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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Warren Muggleton

Frank Lampard gets first look at Ben Chilwell and Thiago Silva ahead of Liverpool clash

Frank Lampard got a first look at Chelsea new boys Ben Chilwell and Thiago Silva in training as they prepare to face Liverpool.

The Blues have an opportunity to make a big statement in their Premier League campaign when they host the champions on Sunday.

With the last encounter between them ending 5-3 to Jurgen Klopp’s side in July, the Stamford Bridge side made defensive recruitments a priority.

It saw them bring in Chilwell for £50m from Leicester while Silva arrived on a free transfer from PSG after the French side’s Champions League final defeat to Bayern Munich.

And images have emerged of the pair training at Colney together for the first time under Lampard’s watchful eye.

Chelsea defenders Ben Chilwell and Thiago Silva showed their skills to Frank Lampard for the first time in training ahead of taking on Liverpool (2020 Chelsea FC)

The pair got involved in drills and mini-games at London Colney with the rest of the squad, who secured a 3-1 win against Brighton to open their 2020/21 account.

Chilwell brings Premier League experience to Lampard’s defence, clocking up 123 appearances over five seasons.

Adding three goals to his tally last year, the 23-year-old has also worked his way into the England squad.

Chilwell arrived at Stamford Bridge last month for £50m, bringing Premier League experience and pace (2020 Chelsea FC)

And Lampard said when the defender signed that his attacking style of play will help the Blues greatly.

"With Ben Chilwell, he is a player I know very well, he has been pretty much England’s first-choice left-back now in recent times," he told the club’s official website.

"Great qualities in terms of how he can join in, he is athletic, his physicality, the way he plays and the quality of his left foot, so for us in terms of how he can help out on the left side, attack-wise and defensively, which of course is always first and foremost.

While Silva joined from PSG, bringing more than 650 club games of experience (2020 Chelsea FC)

"I am excited to work with him so I think he is a great addition. At 23 years of age, it is a really positive one for us."

While Silva will bring title-winning experience to Stamford Bridge, with seven Ligue 1 titles to his name.

The Brazilian has more than 650 club appearances to his name as well as a lengthy international career with Brazil.

And Lampard went on to explain how the 35-year-old will use his wealth of experience in blue.

It was the first time Lampard had seen the pair in training, with a match-up against the Premier League champions coming up (2020 Chelsea FC)

"With Thiago Silva, we are looking at a player I know very well, pretty much as we all do," he added.

"He brings great experience for us, he is still playing at a massively high level, as we saw in the Champions League final and games towards the final, so I expect him to come and bring that, bring his experience, leadership and his qualities. It is going to be very important for us.

The Blues boss praised Chilwell for his 'physicality' when he arrived from Leicester (2020 Chelsea FC)

"We have a relatively young squad, we saw that last year, there were games afterwards when I was probably asking for more voice and some more leadership in different ways and he brings that naturally straight away, and also on the pitch he can help talk and be the player that he is which means affecting others.

"On those levels I hope he brings that. I am pretty sure he will with the qualities we know he has, so I am excited for when he joins up."

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