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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Connor O'Neill & Jake Stokes

Graeme Souness slams 'disrespectful' Romelu Lukaku ahead of Liverpool's clash with Chelsea

Graeme Souness has criticised Romelu Lukaku for what he has described as 'damaging' comments about his manager and the club.

In a 29-minute interview with Sky in Italy recorded earlier in December, Lukaku revealed he was 'not happy' with his situation at Chelsea and took aim at Thomas Tuchel.

The Chelsea boss admitted on Friday that he had been left less than impressed by Lukaku's bombshell interview.

Lukaku, who has scored seven goals for Chelsea this season, including two in his last two games, is expected to be absent from the squad to take on Liverpool this afternoon.

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And speaking ahead of the game at Stamford Bridge, Souness claimed Lukaku's 'ridiculous' comments have 'damaged the football club enormously' and 'disrespected' Tuchel.

The Scot also claimed that Lukaku had acted like a 19-year-old rather than a 29-year-old with his comments.

“I can’t tell you a worse thing that a player can do at this moment in the season. To come out and say basically,” Souness said on Sky Sports.

“I don’t want to be here, I don't want to play with players I’m playing with anymore and the manager. And how that damages Chelsea going forward, it has to.”

Before the Scot continued: “He's 29 years old he's not 19 he should know better. It's totally disrespectful. It damaged the football club enormously. It damages the manager.

“The first thing I would have done is pull the person and say you have to apologise. You need to stand in front of everyone in the dressing room and apologise unreservedly.”

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