Liverpool may have finished 25 points ahead of Chelsea last season in the Premier League, but it seems Jurgen Klopp has learned something from Maurizio Sarri.
The Italian helped the Blues to a third place finish in the Premier League in his only season in charge, with Sarri also leading Chelsea to success in Europe thanks to their 4-1 win against London rivals Arsenal in the Europa League final in Baku in May.
He has since left Chelsea to join Juventus, but the Italian has had a lasting impact on one of the Blues' Premier League rivals, according to the latest comments from Liverpool's boss.
Speaking after the Reds' 3-1 win against Bradford City in their latest pre-season friendly yesterday (Sunday), Klopp explained why he has played Adam Lallana in a deeper role so far this summer.
"Adam is the kind of player he can play that and he enjoys this 'Jorginho' role – I hope (former Chelsea boss) Maurizio Sarri doesn't see the games or he will make an offer!” joked Klopp, as quoted by the Liverpool Echo .
“It is about getting Adam rhythm, bringing him in early and doing things he is naturally good at: small spaces, passing the ball, and then from time-to-time offering the runs in behind as well and together with Milly that is possible.
“For us it is another option.”
Sarri and Jorginho both came in for criticism at times last season, with some Blues fans failing to be won over by the tactics deployed by the Italian.
But Jorginho seems to be proving some of his doubters wrong, judging by to a message from the club posted yesterday on social media, on the first anniversary of his arrival in west London.
Meanwhile, Klopp has backed Lallana to make a positive impact for Liverpool this season, after missing significant portions of the last two seasons through injury, having been a regular during Klopp's first 18 months in charge.
“He needs a bit of luck, like we all do in life,” said the Reds boss.
“We have to come through without injuries, that would be cool, and then we have a couple of new players, I would say, this season.”
