind of player I want to be in the future, and the kind of great career I want to have. I have no doubt that Napoli is the club I need to achieve that greater height.

“The relationship between me and Coach (Gennaro Gattuso) and President (Aurelio De Laurentiis) is a very interesting one, because even before I came to Napoli, I spoke with both. They convinced me even more to sign for Napoli. The relationship is going very well, and I just want to repay them on the pitch for the trust they have in me.

“I’m really looking forward to a new career here in Serie A. Playing against the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo is something one can eagerly await. So, I’m looking forward to facing him soon.”

Much has been said of the fact Osimhen is officially the most expensive African player of all time, so does that ramp up the pressure?

“There is no pressure on me since I came here rather, I just need to work and do what I loved doing. I just need to do my work on the pitch and give my all like I have always been doing and getting the goals for both my club and country. This is the most important thing for me and there is no pressure at all. I just want to do my thing in my own way.”

The forward’s idol is Drogba, but he is now joining Napoli, the club where Maradona is still revered decades after he took them to the Scudetto.

“Choosing Drogba as a role model has really been helpful since my growing up years. I have not met him yet and I’m really looking forward to seeing him and getting one of his signed jerseys; that would really be a dream come true for me.

“Now, playing in a club that used to have Diego Maradona, who is undoubtedly one of the greatest players ever, is inspiring. Maradona is an idol here in Napoli and I have seen his pictures everywhere. He is truly the best. To be here and to play on the same pitch of Maradona is another dream came true.”