The first early summit in the English Premier League ... a real test for Liverpool
Liverpool faces the first real test in its campaign to defend the Premier League title, which it achieved last season, when it visits Chelsea, the owner of huge deals, next Sunday at (Stamford Bridge) in the climax of the second phase of the competition.
The Chelsea side, led by young coach Frank Lampard, has spent nearly 200 million pounds ($ 258 million) to consolidate their squad this season, including German duo Timo Werner and Kai Havertz.
Werner was a goal for Liverpool this summer before he decided to join Chelsea, and the German striker believes his new team has the potential to annoy the Premier League champions.
"They (Liverpool) won the league last season and have the same team that won the title, so they will be just as strong as last year," Werner told Chelsea's official website.
"It will be a good challenge for us to see how far we have come," Werner said.
Werner praised Chelsea's 3/1 victory over Brighton at the start of the London team's matches in the championship during the new season, and said that the new players are already comfortable, and despite knowing that Liverpool poses a great threat to his team, he believes that Chelsea can confront him strongly.
"We are playing against a strong team and they have good players, not just Virgil van Dijk. Liverpool's entire defense line is very good," Werner stressed.
"They conceded the fewest goals in the league last season. They are a great team in all positions. But we also have great players and we have the ability to beat them. It will be an interesting game."
Liverpool conceded three goals from home to Leeds United in the opening game of the Red Team this season, but won 4/3 thanks to a hat-trick from Egyptian international star Mohamed Salah.
Van Dijk, who is seen as the rock at the center of his team's defense, said Liverpool were looking for stability.
"It is clear that if you look at the last two seasons in the league, we have been very coherent," the Dutch defender explained to the Premier League website.
Van Dyck said, "Our level has been rising week after week and we have succeeded in achieving victories or getting good results at least ... and we have reached a certain level of cohesion and consistency, especially last season, which led us to become England's champions, and this is the difficult part."
"The season has just started with one match, and the season will be very long, so we are not looking forward to what will happen at the end of the season, we are only focusing on what happens now," the Liverpool defense star confirmed.
For his part, Arsenal will meet its guest West Ham United, where the team, nicknamed (The Gunners) will be supported by the Gabonese international star and captain Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, who extended his contract with the team for another three years, after his association with leaving for a group of major clubs.
Aubameyang hinted that he made the decision because he sees a great future for the club.
"Look at the players who came (this summer)," Aubameyang told former Arsenal striker Ian Wright in an interview on the club's website.
Aubameyang continued, "Young players also, they come like fire and that's why I stay. Because I know we have something to do. I said a few months ago that the best will definitely come for Arsenal. It is time for everyone to respect our club."
English worm matches
Saturday
Everton-West Bromwich
Leeds - Fulham
Manchester United - Crystal Palace
Arsenal - West Ham
Sunday
Liverpool-Chelsea 19:30
Tottenham-Southampton 15:00
Leicester City-Burnley 22:00
Newcastle-Brighton 17:00
Monday
Aston Villa - Sheffield United 21:00
Manchester City-Wolverhampton 23:15
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